GAME NOTES  |  Tennessee State Website

Eastern Illinois (4-5, 2-3 OVC) at No. 22 Tennessee State (7-2, 4-1 OVC)
LP Field (68,798) • Nashville, Tenn.
November 8, 2008 • 1 p.m. • TV: None

THE GAME
In one of several preseason publications this week's Ohio Valley Conference clash between Eastern Illinois and Tennessee State was picked as the OVC game of the year that could decide the conference champion. While EIU is no longer in the race to win the title for themselves this game will still go a long way towards determining the OVC champion as Tennessee State is currently one of three OVC teams with just one conference loss. EIU has had success against the Tigers winning seven of the last meetings. 

EIU enters the weekend playing the role of spoiler as the Panthers look to finish out the season strong in search of a fourth straight winning season. The Panthers rolled over Murray State on Saturday as they rushed for a season high 226 yards with three backs finishing with more than 80 yards rushing. 

Tennessee State improved to 4-1 in the OVC on Saturday with an easy win over Tennessee Tech. TSU features the league's top rusher in Javarris Williams who had 125 yards against TTU. Transfer quarterback Dominic Grooms was also called to duty throwing for 138 yards and two scores with a 15-for-19 effort.

EASTERN ILLINOIS - TENNESSEE STATE SERIES
This will be the 12th meeting between Eastern Illinois and Tennessee State. The two schools first met in 1982 with TSU knocking off EIU 20-19 in the NCAA I-AA quarterfinals. Since joining the OVC in 1998, EIU has won seven of ten meetings including four in a row. The Panthers are 3-2 against Tennessee State in games played at LP Field including a 38-35 victory last season as Tyler Wilke won the contest with a 30 yard field goal as time expired.