Published On: 04.08.21 | 

By: Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Football preview: Jacksonville State takes on Murray State in bid for ninth and last OVC championship

The Jacksonville State Gamecocks take care of business vs. Eastern Illinois. The 44-23 victory puts JSU once again playing for an Ohio Valley Conference championship, its final opportunity before moving to the ASUN Conference this fall. (Brandon Phillips/JSU Athletics)

TV game shows historically offered “parting gifts” for contestants who fell short of the grand prize.

Jacksonville State wants to grab a parting gift, but it won’t be as the runner-up.

Jacksonville State wide receiver Ahmad Edwards makes a grab in the Gamecocks’ 44-23 victory over Eastern Illinois. (Brandon Phillips/JSU Athletics)

The Gamecocks will complete their final season in the Ohio Valley Conference on Sunday as they travel to Murray State for a contest that will determine the OVC championship. Victory in the 2 p.m. Central game would mark JSU’s ninth – and final – Ohio Valley football title as it moves in the fall to the ASUN Conference, formerly known as the Atlantic Sun.

A final OVC title became questionable when Jacksonville State lost 13-10 to Austin Peay on March 28. A 44-23 Gamecock victory at Eastern Illinois left ajar the door to the crown room and the Governors’ 34-31 win over Murray State set the stage for the winner-take-all event.

Coach John Grass said he thinks it would be fitting for JSU to win the league as it moves into the ASUN. It would be great, he said, to compete in the fall, play again in the spring and have the opportunity to play for a title this weekend.

“You can’t ask for anything more,” Grass said. “I know our guys will be excited and it will be a great football game. It will be a classic game of who has the ball last or who can make plays late in the game. It means a lot to any team to win a championship, and to go out being champions would be huge. I am glad we have the opportunity this weekend.”

The Gamecocks (8-2, 5-1 OVC) climbed two rungs to No. 10 in the latest Football Championship Subdivision STATS ranking. Murray State (5-1 overall, 5-1 OVC) dropped from No. 12 to No. 17 with its loss to Austin Peay, which now is tied with Duquesne at No. 25.

Alabama A&M at Jackson State: The Bulldogs (2-0 overall, 1-0 Southwestern Athletic Conference) are more than ready for their close-up in this nationally televised game at 3 p.m. Saturday on ESPN. Coach Connell Maynor’s squad is undefeated in two games this spring but has been on the field only to down South Carolina State 31-7. The other win came by forfeit when Alcorn State opted out in the spring. Four times this season, COVID-19 concerns have called off A&M games; three contests were postponed and the March 27 game against Grambling State – the only home game for the Bulldogs – was canceled. Jackson State (3-2 overall, 2-1 SWAC) was ranked No. 21 in the country before back-to-back losses to Alabama State (35-28) and Southern (34-14).

Mississippi Valley State at Alabama State: Coming off a 14-7 loss to South Carolina State, the Hornets host the Delta Devils (0-2) at 2 p.m. Saturday for Senior Day. ASU is 2-2 overall and 2-1 in the SWAC.

Samford (idle): The Bulldogs (3-3) are cooling their heels after their scheduled game Saturday at Chattanooga was canceled because of COVID-19 concerns. That means Coach Chris Hatcher’s team will have been idle for three weeks before hosting its season finale April 17 against Mercer.