Published: November 22, 2008 12:57 am      

Colonels and Skyhawks to meet today for OVC title

The Ohio Valley Conference doesn’t have a championship game — at least not officially.

However, for the second time in the past eight seasons, the outcome of a final-weekend showdown will determine the league title and an automatic bid to the Football Championship Subdivision Playoffs.

The Colonels (7-3, 6-1 OVC) and 18th-ranked UT Martin (8-3, 6-1) are set to meet today in Martin, Tenn., in a winner-take-all battle for the title.

Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Graham Stadium.

“When they put the schedule together, I’m sure that’s not how they were writing the script,” Eastern Kentucky University coach Dean Hood. “But, that’s the way it worked out and I’m just really happy for our guys that it can come down to that.”

It does, indeed, all come down to this one game.

And both teams know that more than just a championship is on the line.

The winner is guaranteed a spot in the playoffs, which get under way next week. The loser will likely not have a very realistic chance getting an at-large postseason bid from the selection committee.

“It’s a championship game,” EKU senior defensive lineman Chris Coy said. “The team that wins gets a ring and gets to go to the playoffs. The team that loses is probably going to be sitting home watching ESPN wondering why they are not there. It’s going to be exciting.”

Just a few weeks ago, it seemed very unlikely that the Colonels would have a shot at a second-straight championship.

EKU was just 1-3 after dropping their OVC opener at Tennessee State and faced a long, difficult battle to get back in the race for a title.

Still, the Colonels bounced back with six-straight wins and after getting a little help from Jacksonville State last weekend, they know they needed just one more victory to claim the school’s record 20th OVC title.

“You probably couldn’t have found anyone in Madison County (two months ago) that would have said I bet these guys are going to win a championship,” Hood said. “That’s just a testament to our entire team, the coaching staff and in particular our seniors.”

Three teams entered last weekend tied at the top of the OVC standings — Tennessee State, EKU and UT Martin.

TSU controlled its own destiny after defeating the Colonels and the Skyhawks earlier in the season. But, the Tigers fell out of contention for the title with a loss at Jacksonville State, while EKU and UTM set up the championship showdown with easy wins.

“You’ve got an opportunity to play at home (for a title) and that’s all you can ask for — a head-to-head opportunity,” UT Martin coach Jason Simpson said.

The Skyhawks had the same opportunity two years ago.

However, the Colonels got a last-second field goal from Taylor Long and picked up a 31-28 win at Graham Stadium in the regular-season finale.

Because of that loss, UT Martin had to share the title with Eastern Illinois, but still made the FCS Playoffs for first time in school history.

If the Skyhawks win today, they would clinch their first-ever outright OVC title. They would also snap EKU’s dominance in the all-time series.

The Colonels are 18-0 all-time against UT Martin.

“This is a big game,” EKU quarterback Allan Holland said. “And you can say whatever you want to say, but there is a lot on the line. Still, I feel good about our chances.”

Led by the league’s top offense (37.9 points per game), the Skyhawks have won four of their last five, with the only setback coming at Auburn, 37-20, two weeks ago.

Junior quarterback Cade Thompson (2,261 yards, 22 TDs) is among the OVC leaders in several categories, while Brandyn Young (650 yards, 12 TDs) highlights a talented group of backs and Mike Hicks (749 yards, 10 TDs) has emerged as a standout playmaker among the receivers.

“They have an explosive offense,” Hood said of UT Martin. “They have a really good quarterback. He is a really good player. He is smart with the football and he can make every throw. Running back is by committee. They’ve got a ton of guys.”

The Colonels have used a dominant defense to get to the title game. In the past six weeks, they have allowed just 84 points (14.5 ppg) and haven’t allowed more than 16 points since an Oct. 11 win over Jacksonville State.

EKU leads the OVC in scoring defense (20.6 ppg) and is third in total defense (339.5 ypg).

“We have a lot of confidence on defense,” Coy said. “We feel like we can go out there and do whatever we want to do.”

Just like a year ago, turnovers have once again played a key role in the success of that defense. The Colonels are first in the OVC and ninth nationally in turnover margin at +12.

Last season during an undefeated run through the OVC, EKU was +22 in turnover margin.

“If we have more turnovers than them, the chances of us winning the game aren’t very good,” Simpson said. “But, on the flip side of that, we are going to have to be able to score some points.”