Southeast Missouri was the Football Championship Subdivision's No. 18 ranked team when the Govs played them last week.
When the Govs head to Jacksonville, Ala., 3 p.m., Saturday, to face Jacksonville State, they will be facing the FCS No. 3 ranked team.
Talked about jumping from the proverbial frying pan into the fire!
The Gamecocks come in a 7-0 overall, including an early season road win at Ole Miss, while owning a 4-0 Ohio Valley Conference mark.
JSU is coming off a dominating 24-0 victory last Saturday against Tennessee State. It was Jacksonville State's 11th-straight win, their longest winning streak since 1999. It also is the first time since 1991 the Gamecocks started out 7-0. In the process, JSU recorded its first shutout since 2006 and it snapped a streak of 51-straight games in which Tennessee State had scored.
The JSU offense may not have been overwhelming but it did rush for 174 yards and 273 yards total offense.
However, it was the JSU defense that sparked the victory, the Tigers to just 65 passing yards and 219 yards total offense.
Defensively, strong side linebacker Antonio Bonner leads the way with 48 tackles, including 31 initial hits. Fellow backer Rodney Garrott has 38 stops, including eight for loss, while on the other side Morrell Jones has 36 stops, including five for loss. Defensive end Marquis George has 5.5 tackles for loss while safety Keginald Harris has five pass interceptions and five more break ups.
When you throw all the numbers, streaks and the No. 3 ranking into the mix, then you add the fact it is homecoming this week at JSU, well, the Govs will be facing a strong challenge in their hopes of ending a three-game losing streak.
The Gamecock defense certainly is going to produce a challenge for APSU's offense. The Governors (2-4 overall, 1-2 OVC) were able to score 24 points against a rugged SEMO defense, but two of the TDs came early.
Quarterback Jake Ryan again will lead the Govs offense, having thrown for 863 yards and six TDs in the season's first six games.
The Govs will need strong rushing efforts from Ryan White (459 yard, 5.l7 ypr) and Terrence Holt 340 yards (4.8 ypr).
Defensively, the Govs again will be seeking a way to control the opposition's running game. The Govs permitted 297 yards rushing a week ago to SEMO, despite a 17-tackle performance b y safety Antwaun Majors.
APSU did force its first turnover in four games in the defeat.
-AP-
