DAVIDSON, N.C. - Eastern Illinois junior quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was named College Football Performance Awards FCS National Offensive Performer of the Week following the Panthers season opening 49-28 win over Southern Illinois.

In addition to Garoppolo earned the CFPA National Award, junior wide receiver Erik Lora was named one of three national wide receivers of the week by the CFPA.  Sam Hendricks and Scott Weatherford earned honorable mention performer of the week honors at wide receiver and punter.

EIU is back in action this Saturday with a 6 p.m. game at Western Michigan that will be televised on ESPN3.

Garoppolo was 32-of-49 during the game for a career high 369 yards with five touchdown passes.  He became just the seventh quarterback in school history to pass for five or more touchdowns in a game.  Garoppolo hit four different receivers for scores from 2, 14, 50, 11 and 31 yards.  The five touchdowns move him into fifth in EIU history with 39. 

Garoppolo's 369 yards on Thursday night against SIU was the second best total in the FCS ranks to open the season.  Garoppolo now has five 300-yard passing games for his career.  He was named the OVC Offensive Player of the Week.

As a team EIU passed for seven touchdown passes to set a school record.  Hendricks and Lora both added touchdown passes while also catching touchdowns from Garoppolo.

Lora hauled in 13 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns against SIU.  The 151 yards were the best in the FCS ranks to open the season while the 13 receptions was the fourth highest total.  The 13 catches and 151 yards were both career highs for Lora.

Hendricks caught four passes for 95 yards with one touchdown.  Weatherford averaged 40.2 yards per punt on eight kicks with two pinned inside the 20-yard line.