Parity takes lead in tight OVC race

With some teams having already played half their league schedules, there is little separation in the race for the Ohio Valley Conference championship.

But only a very little, with seven of the OVC's nine squads having either one or two losses and no club undefeated.

"It really is exciting," Samford coach Bill Gray said in Tuesday's weekly OVC teleconference. "I don't think anybody can let up or feel like they've got anything clinched until all the games have been played. It can go a lot of different ways."

On an unusual Saturday that saw all four road teams win --after home squads had been 10-2 during the first three weeks of the conference season -- Tennessee State was the final OVC squad to suffer its first league loss when Jacksonville State romped 34-7.

"The team that we expected to show up to play Jacksonville State didn't show up, and that's no discredit to them because they have a very good football team and a very good coaching staff," Tennessee State coach James Reese said.

Jackson State and Samford -- which passed for 516 yards to rout Tennessee-Martin 57-22 -- are tied for first at 3-1, with Tennessee State and Southeast Missouri State University both 2-1.

"I think it encouraged us that we do have an opportunity to compete for the conference championship," Jacksonville State coach Jack Crowe said of the Gamecocks' win over Tennessee State.

Still in the thick of things are 2-2 Eastern Kentucky, 1-2 Eastern Illinois and 1-2 Tennessee Tech. Murray State and Tennessee-Martin, both 1-3, are on life support regarding the OVC race.

"The league is so well balanced that way, I think two losses is not unforeseen at all," said Eastern Illinois coach Bob Spoo.

Among the top four teams in the OVC's preseason coaches' poll -- in order Southeast Missouri, Murray State, Eastern Illinois and Eastern Kentucky -- only the Indians find themselves near the top of the standings right now.

Southeast, after losing its first five games, boosted its title hopes with a 41-38 win at Eastern Kentucky.

"It was a big win for us," Southeast coach Tim Billings said. "It could have been a heart-breaking loss, but we came through at the end."

Eastern Illinois, which tied Murray State for last season's OVC title, broke a five-game losing streak and kept its championship hopes alive with a 27-17 win at Murray State.

"It's just a great feeling again," Spoo said. "Losing just saps the energy right out of you."

Samford was picked eighth out of nine in the preseason coaches' poll, Jacksonville State tied for fifth and Tennessee State seventh.

"Obviously, being the newcomer on the block, there wasn't much expected out of us, and rightfully so," Gray said. "Obviously we're enjoying some of the success we're having now, but there's still a long way to go."

Extra points

Samford quarterback Ray Nelson, a key to the Bulldogs' surprise showing so far, passed for 303 yards and two touchdowns in just a half of play against Tennessee-Martin. Nelson leads the OVC in passing with 1,544 yards and total offense with 1,738 yards. He has a league-best 14 touchdown passes with just five interceptions.

Samford's Efrem Hill, the OVC leader in receptions per game and receiving yards per game, caught 11 passes for 223 yards and two touchdowns against Tennessee-Martin. Hill has 48 receptions for 832 yards this year.

Tennessee State tailback Charles Anthony, the OVC's leading rusher, was held under 100 yards for the first time this season. Jacksonville State limited him to 30 yards on 15 carries.

Eastern Illinois linebacker Fred Miller, second in the league in tackles, likely will miss several weeks after injuring a knee against Murray State.

mmishow@semissourian.com

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