Eastern Illinois vs. Tennessee Tech
O'Brien Field (10,000) • Charleston, Ill.
October 7, 2017 • 6 p.m. • TV: OVC Digital Network
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NOTES TO KNOW
• Eastern Illinois improved to 2-0 in the Ohio Valley Conference with a 19-16 double overtime win at Tennessee State on Saturday night. It marked the third straight year that EIU has beaten TSU with the final play of the game deciding the outcome. EIU won 25-22 in overtime at TSU in 2015 intercepting a pass in OT. In 2016, EIU knocked down a Hail Mary pass to hold on and win 35-34 at O'Brien Field.
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Scotty Gilkey Jr., was named the Ohio Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Week and Newcomer of the Week after leading EIU to the win at Tennessee State. He rushed for 104 yards with a 9-yard touchdown in the first quarter and 1-yard plunge over the line in the second overtime period. The last EIU player to sweep both the Offensive and Newcomer of the Week awards for the Panthers was
Mitch Kimble on September 11 last season after the Panthers knocked off FBS member Miami (Ohio).
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Nick Horne was named the OVC Defensive Player of the Week after helping pace an EIU defense that forced four turnovers in the 19-16 win at Tennessee State. Horne finished the game with 12 tackles with a half tackle for loss. He forced a fumble on the second play of the game which set up EIU's first score. He then picked off a pass with six seconds left in the first half to end a TSU drive deep in EIU territory. The last EIU player of win OVC Defensive Player of the Week honors was
David Johnson on Oct. 9 last year after EIU beat Tennessee State.
THE SERIES
• Eastern Illinois and Tennessee Tech will be meeting for the 24th time on Saturday with the Panthers holding a 17-6 all-time series lead. EIU has won five straight in the series with the last TTU win coming on Sept. 17, 2011 with 31-20 win at O'Brien Field. EIU won last year's game in Cookeville, 30-24. The two schools first met in 1975 and 1976, playing a home-and-home series when EIU was an NCAA Division II member. The Panthers are 8-3 against the Golden Eagles in Charleston.
