Wednesday ink

Here's what the papers have on OVC teams this morning:

With a good game against North Greenville this weekend, Chris Fletcher could become Austin Peay State's all-time leading rusher, according to the (Clarksville, Tenn.) Leaf Chronicle. Fletcher, a junior, needs 112 yards to surpass Jay Bailey's 2,992 yards from 2000-02. The paper also lauds freshman backup quarterback Gus Orr for his first college touchdown pass, thrown late in the game against Cumberland last weekend.

The (Charleston, Ill.) Journal Gazette/Times-Courier says the NCAA has told Tennessee State it won't have to forfeit its early season victory over Murray State for using an ineligible player. Defensive lineman Lamar Divens, a tranfer from Vanderbilt, turned out to have more issues than the Tigers had expected. That ensures that TSU's game against Eastern Illinois this weekend will have serious title implications.

The Richmond (Ky.) Register says Eastern Kentucky quarterback Josh Greco has healed nicely during the Colonels' week off, and will be ready to start against Murray State on Saturday. Greco had an injured finger, which staff said hurt his performance against Southeast Missouri State two weeks ago.

The Anniston (Ala.) Star (sorry, subscribers only) says Jacksonville State staffers seem to have learned their lesson: when the opposing team won't let you run, you've gotta learn to fly. Matt Hardin stepped up his passing game each of the last two contests, though the Gamecocks lost one of those to Tennessee State and needed overtime to put down Tennessee Tech. The paper also says fullback Raynodd Zeine may return for JSU's game against UT-Chattanooga this weekend. Zeine has missed three games with a foot sprain. Coach Jack Crowe says the Gamecocks still will rely heavily on Brody Thomas, who has started in his absence.

The Murray (Ky.) Ledger & Times again notes that Murray State is looking for a win, any win, as the season draws closer to its end. The Racers' last chance will come against coach Matt Griffin's former employer, UT-Martin, which is shocking everyone by leading the conference with Tennessee State.

The Southeast Missourian takes note of that rise by the Skyhawks, and their win over defending conference champs Eastern Illinois last week.

The (Nashville) Tennessean notes that if both Martin and TSU finish the season undefeated, the conference title and automatic bid to the I-AA playoffs will come down to a coin flip.