The Gamecocks hold a one-game lead over three teams in conference play.

By Marty Mishow ~ Southeast Missourian

Eastern Illinois was all but eliminated from Ohio Valley Conference championship contention with a heartbreaking overtime loss Saturday -- but the Panthers can still have a big impact on the OVC race.

The Panthers, who rallied from a 21-point, fourth-quarter deficit only to fall at Tennessee Tech 40-37 in overtime, host league leading Jacksonville State this Saturday.

And you can bet that Eastern Kentucky, Murray State and Tennessee Tech -- all with two OVC losses compared to one for Jacksonville State -- will be some of Eastern Illinois' biggest fans this week.

"Absolutely," a laughing Eastern Kentucky coach Danny Hope said during Tuesday's weekly OVC teleconference. "And that ought to be a heck of a football game. I'm glad they're playing down in Charleston."

Added Murray State coach Joe Pannunzio, "Yeah, we're for anybody against Jacksonville. Not that we don't like Jacksonville because coach Crowe and I are best of friends. But it should be a great game up there and we'll see what happens."

Jacksonville State (7-1, 5-1) can clinch at least a tie for the OVC title by beating Eastern Illinois (4-5, 3-3).

And if the Gamecocks do win, then all that would stand between them, a second consecutive undisputed league crown and a Division I-AA playoff berth would be a home victory over struggling Southeast Missouri State University (2-7, 2-4) in next week's finale.

"We feel like we've got all the challenge we can stand ahead of us," Jacksonville State coach Jack Crowe said. "We're going to Eastern Illinois, a team that's won OVC championships and won 'em back to back, something we're trying to do.

"It's a one-game season, that's all that's on our minds."

If Eastern Illinois upsets Jacksonville State, then Murray State (5-4, 4-2), Eastern Kentucky (4-5, 4-2) and Tennessee Tech (6-3, 3-2) would move into a first-place tie with victories -- and that would set up a wild final week of the regular season.

But Tennessee Tech coach Mike Hennigan isn't about to look too far ahead.

"I haven't thought too much about the conference race. We just have to hope our football team finishes strong," Hennigan said. "Jacksonville State is in the position to win the conference. With two losses in the conference, you can't be real optimistic about wearing the ring on your finger, that's for sure."

In addition to Tennessee Tech's overtime triumph over Eastern Illinois, one other down-to-the-wire finish took place Saturday, as Tennessee State (4-5, 2-3) built a 25-point third-quarter lead and held off visiting Southeast Missouri 38-36.

The most impressive performance was turned in by Jacksonville State, which rushed for a school-record 453 yards and set a school record with 646 yards of total offense during a 51-18 home demolition of Alabama rival Samford (4-6, 3-4).

Also Saturday, Eastern Kentucky posted a 41-14 triumph over visiting Tennessee-Martin (2-8, 1-6).

In addition to Jacksonville State at Eastern Illinois, other contests this week are Tennessee State at Eastern Kentucky, Tennessee Tech at Southeast Missouri and Tennessee-Martin at Murray State.

Extra points

Even though Tennessee Tech is only playing seven OVC games this year, if the Eagles win their final two games, their 5-2 conference record would be considered the same as 6-2 and give them a share of the title if Jacksonville State falters.

With teams limited by the NCAA to playing just 11 regular-season games this year and in the foreseeable future, the OVC has allowed Tennessee State to continue with its four traditional 'Classic' games that help fund the athletic department, meaning the Tigers will only play seven conference contests per year.

Since Tennessee State and another team will play one less OVC game each year, the conference decided to count losses instead of winning percentage as far as the standings are concerned. This season, it happens that the Eagles were the one squad that missed out on playing the Tigers.

Jacksonville State tailback Oscar Bonds and Tennessee Tech linebacker Brett Vavra are the league's offensive and defensive players of the week.

Bonds rushed for a career-high 186 yards on 14 carries and scored two touchdowns against Samford. Vavra recorded a career-high 18 tackles against Eastern Illinois.