WEEK 2 SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, SEPT. 6 TIME WATCH SERIES
WESTERN ILLINOIS at Indiana …………………………………………………………………………….. 7:00pm ET BTN 1st meeting
SATURDAY, SEPT. 7 TIME WATCH SERIES
TENNESSEE TECH at Georgia (#1) ………………………………………………………………….. 2:00pm ET SECN+ UGA leads series, 2-0
TENNESSEE STATE at #2/2 North Dakota State …………………………… 2:30pm CT ESPN+ 1st meeting
CHARLESTON SOUTHERN at #15/16 Furman ……………………………………. 6:00pm ET ESPN+ FUR leads series, 2-0
GARDNER-WEBB at James Madison ………………………………………………………….. 6:00pm ET ESPN+ 1st meeting
UT MARTIN at SOUTHEAST MISSOURI * ……………………………………………….. 6:00pm CT ESPN+ UTM leads series, 20-19
Indiana State at EASTERN ILLINOIS ……………………………………………………………. 6:00pm CT ESPN+ EIU leads series, 44-40-4
9/9 Central Arkansas at LINDENWOOD …………………………………………….. 6:00pm CT ESPN+ LIN leads series, 1-0
All Times subject to change
2-MINUTE OFFENSE
OPENING KICKOFF: The Association nearly pulled off two FBS wins in Week 1, as both Tennessee Tech and Southeast Missouri suffered one possession losses. TTU had a late lead over Middle Tennessee before falling by seven, and SEMO was ahead 16-10 early in the fourth quarter before New Mexico State prevailed by seven.
1st DOWN: The first Association game of the season is Saturday when SEMO hosts UT Martin. The two teams have either won or shared a Conference Championship in 4 of the past 5 years, with SEMO sharing titles in 2019 and 2022, and UTM winning an outright title in 2021 while sharing titles in 2022 and 2023. The teams have split (5-5) the last 10 meetings, and alternating wins the last three. It will be first September meeting between the squads since 2014 (Sept. 27).
2nd DOWN: Western Illinois recorded the first defensive extra point in Association history last week when FREDRIK GREENHOWARD returned a PAT kick blocked by MAYO BOLA 100 yards for two points at Northern Illinois.
3rd DOWN: Southeast Missouri K DC PIPPIN is now one of four kickers in Association history to make field goals of 40+ and 50+ yards in the same game, as he converted from 53 and 48 yards at New Mexico State last week. The 53-yarder is the third-longest in league annals.
4th DOWN: Tennessee State QB DRAYLEN ELLIS threw for 356 yards and three touchdowns in the Tigers’ Week 1 victory. It was the fifth-most single-game passing yardage in Association history, and his top target was JALAL DEAN, who had nine catches for 144 yards and a score.
SLANT ROUTES
- CHARLESTON SOUTHERN: The Buccaneers are looking to avoid starting 0-2 for the first time since 2022 (0-5) … CSU and Furman meet for the third time on Saturday. The previous meetings were 2019 and 2022.
- EASTERN ILLINOIS: The Panthers are looking to avoid starting 0-2 for the first time since 2022 (0-3) … EIU is meeting Indiana State for the 89th time on Saturday, and won last year’s match-up, 27-0.
- GARDNER-WEBB: The Runnin’ Bulldogs are looking to avoid starting 0-2 for the first time since 2021 (0-2) … GWU plays three consecutive road games over the next three weeks, including two-straight FBS contests.
- LINDENWOOD: The Lions are looking to avoid starting 0-2 for the first time since 2021 (0-2) … Lindenwood won the first-ever meeting with Central Arkansas, 52-49, on Oct. 8, 2022.
- SOUTHEAST MISSOURI: The Redhawks are playing their home opener on Saturday, and are seeking their first home victory since Oct. 14, 2023 … SEMO is looking to begin conference play 1-0 for the sixth consecutive year, and has won the last two meetings with UTM in Cape Girardeau.
- TENNESSEE STATE: The Tigers are looking to start 2-0 for the first time since 2018 (2-0) … North Dakota State marks the first of two first-time opponents for TSU this season.
- TENNESSEE TECH: The Golden Eagles are playing their second consecutive FBS opponent to start the season … TTU and Georgia last met in 2009, while the first-ever meeting was in 1943.
- UT MARTIN: The Skyhawks are looking to avoid starting 0-2 for the first time since 2018 … UTM is also seeking its fourth consecutive 1-0 start to conference play, as well as its second-straight win over SEMO.
- WESTERN ILLINOIS: The Leathernecks are playing their second consecutive FBS opponent to open the season, and second of three-straight road games to start the year. Indiana marks the first of five first-time opponents for WIU this season.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK – SEPT. 2
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Draylen Ellis, Tennessee State, QB • 6-1, 175, Gr. • Branch, Miss.
Ellis helped Tennessee State begin the season 1-0 for the first time since 2019, as the Tigers topped Mississippi Valley State 41-21 in the John Merrit Classic. The graduate student completed 21-of-33 passes for a career-best 356 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for seven yards. His first touchdown pass went to Jalal Dean for 55 yards just 2:34 into the game. He added a one-yarder later in the first quarter and then a 31-yarder a minute before halftime to give TSU a 31-0 advantage at intermission.
Others Nominated: Rob McCoy Jr. (Charleston Southern), Tyler Riddell (Gardner-Webb), Dorian Anderson (Southeast Missouri), Jordyn Potts (Tennessee Tech), Nathan Lamb (Western Illinois)
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Steve Zayachkowsky, Charleston Southern, LB • 5-10, 205, Soph. • Indian Trail, N.C.
Zayachkowsky made his first career start against The Citadel and made eight solo tackles to lead his team. The sophomore had a key sack early in the second quarter which forced a fumble out of bounds. The Buccaneers allowed just three points in the first half, leading 14-3 at the break.
Others Nominated: Elijawah Tolbert (Eastern Illinois), Pius Njenge (Gardner-Webb), Ethan Stuhlsatz (Lindenwood), Eriq George (Tennessee State), Caldra Williford (Tennessee Tech), Willie Jones (Western Illinois)
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
James Lowery, Tennessee State, K • 5-10, 210, R-Sr. • Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Lowery was perfect on his kicking attempts in Tennessee State’s 41-21 victory over Mississippi Valley State. The redshirt senior connected on two field goals (from 20 and 32 yards) and was 5-of-5 on PAT’s to account for 11 points. He also had eight kickoffs, two of which went for touchbacks.
Others Nominated: Jacob Horvath (Eastern Illinois), Jay Billingsley (Gardner-Webb), DC Pippin (Southeast Missouri), Spencer Ashby (Tennessee Tech), Jaren Van Winkle (UT Martin), Antonio Chadha (Western Illinois)
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Spencer Ashby, Tennessee Tech, P • 6-3, 220, Fr. • Geelong, Australia
In his collegiate debut, the Australian punted four times, averaging 38.8 yards per attempt against FBS opponent Middle Tennessee. Ashby had a long punt of 47 yards and downed half of his punts inside the Blue Raider 20-yard line.
Others Nominated: Tyson Greenwade (Charleston Southern)
