The Ohio Valley Conference scored 340 points in four conference games last week, an average of 42.5 points per team. The closest competitor to the OVC was the Big Sky Conference, with an average of 33.67 points per team.

Three OVC teams scored more than 50 points in last weekend’s games.

Samford led the way with 59 points at Tennessee Tech – which scored 52 points – and Tennessee-Martin scored 55 points at home against Southeast Missouri.

UT-Martin coach Jason Simpson said the upward offensive trend in the OVC might be a result of teams losing defensive players from last year and playing experienced defenders against returning seasoned players on offense.

“You put that with maybe some shorter fields with the kickoffs, and you’re able to score some points,” Simpson said.

Samford coach Pat Sullivan said teams have playmakers on offense but moving the kickoff back five yards to the 35-yard line has affected offensive output, as well.

“Right or wrong, I didn’t want to kick it to (Larry) Shipp last week,” Sullivan said. “I did one time, and he ran it back for a touchdown.”

Shipp, a wide receiver for Tech, was named the National Special Teams Player of the Week after recording 301 all-purpose yards against Samford. Shipp had two kick returns for 110 yards, including an 88-yard return for a touchdown.

Sullivan said the rest of the time, he had his kicker do a squib kick. Tech was starting on offense around the 40-yard line.

“That was probably dumb on my part to do that,” Sullivan said. “I think the situation with the kicking is giving people a short field and maybe creating more points.”

The increase in offense is apparent when looking at total offense and defense statistics.

UT-Martin finished the 2006 season fifth in the OVC in total offense, gaining 325 yards per game, and first in total defense, giving up 255.5 yards per game.

This season, the Skyhawks are sixth in total offense, gaining 395.8 yards per game, and second in total defense, giving up 363.6 yards per game.

Quarterbacks have record games

Thee quarterbacks in the OVC had career days last Saturday.

Samford quarterback Jefferson Adcock was named Offensive Player of the Week after his 472-passing yard, five-touchdown and zero-interception performance against Tech.

“I thought he played about as heady a ball game as I’ve had a quarterback play last week,” Sullivan said.

Tech coach Watson Brown said the game against Samford must have been enjoyable from a fan’s perspective, but as a coach, it was tough.

“It was just whoever had the ball last,” Brown said. “Both offenses were phenomenal, and there wasn’t a whole lot of defense played.”

Murray State quarterback Jeff Erhardt and UT-Martin quarterback Cade Thompson were named the OVC Co-Newcomers of the Week.

Erhardt completed 29-of-43 passes for five touchdowns and a career-best 344 yards. Erhardt’s five touchdown passes went to five different receivers, but he also threw three interceptions.

The Racers will play at Tennessee State on Saturday, and TSU coach James Webster said Murray’s offense would be a challenge for the Tigers defense.

“I’m not sure if they’re not the one of the best offenses in the league right now,” Webster said. “(Erhardt) is doing an excellent job of finding receivers. The other part is he can run the football – and will run the football.”

In just his second start of the season, Thompson completed 23-of-32 passes for 317 yards and three touchdowns with zero interceptions. Thompson was the first Skyhawks quarterback to throw for more than 300 yards since 2004.

“Cade gives us another dimension back there,” Simpson said. “He stands in the pocket. He makes some throws. He has some mobility.”

Despite Thompson’s success, Simpson said he likes his team’s depth at quarterback and would prepare for UT-Martin’s game against Murray State with both Thompson and Dexter Anoka playing significant roles.

Last-second field goals

Eastern beat Tennessee State 38-35 on a 30-yard field goal by Tyler Wilke as time expired, and Eastern coach Bob Spoo said his team was fortunate to come away with a victory.

The Tigers had been fortuitous in previous weeks.

TSU dealt with last-second field goals previously twice this season, but in the other two games, it won.

Tigers’ kicker Eric Benson made a 35-yard field goal as the clock ran out to beat Jackson State 16-13 on Sept. 8.

The next week, Benson made a 43-yard field goal with nine seconds on the clock to tie the game at 26 against Austin Peay. The Tigers won the game in overtime on a two-yard touchdown run by Javarris Williams.