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Eastern Illinois vs. No. 4 Jacksonville State
O'Brien Field (10,000) • Charleston, Ill.
September 25, 2010 • 1:30 pm • TV: WEIU

THE GAME
Eastern Illinois will look to end a five game losing streak that dates back to the end of the 2009 season when the Panthers host Jacksonville State on Saturday afternoon at O'Brien Field. EIU lost its final two games of the 2009 season including a first round playoff loss before opening the 2010 campaign with three straight losses. EIU is off to an 0-1 start in the OVC race after losing 20-10 at UT Martin last Saturday. 

The Panthers were able to gain an early lead over UT Martin on Saturday marking the first time this season that the Panthers have led an opponent. EIU was unable to maintain that lead trailing 14-10 at the half before giving up two second half field goals. It marked the fourth straight game that EIU has failed to score in the second half. 

Jacksonville State comes into the contest at 3-0 and ranked No. 4 in the FCS polls. JSU made headlines with an overtime victory over SEC member Ole Miss in the season opener and has since picked up wins over Chattanooga and Georgia State. JSU currently owns the nation's second longest FCS win streak at seven games dating back to last season.

THE SERIES
This will mark 8th meeting between Eastern Illinois and Jacksonville State. The Panthers hold the series edge 4-3 after pulling the upset at Jacksonville State last season with a 28-20 victory over the Gamecocks. JSU was ranked 12th in the nation at the time while EIU entered that game ranked 24th. It was the lone OVC loss for JSU last season as they posted the league's best record but were ineligible for the OVC title. EIU would win the OVC automatic berth with a 6-2 OVC mark. In six of the seven previous meetings between the schools the winner has gone on to either win the OVC championship or participate in the FCS playoffs.