Nathan Hutchinson
The Colonels needed a little help — and they got it from a very unlikely source.
Now, they know they control their own destiny heading into the regular-season finale Saturday at Jacksonville State.
Eastern Illinois (8-3, 6-2 OVC) had a chance to wrap up the Ohio Valley Conference title Thursday at home against Tennessee State (4-7, 3-4). However, the Tigers pulled off a 21-10 upset of the 13th-ranked Panthers, giving the Colonels a shot at a third-straight title. Tennessee State had lost four-straight games, but scored three second-half touchdowns to stun Eastern Illinois.
Eastern Kentucky University (5-5, 5-2 OVC) can clinch a record 21st OVC title and an automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs with a win against 15th-ranked Jacksonville State.
If the Gamecocks beat EKU in the regular-season finale, Eastern Illinois will win the title and head to the postseason.
EKU has lost three of its past four games, including an extremely disappointing loss at home last Saturday to Western Carolina.
The Colonels have won two-straight against Jacksonville State. They picked up a 38-35 win last season over the Gamecocks at Roy Kidd Stadium.
TSU’s Calvin McNairl threw for one touchdown and ran for another in the upset victory over Eastern Illinois.
McNairl put the Tigers ahead 7-3 in the third quarter when he scored from a yard out. His 3-yard pass to Ronald Bright extended the edge to 14-3.
After Charles Graves hauled in a 22-yard TD pass from Jake Christensen with 10:11 left to help Eastern Illinois trim the gap to 14-10, Donte Thomas scored on a 10-yard run to put TSU in command.
McNairl finished 9-of-16 for 135 yards. Thomas carried the ball 20 times for 70 yards. Christensen was 13-of-33 for 151 yards and had three interceptions.
