Thursday news

Here's what's online today:

The (Clarksville, Tenn.) Leaf Chronicle says Austin Peay State has relied heavily on drawing defenders out for a long pass, then giving the ball to running back Chris Fletcher and watching him pile up the yards.

The (Charleston, Ill.) Journal Gazette/Times-Courier says Eastern Illinois is running out of room on the bench for injured defenders. They're turning to at least one redshirt freshman to fill the hole left by sidelined players including linebacker Lucius Seymour, who was the conference's defensive player of the week two weeks in a row.

The Anniston (Ala.) Star (sorry, subscribers only) says Jacksonville State players will wear a black decal on their helmets bearing the initials of former teammate Darren Williams. Williams was killed in Atlanta Monday in an apparent robbery attempt. Williams, a defensive back, played one season for the Gamecocks, after transferring from Mississippi State. There's also a story on kicker Gavin Halford, who in high school split his time between football practice and band practice. Instead of speeches at halftime, he changed uniforms and headed back out on the field at Alabama's Central-Phenix City Central.

The Birmingham (Ala.) News looks at Freddy Young, one of Samford's leading receivers. His 115 cathces over four years with the Bulldogs ranks him eighth on the school's all-time receptions list.

The (Nashville) Tennessean says the OVC office has reprimanded Tennessee State coach James Webster for his comments about officals earlier this week. Webster said the refs are giving the Tigers' opponents a free pass, and calling everything they can against TSU. The OVC said is investigating his allegations.