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CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Eastern Illinois (3-0, 1-0 OVC) overcame four offensive fumbles inside the Southeast Missouri (1-2, 0-1 OVC) 25-yard line as the Panthers responded for a 23-14 win in the Ohio Valley Conference opener for both teams.
Trailing 14-7 at the half, EIU marched down the field on the first possession of the second half as Mon Williams broke loose for a 65-yard run to tie the score at 14-14 just 10:33 into the third quarter.
EIU's defense would give the Panthers the lead for good on the next SEMO drive as the Redhawks mishandled an option pitch and quarterback Mike Scheible was called for intentional grounding in the end zone as Gordy Kickels was applying pressure. That score put EIU up 16-14 with 10:18 left in the game.
The Panthers marched down the field again in the third quarter only to fumble their fourth drive inside the SEMO 25 yard line this one coming at the one yard line for the second time on the evening.
Jake Christensen finally drove the Panthers down for a clinching score as he hit Erik Lora on a three yard pass with 13:28 left in the game. Christensen finished the day 19-of-26 for 292 yards and two touchdowns.
The Panthers defense was able to turn away a late SEMO scoring drive as Carlos Reyna broke up a pass in the end zone and Doug Spada missed his second field goal of the night.
Eastern Illinois looked to set the tone early as they rebounded following a long pass on the first play of the game to SEMO tight end Bradley Brown to put the ball into EIU territory. The Panthers made a big stop on fourth and two with CJ James making the pass break-up. James would pick off his second pass of the season late in the fourth quarter to ice the contest.
The Panthers took over at their own 37 yard line and were able to drive the field. Christensen hit Lorence Ricks for a 42-yard streak down the middle of the field to put EIU up 7-0 with 10:26 to play in the first.
EIU miscues allowed SEMO to stay in the game in the first half and eventually take a 14-7 halftime lead. On a third and five play EIU's defense made a stop which would have forced a SEMO punt but the Panthers were called for off sides. SEMO kept that drive alive with Scheible scoring on a 1-yard sneak to even the game at 7-7.
The Panthers would fumble away three scoring chances in the second quarter with offensive fumbles at the SEMO 22, SEMO 20 and SEMO 1 yard line. The final scoring chance happened with 2:44 left in the half.
SEMO marched 99 yards on the drive to take a 14-7 lead with 1:31 left in the half. Henry Harris broke loose on a 47-yard run to keep the drive alive and later scored from 9 yards out.
Mon Williams finished the night with 119 yards. Ricks hauled in three passes for 101 yards. Cory Leman finished with 16 tackles on defense.
The Panthers improved to 3-0 on the season for the first time since the 2001 season.
SEMO was led by Matt Scheible with 75 yards rushing while Henry Harris had 72 yards.
