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CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The last three seasons Eastern Illinois has scored more than 60 points beating Austin Peay in each of those games. On a wet and rainy Saturday in Clarksville, the trend looked like it might continue as EIU led 34-10 at the half. The Panthers would go on to win 40-16.
It was the first win of the season for the Panthers as they beat Austin Peay in their Ohio Valley Conference opener for the second straight season. EIU (1-3, 1-0 OVC) hosts Southeast Missouri next Saturday for Family Weekend. APSU fell to 0-5, 0-2 in the OVC.
The Panthers offense drove the length of the field on the opening drive as
Devin Church scooted in for a 13-yard touchdown with 11:35 to play. That would be the only score of the opening quarter.
Following a field goal by Logan Birchfield to open the second quarter, EIU scored four second quarter touchdowns to lead 34-10 at the half. Church was in on two of the scores with a 21-yard screen pass from
Jalen Whitlow at the 8:27 mark and a 1-yard plunge with 44 seconds left in the half. Church finished with 107 all-purpose yards (81 rushing and 26 receiving). Church, who entered the weekend third in the FCS in all-purpose yards did not have a kickoff return.
Shepard Little pushed the EIU lead to 14-3 with a 6-yard run with 10:36 to play in the second. Little led the Panthers rushing attack with 96 yards.
After the Church screen pass touchdown, Austin Peay countered with a long touchdown run by Kendall Morris. Morris cut around the end and raced 74 yards for the score with 4:48 to play in the first half. Morris finished with 141 yards for the Governors.
EIU closed out the first half with Church's 1-yard run and a Whitlow 31-yard pass to
Isaiah Nelson. Whitlow was 13-of-23 in the first half for 207 yards. The senior finished the day 15-of-30 for 266 yards.
After rushing for a school record 413 yards in last year's win over the Governors, EIU finished Saturday's game with 261 yards on the ground and 527 total yards.
Austin Peay had a chance to regain momentum in the third quarter on a quirky play.
Mack Weaver blocked a Governors punt inside the APSU 25 yard line. The ball never crossed the line of scrimmage and Governors lineman Jule Pace picked up the ball and rushed for 50 yards, the second biggest offensive play of the season for APSU. The Panthers defense then held on four downs with
Dylan Chatman making a big tackle for loss.
The Governors took advantage of two Panther turnovers in the fourth quarter. Kyran Moore had a 33-yard interception for the first turnover. EIU's defense was able to hold a fourth and one inside the five yard line as
Thomas Coronado cut through the line for a stop. The Panthers fumbled the ball on the next play after the turnover on downs. Trey Taylor scored two plays later on a short run.
Vince Speller broke up the two-point conversion pass as EIU led 34-16 with seven minutes to play.
EIU's final score of the game came in the final 30 seconds as EIU fumbled the ball and offensive lineman
Scott Taylor picked up the loose ball on the rushed 12 yards to score.
Jourdan Wickliffe led the Panthers defense with nine tackles.
Austin Peay was led on defense by Damien Whitfield with nine tackles.
