Box Score
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Travorus Bess pounded out 163 yards on the ground as Eastern Illinois ended the season with a convincing 38-20 win over Tennessee Tech.
EIU finished the year with a 5-7 record, 3-5 in the OVC. TTU ended the season with a 3-9 record and 1-7 OVC mark.
Tennessee Tech scored quickly on its first drive as Dontey Gay broke a tackle and raced 42 yards down the sideline for a touchdown with 13:07 to go in the first quarter.
EIU answered with a methodical drive as Desmin Ward rushed in from 4 yards out as EIU milked six minutes off the clock on a 62-yard drive in which Ward also converted a fourth and two at the TTU 32 yard line. EIU tied the game with 7:17 in to go in the first.
Bess carried the Panthers inside the five yard line on the next EIU drive as he reeled off a 24-yard run that led to a Ward 3-yard score with 14:32 to go in the second quarter giving EIU a 14-7 lead.
Special teams played a factor in the next series of scoring as EIU had a 48-yard field goal attempt by Tyler Wilke blocked by the Golden Eagles. TTU then responded to score a 42-yard attempt by Justin Kraemer to close the score to 14-10 EIU with 7:03 left in the second.
Ward scored his third touchdown of the game with 3:45 left in the second from a half yard out as EIU extended the lead to 21-10. It was the third time this season that Ward has scored three touchdowns in a game.
Wilke added to the Panthers scoring total on the opening drive of the third quarter as he connected on a 36-yard field goal with 11:06 in the quarter giving EIU a 24-10 advantage. It was Wilke's 15th field goal of the season moving into second place on the single season field goals made list.
The Panther defense held strong on the next TTU drive as a pass interference call placed the ball at the EIU 2-yard line. Cory Leman stuffed the run on the first play and Jeff Sobol added a sack on third down to leave the Golden Eagles with a 22-yard field goal from Kramer with 6:24 to go in the third.
Bodie Reeder hit senior Alicus Nozinor for an 8-yard touchdown with 11:54 left in the fourth which made the score 31-13. EIU iced the game on the next drive as Nick Nasti forced a Tim Benford fumble which was recovered by Leman at the EIU 23.
Bess would wrap up his career with a one-yard touchdown with 3:44 left in the contest as he moved above the 1,000 yard mark for the season and 2,000 yard mark for his career. Chevon Walker rushed for 109 giving the Panthers two backs over 100 yards in a game for the 17th time in program history.
