Issue date: 9/10/08 Section: Sports

Non-conference football schedules can be formed several ways, but one familiar theme is at least one of those games should bring in money to the school's athletic department.

But how do you pair early-season games? Two Football Bowl Subdivision teams? One FBS team and one Football Championship Subdivision team? Two teams from the top levels of the FCS? One FBS school and one Division II or an NAIA school?

The options and variations are nearly endless. Eastern went the route of two FBS teams to start the season. The Panthers enter week three of the 2008 season with losses to Central Michigan and No. 24 Illinois and $525,000 in the bank.

But don't expect future Eastern football schedules to start with two tough road games against FBS schools.

"I know it's something our (athletic director) Barbara Burke is awfully concerned about," Eastern head coach Bob Spoo said. "I think she's in favor of going one time against a FBS team. I think that's probably the way it will go for the next few years."

Austin Peay went with a different route to start its season, but the Governors' distance traveled and teams played was not easy and the Govs lost both games.

Austin Peay played No. 1 North Dakota State in Fargo, N.D., and No. 15 Georgia Southern in Statesboro, Ga.

"I'd love to play just one game and make a lot of money," Austin Peay head coach Rick Christophel said. "You're going to get beat up no matter how it is. We play North Dakota State and Georgia Southern and don't make the same things as other guys made, and there's just as physical as some of the bigger teams."

Perrilloux shines in Gamecocks' win
Jacksonville State junior quarterback Ryan Perrilloux played just one half against Alabama A&M on Saturday, but the transfer from Louisiana State threw for 138 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 35 yards and another score.

Jacksonville State head coach Jack Crowe said Perrilloux had a minor hip injury that won't keep him out of the Gamecocks' next game, but with a 31-12 halftime lead Crowe said he wanted to see how freshman backup quarterback Marques Ivory could perform.

"(Perrilloux) had the ball every play except for 14 of them against a defense we thought was pretty special," Crowe said about Perrilloux's game against Georgia Tech in week one. "I thought that was too much for Ryan. He could throw it 50 times a game and he could run it 30, but you're dumb if you try either one of them."

Crowe said he thought Perrilloux managed the game better against Alabama A&M, and the Gamecocks got more players involved with the offense. Perrilloux's performance through Jacksonville State's first two games has left a lasting impression on Crowe.

"Since Bo Jackson, I haven't coached an athlete of his caliber," Crowe said. "He can make plays that you don't expect, that you can't even plan on. I think the danger is, as it was with Bo, you pile too much of the burden of productivity on and you're not going to get it every week."

Spada leading nation in punting
Southeast Missouri junior kicker/punter Doug Spada is ranked No. 1 in the FCS in punting with a 50.75 yards per punt. Spada is also less than one yard from leading all of Division I football in punting.

Only Miami (Ohio) senior punter Jacob Richardson has a better per punt average (51.58) in the FBS.

"He's got a real, good, strong leg, and he's doing a good job with hang time," Southeast Missouri head coach Tony Samuel said. "We've got to do a better job with blocking and then with coverage."

Scott Richey can be reached at 581-7944 or at srrichey@eiu.edu.

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