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CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Brady Woolverton recovered a fumbled punt at the Southeast Missouri (2-3, 0-2 OVC) three yard line with 19 seconds left in the third quarter. Ademola Adeniji punched it in two plays later to lead No. 19 Eastern Illinois (3-2, 2-0 OVC) to a 31-16 win on Saturday night.
It was a defensive battle in the first half as EIU was able to head into the half with a 14-13 lead. The game was scoreless in the first quarter as EIU missed a 44-yard field goal attempt after Rashad Haynes picked off his third pass of the season.
SEMO was able to crack the scoreboard first as Timmy Holloman broke loose for a 52-yard touchdown run to open the second quarter. Holloman had 113 yards in the first half with 52 coming on that gallop. He would finish with 133 yards for the game.
EIU answered on the next drive with Bodie Reeder driving the Panthers down the field hitting Jason Fisher on a 10-yard crossing pattern. EIU was able to take the halftime lead as Reeder again drove the Panthers down the field with less than 3-minutes left in the half. #Ron Jordan had a big 41-yard run on the drive and Jordan Campanella# hauled in a 5-yard pass for the lead with 49 seconds left in the half.
The Redhawks were only able to convert two EIU fumbles into six points as the EIU defense was twice able to hold in the red zone. Doug Spada hit field goals of 26 and 27 yards.
SEMO was able to stop the Panthers opening drive coming out of the locker room. The Redhawks answered with a scoring drive of their own as Spada hit his third field goal from 38 yards to put SEMO up 16-14 with just over five minutes left in the third.
The Panthers answered quickly as Reeder threw his third touchdown of the game hitting Micah Rucker on a 46-yard fly pattern. EIU scored in only three plays to go back up 21-16 with 4:09 left.
Adeniji's score put EIU up 28-16 and then Haynes closed the door as he picked off a Steve Callahan pass at the three yard line and returned it all the way to the SEMO 12-yard line. Tyler Wilke would hit a 31-yard field goal to end the drive.
Jordan finished with 115 yards for EIU, the first EIU running back with more than 100 yards rushing in the last nine games. Reeder was 13-for-28 with three touchdowns and 159 yards.
Jack Kosinski led the defensive unit with 10 tackles while Donald Thomas and Matt Westrick added 7 tackles each.
EIU will have a first-place showdown in the OVC with Eastern Kentucky for Family Weekend at O'Brien Stadium. Both teams enter at 2-0 in the OVC. Kick off is set for 1:30 p.m.
