Box Score
PDF Box | HTML Box
RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky took advantage of six Eastern Illinois turnovers as the Colonels picked up a 35-7 win over the Panthers on Saturday night in Richmond. It marked the fourth straight loss for the Panthers in the series.
EKU improved to 2-3 overall, 1-0 in the OVC while EIU fell to 0-6, 0-4 in the OVC. The Panthers will return to action next Saturday at Tennessee Tech with a 7 p.m. start.
EIU was able to hold the EKU to a 3-and-out on the opening drive of the game but the ensuing punt bounced off a Panther return man and was recovered by the Colonels at the EIU 29-yard line. T.J. Pryor would make the Panthers pay four plays later as he rushed in from six yards out. It was the first of three rushing touchdowns for the Colonels quarterback as Pryor finished with 78 yards on the ground.
EKU's second score was on a long scoring drive capped by Pryor's two-yard dive into the end zone. His third score came on a 30-yard scramble as he broke loose in the backfield as EIU appeared to have him set up for a sack.
The Panthers appeared to have some life as the second quarter came to a close. Jimmy Garoppolo engineered the two-minute drill completing three passes to set up a 29-yard strike to Lorence Ricks with 1:05 left. EIU would get the ball at midfield with 49 seconds left in the half as Artavious Dowdell recorded a sack and forced fumble. EIU could only drive to the EKU 38 ending the drive with seven seconds left in the half.
Garoppolo was 23-of-41 for 272 yards but threw two interceptions. Brandon Large came in late in the fourth quarter and was 3-of-3 for 49 yards. Over shadowed in the contest was a nine catch, 102 yard receiving night by Kenny Whittaker.
In the second half EKU converted two fumbles into points as the Colonels pulled away with a strong running game. EKU finished with 287 rushing yards running away from the nation's second leading tackler most of the night. Nick Nasti finished with only six tackles as Cory Leman led the way with 9 tackles.
EIU was limited to only 29 yards rushing as the Colonels were led by Andrew Soucy's 2.5 tackles for loss and Shawn Shupperd's 1.5 sacks.
