Saturday, October 31, 2009 11:22 AM CDT
Spoo sees danger at Murray State
BY BRIAN NIELSEN, Sports Editor
bnielsen@jg-tc.com
For the second straight week Bob Spoo is using the description “arguably.”
Last week, Eastern Illinois’ football coach’s statement that Jacksonville State was “arguably the best team in the OVC until someone proves otherwise” planted a seed for his Panthers to pull off an upset and move to the top of the Ohio Valley Conference.
This week: “Arguably the most dangerous team in the OVC is Murray State,” Spoo said.
You can make that case for the Racers, next in the way for Eastern’s OVC title and NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoff chase which resumes with today’s 1 p.m. game at Murray, Ky.
Besides the fact, Murray State, 2-5 overall and 1-3 in the OVC, may have big-play receiver, kick returner Derrick Townsel back near full strength today to revive a team that ranks 116th among 118 FCS teams in total offense, the Racers have a defense that enabled them to beat Eastern’s closest OVC pursuer Tennessee State without the benefit of a touchdown.
Two weeks ago Kienan Cullen kicked field goals of 36, 24 and 40 yards and the Racers’ defense did the rest limiting Tennessee State to 237 yards in their 9-6 win.
“That’s a feather in their cap and they can do it to us if we’re not ready,” Spoo said.
Eastern’s offense, after all, was not exactly a juggernaut last week.
Limited to 65 yards rushing and 190 passing, the Panthers used Lorence Ricks’ blocked punt setting up a touchdown and kickoff return for a touchdown in the 28-20 win at Jacksonville State moving the Panthers to 6-2 overall, 4-1 atop the OVC and 19th and 20th in FCS national rankings.
Led by 6-foot-7, 270-pound end Austen Lane, who has been living up to his OVC Preseason Defensive Player of Year recognition, Murray State’s defense presents plenty of challenges for Eastern’s offense as well.
“They are a little bit more aggressive,” EIU offensive coordinator Roy Wittke said. “The problems they present with their personnel - their two defense ends are as good as there are in the league. (Jamal) Crook and Lane are extremely disruptive. You have to account for them for everything that they do. They’re aggressive. We have to not only handle that pressure but the key is attacking that pressure ourselves.”
Even as the most scored upon OVC team allowing 32.1 points per game in a season that includes a 65-7 loss at North Carolina State, the Racers may fit assessment of being dangerous.
“That’s a very appropriate description of them defensively,” Wittke said. “Their numbers aren’t that great but you take away the North Carolina State game and Jacksonville State game and they are very good. They have given up a number of big plays but they’ve also made some big plays. They have a high number of tackles for loss and high number of sacks. They put you in a hole and keep you from being explosive.”
Eastern’s offense this week has to go without injured left guard Eric Zink with senior Chris Vaccaro and sophomore Eric Rettke to share time at that spot.
The Panthers’ defense still is battling injuries but linebacker Gordy Kickel is back after missing last week. Safeties Seymour Loftman and Adrian Arrington and end Nathan Galan are to give it a try while not full strength.
The defense not only has to deal with the Townsel as a receiver but also his speed as the nation’s third-leading punt returner.
With Marcus Harris ranking third in the nation in kickoff returns, Murray State as a team ranks third nationally in punt returns and fourth in kickoff returns.
Eastern’s defense at least on kickoff returns could come from kicker Austin Signor, whose 21 touchbacks into the end zone on kickoffs top the rest of the OVC combined, which is 15.
So Murray State coach Matt Griffin is looking for ways to be dangerous without returning kicks.
“We may not get the opportunity with that guy blasting it through the end zone,” Griffin said.
Contact Brian Nielsen at bnielsen@jg-tc.com or 238-6856.
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