EIU GAME NOTES  |  SEMO GAME NOTES  |  LISTEN LIVE  |
TICKETS  |   LIVE STATS  |  WATCH LIVE - OVCSPORTS.TV or ESPN3.com 

Eastern Illinois vs. Southeast Missouri
O'Brien Field (10,000) • Charleston, Ill.
October 2, 2010 • 1:30 pm • TV: WAZOO Sports/ESPN 3.com

THE GAME
Eastern Illinois will look to end a six game losing streak that dates back to the end of the 2009 season when the Panthers host Southeast Missouri for this week's Family Weekend contest at O'Brien Field. EIU dropped its final regular season contest in 2009 and then a first round FCS playoff game. This year EIU is off to its first 0-4 start since the 1977 season. 

The Panthers who were picked to finish second in the OVC preseason poll are now sitting at the bottom of the OVC standings looking up after losing 28-23 to Jacksonville State on Saturday. EIU will now be in the role of spoiler for the OVC season as they try to shake up the OVC race from a different perspective. The Panthers have never started an OVC season with three straight conference losses. 

Southeast Missouri is off to its best start in recent years with a 2-0 mark in the OVC after a 23-21 win over Tennessee Tech. The Redhawks are 3-1 on the year including a 24-21 win over No. 5 Southern Illinois two weeks ago. SEMO was picked to finish seventh in the OVC preseason poll. SEMO's last 3-0 start to an OVC season was in 2002.

THE SERIES
This will mark the 18th meeting between Eastern Illinois and Southeast Missouri with the Panthers holding a commanding 13-4 series lead. EIU has won six straight in the series with a 12-2 series advantage since both schools joined the Ohio Valley Conference. 

SEMO and EIU first met for two games in 1956 and 1957 with SEMO winning both contests. EIU has never lost a game to the Redhawks at O'Brien Field. 

EIU was able to use a big passing day by Jake Christensen and big running day by Mon Williams to pick up a 23-14 win at Southeast Missouri last season.