Eastern Illinois vs. Austin PeaySaturday, September 20 at 1:30 p.m.
O'Brien Field (10,000) – Charleston, Ill.
TV: WEIU TV & OVC Digital Network (online)
Radio: Panther Radio Network – WEIU 88.9 FM (Charleston), WHOW 1520 AM / 92.3 FM (Clinton), WSVZ 98.3 FM (Shelbyville/Effingham) and WMKR 94.3 FM (Taylorville)
EIU Game Notes | Austin Peay Game Notes |
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5 Things To Watch EIU vs. Austin Peay 1.) Eastern Illinois and Austin Peay will both be looking to stop losing streaks as they open Ohio Valley Conference play. EIU has lost four straight games starting with last year's FCS playoff quarterfinal loss to Towson and an 0-3 start to the 2014 season. Austin Peay has lost 14 straight games going 0-12 last year and opening 2014 with an 0-2 record. Austin Peay's last win was the final game of the 2012 season over Tennessee Tech. EIU holds a 11-3 all-time series lead including 11-1 as NCAA Division I opponents.
2.) Eastern Illinois has won 12 straight Ohio Valley Conference games heading into the league opener with Austin Peay. The Panthers were 6-1 winning the league in 2012 and 8-0 during a championship run last season. EIU's last OVC loss was Oct. 6, 2012 at UT Martin. The Panthers currently have the second longest active conference win streak in the nation behind North Dakota State (14 games). EIU has two previous 13 game OVC winning streaks (2000-02 and 2004-06).
3.) Senior wide receiver
Adam Drake joined some elite company at Eastern Illinois during last Saturday's game at Illinois State. Drake had six catches for 95 yards as he became the eighth player in school history to pass the 2,000 yard mark for his career. Drake now has 2,001 yards and is eighth on the NCAA active list for career receiving yards. He needs two catches to move up one spot on the EIU career receptions list to eighth.
4.)
Robert Haynes has made the most of his tackles this season as he plays a different role for the Panthers defense this year. Haynes is fifth on the Panthers squad with 13 tackles but six of those tackles have been a tackle for loss with 1.5 sacks. Haynes ranks 27th in the FCS and 3rd in the OVC in tackles for loss this season. Last season in 14 games Haynes had 6.5 tackles for loss for the entire season.
5.) Freshman kicker
Nick Bruno made both of his field goal attempts at Illinois State last weekend converting on a pair of 36-yard field goal attempts. He is now 2-for-3 this season with a 41-yard attempt missed in the first quarter of the opener at Minnesota. Bruno is 6-for-6 in extra points and currently is tied for the team lead in scoring with 12 points.
