GAME NOTES  |  Eastern Kentucky Website

Eastern Illinois (3-4, 1-2 OVC) at Eastern Kentucky (4-3, 3-1 OVC)
Roy Kidd Stadium (20,000) • Richmond, Ky.
October 25, 2008 • 2 p.m. (Central) • TV: None

THE GAME
Eastern Illinois and Eastern Kentucky do battle for the 16th time as both schools are fighting to remain in the Ohio Valley Conference title race. The two schools have won the or shared the last three conference titles with EIU winning in 2006 & 2007 before Eastern Kentucky went 8-0 to win last season. These two schools also lead the OVC membership in post-season appearances with EIU having made 12 NCAA FCS trips and EKU an FCS leading 18 trips. 

The Panthers picked up their first OVC win of the year on Saturday with a 24-21 win over Southeast Missouri. EIU improved to 3-4 on the season and 1-2 in the OVC. Freshman Desmin Ward scored three touchdowns and Tyler Wilke added an insurance field goal in the win. 

Eastern Kentucky had an open week to prepare for Eastern Illinois. EKU has been one of the hottest teams in the OVC winning three straight including a 38-35 win over then OVC leader Jacksonville State.

EASTERN ILLINOIS - EASTERN KENTUCKY SERIES
This will be the 16th meeting between Eastern Illinois and Eastern Kentucky with the Colonels holding a slight 8-7 series lead after a 28-21 win in Charleston last season. Since joining the OVC in 1996, EIU has held a 7-5 series lead including a 3-3 mark at Roy Kidd Stadium in Richmond. The last time the two schools met in Richmond, Eastern Illinois scored 28 first quarter points before holding on for a 28-21 victory. During the history of the series both teams have won by blow out fashion and close calls, the most memorable being in 2002 when Tony Romo scored on a quarterback scramble as time expired to give the Panthers a 25-24 at O'Brien Field.