Five schools have broken away from the pack to stay alive in the race for the Ohio Valley Conference championship, and by the end of the day, we’ll be down to two or three.

The pair of new conference teams will meet in a do-or-die match-up that will put more spice into a southern rivalry that is already boiling over in the Crimson state.

Jacksonville State will travel only 76 miles to play in a game that already meant something community-wise but now means something more with the eigth-oldest conference in doubt.

“There’s a history there that has a lot of value,” Gamecocks head coach Jack Crowe said. “A lot of people in the state are talking about this one.”

The Samford Bulldogs currently sit one-half game back of the conference leading Jacksonville State, but the Birmingham boys, led by quarterback Ray Nelson and wide receiver Efrem Hill, understand this is easily the most important contest of the season.

“This is without a doubt the biggest game we’ve had on our campus in a long time,” Samford head coach Ray Nelson said. “If you can’t get excited about this game, you better change your profession.”

The Bulldogs will be facing one of the most improved pass defenses in the OVC after changing personnel in its secondary.

“A lot of pass defense is about timing and perception, we’re a lot smarter now hopefully,” Crowe said. “We’ve put a new combination of coverage and rush together.”

It is expected the 6,700 seat Seibert Stadium will easily sell out and have limited standing room admission available for the 1 p.m. kickoff Saturday.

“The last time we came down there, we set a record attendance, and I expect there will be even more people there this time around,” Crowe said.

After defeating Eastern in the country music capital of the world 24-14, Tennessee State will travel to Cape Girardeau to face the preseason conference favorite Southeast Missouri, who ironically at 3-6 controls its own destiny to the playoffs.

The Tigers earned six conference wins in the past three seasons but will need to get at least that many in 2003 to make their first playoff appearance since TSU made back-to-back trips in 1998-99.

“It is exciting and we are going to have to play lights out to get it done,” Tennessee State head coach James Reese said.

Reese has stated he doesn’t care about the possible OVC situations that could pop up along the next two weeks.

“I just wanna play the next one and get it over with,” Reese said.

Believe it or not, after losing five straight games and going through three different quarterbacks, SEMO can make the playoffs with a .500 record. And it’s not all that uncommon.

Last season, the Murray State Racers won the Ohio Valley Championship with an overall record of 7-5.

“”We got to play a lot better to win the conference championship,” Indians head coach Tim Billings said. “We can’t afford to lose a game and if we do, we don’t have to worry about it.”

Billings uses a famous golf analogy to describe the three-game stretch where they can’t lose to keep the hopes alive.

“It’s like Amen Corner at the Masters, where on Sunday it’s holes 11,12 and 13 that basically decide a major tournament,” Billings said. “Unfortunately, I just don’t think we are a great football team right now.”

SEMO is in an interesting situation right now where they haven’t played the three teams in front of them so if they win out, they will clinch a OVC title.

“We control our own destiny and that’s all you can ask for,” Billings said.