Eastern Illinois (6-4, 6-1 OVC) vs. #23 Eastern Kentucky (6-4, 5-2 OVC)
O'Brien Field (10,000) • Charleston, Ill.
November 21, 2015 • 1 p.m. • TV: ESPN3EIU Game Notes |
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THE GAME• Eastern Illinois and Eastern Kentucky will be facing each other in the final regular season game for the sixth time as OVC members and first time since the 2000 season. EIU holds a 3-2 advantage in those five games with two wins sending the Panthers to the FCS playoffs in 1996 and 2000.
• Eastern Illinois and Eastern Kentucky are two of the most tradition rich programs in the FCS with both programs ranking in the top seven for all-time FCS playoff appearances. EKU is second on the all-time list with 21 appearances, the last coming in 2014. EIU is seventh on the all-time list with 15 appearances including back-to-back appearances as OVC Champions in 2012 and 2013. The winner of Saturday's game will put themselves in a position for a possible at-large FCS playoff bid.
• Senior defensive lineman
Dino Fanti was named the STATS FCS National Defensive Player of the Week and OVC Defensive Player of the Week. Fanti made seven tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack and one forced fumble in the 23-21 win at UT Martin. He made two huge fourth quarter plays forcing an interception that was returned for a touchdown and making a tackle on a potential game tying two-point conversion attempt.
• Eastern Illinois will honor its 16 seniors prior to the start of Saturday's game with UT Martin. EIU is 6-4 in its last ten senior day games.
THE SERIES• This will be the 23rd meeting between Eastern Illinois and Eastern Kentucky with the Colonels holding a 13-9 all-time series lead. EKU won last season 36-33 in overtime to snap a two-game winning streak by the Panthers. During EIU wins in 2012 and 2013, EIU allowed just seven points each season outscoring EKU 66-14. EKU has won three of its last four trips to O'Brien Field, the last coming in 2011, a 48-16 Colonels win.
