OVC TEAMS TO PLAY ROLE IN HEISMAN TROPHY RACE (OVC NOTES)

Two Ohio Valley Conference football teams get a chance to have a hand in the Heisman Trophy race Saturday.

No, a player from the OVC isn't actually in the running for the Heisman Trophy.

But a pair of OVC squads will be playing teams with legitimate Heisman contenders.

Eastern Kentucky visits in-state foe Kentucky and junior quarterback Tim Couch, who threw for 498 yards and seven touchdowns in the Wildcats' season-opening romp past Louisville.

Eastern Illinois travels to Central Florida and will face senior quarterback Daunte Culpepper, who passed for 370 yards and four touchdowns in the Knights' season-opening win over Louisiana Tech.

The Easterns will join fellow OVC member Middle Tennessee State in facing a Division I-A opponent this week. Middle Tennessee travels to Illinois as the Fighting Illini try to break an 18-game losing streak.

* The OVC's two highly-touted I-A quarterback transfers did not disappoint during their I-AA debuts.

Murray State's Justin Fuente, who started much of the past two seasons at Oklahoma, completed 20 of 37 passes for 325 yards and three TDs in a 41-13 win over Southern Illinois.

Eastern Kentucky's Jon Denton, who set numerous school and NCAA records while throwing for more than 6,000 yards the past two seasons at UNLV, was 10-for-13 for 194 yards and four TDs in the Colonels' 43-13 romp past Kentucky State.

* There has already been one conference matchup after the first week of play and Middle Tennessee State pulled out a thrilling 28-27 win over arch-rival Tennessee State.

Georgia transfer Torin Kirtsey rushed for a school-record 251 yards on 38 carries and scored three touchdowns, including the game-winner with 2:23 remaining that gave the Raiders their only lead of the game.

* Six of the OVC's eight teams opened with victories: Eastern Kentucky, Middle Tennessee, Murray State, Eastern Illinois (24-7 over St. Joseph's of Indiana), Southeast Missouri State (23-18 over Truman State) and Tennessee Tech (52-0 over Kentucky Wesleyan).

Only Tennessee State and Tennessee-Martin (49-7 to Western Kentucky) lost their openers.

* Kirtsey was named the OVC Offensive player of the Week while Tennessee Tech end Jerry Turner earned defensive honors after recording five tackles for loss, including two sacks.

Denton and Fuente shared the league's Newcomer of the Week award while Southeast Missouri's Corey Chester was the Special Teams Player of the Week after returning two kickoffs for 101 yards.

* Four OVC teams are ranked among the nation's top 25 squads this week.

Eastern Kentucky is ninth, Murray State 16th, Middle Tennessee 18th and Eastern Illinois 22nd.