BRENTWOOD, Tenn. - Eastern Illinois junior quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was named the Ohio Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Week following the Panthers season opening 49-28 win over Southern Illinois.  Garoppolo will lead EIU back into action this Saturday with a 6 p.m. game at Western Michigan that will be televised on ESPN3.

Garoppolo was 32-of-49 during the game for a career high 369 yards with five touchdown passes.  He became just the seventh quarterback in school history to pass for five or more touchdowns in a game.  Garoppolo hit four different receivers for scores from 2, 14, 50, 11 and 31 yards.  The five touchdowns move him into fifth in EIU history with 39. 

Garoppolo's 369 yards on Thursday night against SIU was the second best total in the FCS ranks to open the season.  Garoppolo now has five 300-yard passing games for his career.

As a team EIU passed for seven touchdown passes to set a school record.  Sam Hendricks and Erik Lora both added touchdown passes while also catching touchdowns from Garoppolo.