GAME NOTES  |  Murray State Website

Eastern Illinois (3-5, 1-3 OVC) vs. Murray State (3-5, 2-2 OVC)
O'Brien Field (10,000) • Charleston, Ill.
November 1, 2008 • 1:30 p.m. • TV: WEIU Channel 51

THE GAME
Eastern Illinois and Murray State open the month of November with both programs standing at 3-5 on the season. EIU was eliminated from the OVC playoff chase with a loss at Eastern Kentucky last weekend. Murray State is still alive in the OVC hunt as one of several teams with two conference losses or less. The weekend will also be a celebration of EIU football as they will have an all football reunion ceremony prior to kick off of the game. 

EIU fell to 3-5 on the year, 1-3 in the OVC last weekend ending a chance at four straight NCAA FCS playoff appearances. The Panthers turned the ball over three times, twice inside the EKU 25 yard line as they fell 20-7 on the road. 

Murray State is also 3-5 on the year, but stands at 2-2 in the OVC. The Racers had an off week to prepare for Eastern Illinois after dropping a road game at Jacksonville State on Oct. 18. Murray State features the top rated passing offense in the OVC.

EASTERN ILLINOIS - MURRAY STATE SERIES
This will be the 24th meeting between Eastern Illinois and Murray State with the Panthers holding a slight 12-11 series lead. EIU held on for a 27-24 victory at Murray State last season as Ademola Adeniji rushed for 197 yards and three touchdowns while Micah Rucker hauled in 11 passes for 153 yards and a score. The Panthers have won five straight in the series but four of those five meetings have been settled by 10 points or less. The two schools first met in 1946 when Murray State won 38-13. They have met every year since 1990 with the exception of the 1995 season.