BOX SCORE
NASHVILLE – Tennessee State held the Eastern Illinois offense in check for a majority of the first half as the Tigers built an early 24-0 lead as they pulled away for a 45-24 win at LP Field.
No. 22 TSU improved to 8-2 on the year 5-1 in the OVC while EIU dropped to 4-6 overall, 2-4 in the OVC. With the win Tennessee State snapped a four-game losing streak to Eastern Illinois.
Tennessee State took early control of the game with a pair of Antonio Heffner touchdown passes to Brandon Belvin. The first score came with 8:56 left in the first quarter as Belvin broke free on a play-action pass as Heffner hit him for a deep 52-yard strike. On the ensuing EIU drive Roger Morris stripped the ball from Panthers quarterback Bodie Reeder and recovered at the EIU 29. Heffner hit Belvin from 14 yards out to cap the drive with 6 minutes left in the first quarter.
Heffner added another score early in the second quarter as Heffner scored from 3 yards out on a quarterback keeper. Heffner drove the Tigers 89 yards on the drive covering a good portion of it with his legs rushing for 35 yards on the drive.
On the next TSU drive, Eastern Illinois was able to keep the Tigers out of the end zone as the defense stood up two rushing attempts inside the five yard line. Eric Benson would knock through a 22-yard field goal to give the Tigers a 24-0 lead with 6:11 to go in the half.
The Panthers offense finally showed signs of life late in the second quarter as they earned their first, first down with 5:50 to go in the half as they drove down for a 22-yard Tyler Wilke field goal. Senior running back Travorus Bess ripped off runs of 18 and 29 yards on the drive as the Panthers trimmed the lead to 24-3 with 1:55 to go in the half.
EIU continued to build on the momentum to end the first half as they marched down the field to score on a Reeder 5-yard strike to tight end Sean McGrath. McGrath caught three balls on the drive as EIU cut the lead to 24-10 with 9:46 remaining in the third.
Tennessee State responded quickly as EIU dropped a potential interception on second down, Heffner hit Javarris Williams on what appeared to be a short screen pass before Williams broke two tackles to race for a 51-yard score.
Following a failed fake punt attempt by EIU that gave TSU the ball at the EIU 30, D'Angelo McCray forced a Heffner fumble that Seymour Loftman scooped up and returned to the TSU 29. After three plays EIU would miss a 46-yard field goal attempt wide left giving the Tigers the ball back at their own 29.
Williams would become TSU's all-time leading rushing touchdown scorer to open the fourth quarter as he plunged in from 11 yards out giving the Tigers a commanding 38-10 advantage with 14:28 remaining.
EIU continued to battle answering with a quick scoring drive as Reeder hit Adam Kesler for a six yard pass with 11:44 left EIU trailed 38-17. Tennessee State's final score came on a six yard pass from Heffner to Belvin. The Panthers final score came on a Bess 8-yard run with 2:17 remaining.
Heffner was 7-of-14 for 162 yards with four touchdown passes while rushing for 61 yards. Williams had 93 yards rushing to lead TSU.
Eastern Illinois was led by Bess with 91 yards while Reeder was 18-of-38 for 207 yards. The Panthers will host Austin Peay next Saturday at O'Field for senior day with a 1:30 p.m. kick off.
