10-19-2012, 02:36 PM
The Eastern Kentucky University football team faces another tough Ohio Valley Conference challenge this Saturday night at Tennessee Tech. Game time in Cookeville, Tenn., is set for 8 p.m.
The No. 23 Colonels (5-2, 3-1 OVC) need a win to remain in the hunt for the conference title. Tennessee State remains undefeated in league action while Eastern Illinois and UT Martin have just one OVC blemish as well. Only three times in the history of the OVC has a football team won the league title with two conference losses (1962, 2009, 2011).
Eastern Kentucky has one of the most balanced offenses in the conference as the Colonels have rushed for 1,398 yards this season and passed for 1,466. Senior RB Matt Denham ranks second in the OVC in rushing (124.9 yards per game) while senior QB T.J. Pryor ranks third nationally in passing efficiency (171.3).
Eastern leads the OVC in turnover margin at +8 while the Colonel defense has forced at least one turnover in 19 of the previous 20 games dating back to 2010. Senior DB Justin Bell tallied his second career interception returned for a score last week versus Austin Peay.
Meanwhile, Tennessee Tech (2-4, 0-3) has dropped its last four games, but is coming off an open week last weekend. The Golden Eagles have particularly struggled on defense where they allow 42.7 points per game and rank last in the OVC in rushing defense (219.2 ypg).On offense, Tech has scored at least 35 points in four of its six games.
Eastern Kentucky owns 50 all-time victories over Tennessee Tech, which are tied for the most against any opponent in the school annals. However, TTU held the Colonels to just 194 yards of total offense in the Golden Eaglesâ 28-21 win last year, which was EKUâs second lowest output of the season.
Who you got?
The No. 23 Colonels (5-2, 3-1 OVC) need a win to remain in the hunt for the conference title. Tennessee State remains undefeated in league action while Eastern Illinois and UT Martin have just one OVC blemish as well. Only three times in the history of the OVC has a football team won the league title with two conference losses (1962, 2009, 2011).
Eastern Kentucky has one of the most balanced offenses in the conference as the Colonels have rushed for 1,398 yards this season and passed for 1,466. Senior RB Matt Denham ranks second in the OVC in rushing (124.9 yards per game) while senior QB T.J. Pryor ranks third nationally in passing efficiency (171.3).
Eastern leads the OVC in turnover margin at +8 while the Colonel defense has forced at least one turnover in 19 of the previous 20 games dating back to 2010. Senior DB Justin Bell tallied his second career interception returned for a score last week versus Austin Peay.
Meanwhile, Tennessee Tech (2-4, 0-3) has dropped its last four games, but is coming off an open week last weekend. The Golden Eagles have particularly struggled on defense where they allow 42.7 points per game and rank last in the OVC in rushing defense (219.2 ypg).On offense, Tech has scored at least 35 points in four of its six games.
Eastern Kentucky owns 50 all-time victories over Tennessee Tech, which are tied for the most against any opponent in the school annals. However, TTU held the Colonels to just 194 yards of total offense in the Golden Eaglesâ 28-21 win last year, which was EKUâs second lowest output of the season.
Who you got?