PDF Box  |  HTML Box  |  Photo Gallery (by Sandy King)

CHARLESTON, Ill. - Tennessee Tech held Eastern Illinois to negative six yards rushing as the Golden Eagles (2-1, 1-0 OVC) knocked off the Panthers (1-2, 0-1 OVC) for the second straight season with a 31-20 victory at O'Brien Field.

Eastern Illinois opened the game with a 7-0 lead but trailed 31-7 with 11:20 to play in the third quarter as Dontey Gay scored his third rushing touchdown of evening. Gay finished with 96 yards on the ground scoring on rushes of 1, 2 and 2 yards.

The Panthers looked determined to avenge last year's 34-20 loss in Cookeville as they scored on their first possession with 9:48 to play in the first as Jimmy Garoppolo hooked up with Chris Wright for a 28-yard score.

All-American candidate Tim Benford then turned the momentum back in the Golden Eagles favor as he hauled in a 65-yards pass from Tre' Lamb that placed TTU at the one-yard line. Benford was heavily guarded on the play but was still able to make the catch as he finished with 124 yards on eight receptions.

"He's a big play guy for them," head coach Bob Spoo said following the game. "I can see why they take their shots down the field with him. That big pass play really set the tempo for them."

TTU would lead 24-7 at the half as Demetrius Garrett caught a four-yard pass from Lamb, Zach Sharp tacked on a 25-yard field goal and Gay scored from one yard out.

"We got beat by a superior team tonight," said Spoo. "Their quarterback excelled in the game. We made some mistakes in the game and I think we can do better. Overall we didn't block well."

The Panthers gave up four sacks to a TTU defense that sat a school record with 8.5 tackles against the Panthers last year. Richmond Tooley led the Golden Eagles defense with 10 tackles.

Garoppolo hit Wright for a 21-yard touchdown with 12:48 left to play in the game as the Panthers started to mount a rally. EIU failed on the two point conversion. Garoppolo would connect with Sam Hendricks from four-yards out with 7:51 left for the final score. EIU was unable to convert on a fourth and ten with 4:54 left to end hopes of a comeback.

Cory Leman led the EIU defense with 14 tackles while Nick Beard had seven tackles. Roosevelt Holiday had two tackles for loss including a sack.

Garoppolo passed for 301 yards on 29-of-52 but was picked off three times. Kenny Whittaker and Lorence Ricks had six catches each while both of Wright's catches resulted in touchdowns.

EIU returns to action next Saturday with a 6 p.m. kick off at Jacksonville State.