Eastern Illinois vs. Southeast Missouri
O'Brien Field (10,000) • Charleston, Ill.
September 23, 2017 • 6 p.m. • TV: OVC Digital Network
EIU Game Notes |
SEMO Game Notes |
Listen Live - Panther Radio Network |
Live Stats |
Watch Live - OVC Digital Network |
NOTES TO KNOW
• Eastern Illinois opens the Ohio Valley Conference season following two straight losses after the Panthers were beaten by Illinois State last Saturday in the 106th Mid-America Classic. Southeast Missouri enters on a six-game losing streak dating back to last season as they are 0-3 this season after a loss last Saturday to Southern Illinois in their annual rivalry game.
• Eastern Illinois has been a member of the OVC since the 1996 football season. The Panthers will be opening conference play against Southeast Missouri for the fourth time in those 22 years. EIU holds a 2-1 series advantage in those contests winning in 2004 and 2009. SEMO won the OVC opener over the Panthers in 2003.
• Eastern Illinois scored a special teams touchdown on Saturday against Illinois State as
Julian Hess blocked a punt and
Mack Weaver scooped it up and ran 15 yards for the touchdown. It was the first special teams touchdown for the Panthers since Oct. 31, 2015 when
Tray Mitchell returned a kickoff for a touchdown at Murray State.
• Redshirt freshman quarterback
Scotty Gilkey Jr., led the Panthers rushing attack on Saturday against Illinois State as he finished with 13 yards on the ground. In the third quarter Gilkey scored on a three yard rushing touchdown, his second rushing touchdown this year. He currently leads the Panthers in scoring. As a team EIU was limited to just 14 yards rushing due to six sacks counting against the Panthers overall rushing total.
THE SERIES
• Eastern Illinois and Southeast Missouri will be meeting for the 25th time on Saturday evening with the Panthers leading the all-time series 17-7. SEMO won last year's game in Cape Girardeau, 21-14. The Panthers have won three straight over the Redhawks at O'Brien Field and hold a 10-1 series advantage in games played in Charleston. The lone SEMO win was in 2010 when the Redhawks went on to win the OVC regular season title and make the FCS playoffs.
