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EVANSTON, Ill. – Both teams tacked on a late score as Northwestern (2-0) doubled up Eastern Illinois, 42-21, on Saturday afternoon at Ryan Field. The Panthers fell to 1-1 and open Ohio Valley Conference play on Sept. 17 against Tennessee Tech.

The game was a homecoming for EIU head coach Bob Spoo who is in his 25th and final season as the Panthers head coach. Spoo is a Chicago native who is in his 50th season of coaching.

Northwestern took advantage of two turnovers on Eastern Illinois first two drives as the Wildcats quickly jumped out to a 14-0 advantage.

Bryce McNaul picked off a Jimmy Garoppolo pass at the Northwestern 49 yard line on the Panthers first drive. Quarterback Kain Colter would rip off a 25-yard rush and then score on a 5-yard run to account for the Wildcats first score at 11:52 of the first quarter.

“We turned the ball over twice early to Northwestern and gave them a short field to work with,” said Spoo. “When you give a team like Northwestern a short field to work with they are going to put points on the board.”

EIU would drive into NU territory on the next possession but fumbled the ball when the Panthers went for it on a fourth and five from the 30-yard line. The Wildcats responded with a Jacob Schmidt 1-yard run at 3:31 of the first.

EIU appeared to have a chance to crack the scoreboard as they took over at the Northwestern 38 yard line following a partially blocked punt. EIU went 3-and-out on the drive. Northwestern marched down the field on the next drive moving into scoring range. Artavious Dowdell sacked Colter on third down setting up a NU 45-yard field goal attempt which was short.

Garoppolo hit Kenny Whittaker on a 72-yard play-action pass on the next play as the Panthers cut the Wildcats lead in half with 7:42 left to play in the half. Garoppolo finished the day 14-of-25 for 209 yards and the one touchdown pass.

“I thought we had some positives on the offensive side of the ball,” Spoo added. “We were able to run the ball a little with A.J. Woodson and Jimmy Lera. Lera had a big run there at the end. Jimmy (Garoppolo) is getting better with each game.”

NU would finish the half with a pair of scores to lead 28-7 at the break. Colter ran in from 4-yards out at 4:43 and Treyvon Green scored on a 2-yard run with 31 seconds left. Colter rushed for 109 yards and three touchdowns. He passed for 104 yards. Colter's final score was an 8-yard run on the opening drive of the third quarter.

Green finished with 70 yards on the ground gaining most of them in the second half. Tyris Jones had the final score for NU on a 1-yard pass reception from Trevor Siemian.

EIU added a score with 34 seconds left in the third quarter when Woodson had a two-yard score. Taylor Duncan scored on a three-yard run with seven seconds left in the game for the final score. The touchdown was set up by a 76-yard run by Lera who finished with 78 yards on three carries. Woodson had 45 yards on 14 carries.

Antonio Taylor led the Panthers with 14 tackles while Cory Leman added 12 tackles despite not playing most of the second half with an injury. McNaul was the Wildcats leading tackler with seven stops.