Published: October 10, 2009 12:43 am      

A year later, loss to TSU still a painful memory for EKU

RICHMOND — More than a year later, the memory still remains very fresh for the Colonels.

After they snapped an eight-game losing streak to Eastern Kentucky University with a 34-20 victory last September in Nashville, Tennessee State players enjoyed a rather raucous postgame celebration on the turf at L.P. Field.

For the Colonels, the loss was painful.

However, having to witness the Tigers revel in their victory was even more difficult.

“It does cross our minds,” EKU sophomore defensive back Jeremy Caldwell said of the loss and the celebration. “We know we lost to them last year. But, we are going to come out this week and try to get some payback.”

The 16th-ranked Colonels (3-1, 3-0 OVC) will get their chance for a little payback when they take on Tennessee State (2-3, 1-0) at 6 p.m. today at Roy Kidd Stadium.

Both teams are undefeated in the Ohio Valley Conference and the winner will take over first place in the standings.

“Our players feel confident that they can compete against anyone on our schedule,” TSU coach James Webster said. “We will have a confident football team. It’s a big game for us. It’s a big game for the Colonels, too.”

The Colonels had dominated the series with the Tigers until last year’s loss.

EKU still leads the all-time series 19-3, including a 11-1 record at home, and many of those wins have been by lopsided margins. Only five of the all-time meetings between the two schools have been decided by seven points or less.

Despite the mostly one-sided results of the series, the rivalry has become pretty intense the past couple of years.

“I’m pretty sure we are going to see something in the paper this week from TSU (players) talking about how they are going to do something,” EKU linebacker Antonio Fredrick said. “But, we just have to go out on the field and produce and not worried about all the talking.”

Since that loss last year in Nashville, the Colonels have rolled to 10-straight OVC wins.

EKU rebounded from that setback against the Tigers to win its final seven conference games and wrap up a second-straight league title.

The Colonels took over sole possession of first place in the OVC last week with a 36-31 win over previously undefeated Eastern Illinois (4-1, 3-1).

“We’ve just got to take one game at a time,” EKU coach Dean Hood said. “Last week was the Super Bowl and this week is the Super Bowl. We’ve got to focus every single week.”

The Colonels trailed by eight points (24-16) early in the third quarter against Eastern Illinois, but redshirt freshman quarterback T.J. Pryor led two touchdown drives and Caldwell returned an interception for a touchdown that capped a remarkable comeback.

In his first college start, Pryor was 19-of-30 for 293 yards and had three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing).

“He’s got a great demeanor,” Hood said of Pryor. “He doesn’t get upset when things are adverse. He keeps his cool and when the game is on the line he’s not shaky. It just comes naturally for him. That’s just one of the gifts he has.”

Led by Pryor, EKU finished with a season-high 416 yards of total offense and was a season-best 10-of-16 on third down despite committing four turnovers.

“We had some turnovers and that really killed us,” Pryor said. “We really need to focus on that.”

After limiting the Panthers to just 44 yards rushing, the Colonels rank third nationally in rushing defense (52.2). EKU has held an opponent to less than 100 yard rushing in 10 of its past 16 games.

The Tigers racked up 229 yards in the ground last season against the Colonels.

TSU is currently second in the OVC in rushing yards a game (165) and has the league’s leading rusher — quarterback Calvin McNairl.

The sophomore took over under center after junior Dominique Grooms was injured in the season opener. He has rushed for 391 yards on 59 carries (97.8 yard per game average) and has four rushing touchdowns.

“Right now, our best running back is Calvin,” Webster said. “He’s done a great job moving the ball down the field.”

Last week, the Tigers had a 13-point second-half lead at home against SEMO and had to hold on for a 23-17 win in their OVC opener. TSU recovered an on-sides kick after the Redhawks scored with just more than a minute left in the fourth quarter.

The Tigers finished with 259 yards rushing, led by McNairl’s 122 yards on 20 carries.

“They are so big up front that they block out the sun,” Hood said of TSU’s offensive/defensive line. “They have athletes all over the place — guys who can catch and run. They are always the most athletic team in our league.”

EKU has won 22 of its past 23 OVC games — with the only loss during that stretch coming against Tennessee State last season.