Football Senior Day Saturday Vs. UT Martin

Panthers kickoff at O'Brien Field at 12 pm

11/21/2014 8:37:00 PM

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Eastern Illinois vs. UT Martin
O'Brien Field (10,000) • Charleston, Ill.
November 22, 2014 • 12 p.m. • TV: WEIU

THE GAME
Eastern Illinois had its hopes of a third straight Ohio Valley Conference title and trip to the FCS playoffs end last Saturday with a 27-20 loss at Jacksonville State. EIU had won four straight OVC games to remain in the title race but the loss at JSU handed the Gamecocks the OVC title.

EIU will be honoring its 22 seniors prior to the start of the game against UT Martin. That group includes four offensive linemen, three wide receivers, three running backs, three linebackers, three defensive linemen, one tight end, one quarterback, one safety, one defensive back and one kicker.

The game will feature two of the hotter teams in the OVC race in the second half of the season. EIU won four straight OVC games prior to its loss last weekend at Jacksonville State. UT Martin has won four straight OVC games and lost its last game two weeks ago at then No. 1 Mississippi State. The Skyhawks had a bye last week.

EIU and UTM feature the league's top two red zone offensive units this season. UTM is 34th in the nation scoring on 84 percent of their trips inside the 20-yard line. The Skyhawks have 31 touchdowns in 45 red zone trips. EIU is converting at 83 percent, ranked 43rd nationally with 34 touchdowns in 45 trips.

THE SERIES
This will be 20th meeting between Eastern Illinois and UT Martin with the Panthers holding a 13-6 all-time series lead. The Panthers won last season's game in Martin, Tenn., 70-22, as EIU set several school offensive records in the win. The EIU win halted a three game win streak by UTM in the series. Current Skyhawks head coach Jason Simpson has five of the six all-time wins over EIU. The Panthers won the first nine games in the series which started in 1995. EIU is 8-1 against UTM at O'Brien Field.

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