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CHARLESTON, Ill. – Shepard Little scored on a 70-yard run on the second play of scrimmage for Eastern Illinois but the Panthers slowly let that lead slip away as UT Martin beat EIU, 37-16, on Saturday afternoon at O'Brien Field.  The game was senior day for the 22 member EIU class.
 
Signs of it not being EIU's day occurred on the extra point as freshman Nick Bruno had his first miss of the season after making 43 straight to open season.   Jarod Neal had a 45-yard run on UTM's fourth play from scrimmage as the Skyhawks took a 7-6 lead with 12:17 to play.
 
The Panthers would go back in front on a Nick Bruno 21-yard field goal with 5:20 to play in the first before UT Martin answered with a Jackson Redditt field goal with 18 seconds remaining the first quarter.   UT Martin would lead 10-9 and never trailed again improving to 6-6 on the year, 5-3 in the OVC.   EIU finished the season at 5-7, 5-3 in the OVC.
 
Dylan Favre connected with Rod Wright and Ben Axline for a pair of second quarter touchdowns to give UTM some breathing room.  Favre passed for 110 yards going 7-of-13.  He split time with Neal who passed for 40 yards and rushed for 42 including the first quarter score.
 
The Skyhawks added a pair of Redditt field goals and a 3-yard run by Ladevin Fair to take a 37-9 in the third quarter.  UTM rushed for 308 yards with Abou Toure rushing for a game high 158 yards.
 
Adam Drake hauled in the Panthers touchdown in the fourth quarter catching a 3-yard strike from Andrew Manley.   Manley started the game on senior day as Jalen Whitlow sat out with an injury suffered the previous week at Jacksonville State.  Manley passed for 290 yards going 26-of-50 with one touchdown and one interception.   Manley and Drake nearly connected on the final play of the game as a pass in the end zone was broken up before Drake could land his feet.
 
Drake finished his final EIU game with 11 catches for 146 yards.  Drake wrapped up his EIU career sixth on the OVC career list for both receptions (202) and receiving yards (2,977).  He ranks in the top three on the EIU career list in both categories.
 
Little had 137 yards on the ground for EIU as the Panthers rushed for 183 yards.  The Panthers had 473 yards of total offense.
 
Kamu Grugier-Hill led EIU with 12 tackles while Dino Fanti made eight tackles with three tackles for loss and two forced fumbles.
 
Three players led UTM with seven tackles including linebacker Tony Bell with two tackles for loss.