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NASHVILLE – For the third straight year the Eastern Illinois and Tennessee State game came down to the final play. For the third straight year EIU came up with that final play as the Panthers won 19-16 in double overtime on Saturday night at Nissan Stadium.
In the end it was a
Scotty Gilkey Jr., 1-yard run in the second overtime that helped EIU win. The Panthers scored on third down after they were given a breath of life on a pass interference call on fourth down and two at the five yard line.
EIU improved to 3-2 overall, 2-0 in the OVC. TSU, ranked No. 24 this week, fell to 3-2 on the year, 0-2 in the OVC. EIU hosts Tennessee Tech next Saturday at 6 p.m. for the Panthers Hall of Fame Game at O'Brien Field. Tickets are available by calling 217-581-2106 or online at www.eiupanthertickets.com
TSU took a 16-13 lead in the second overtime on a Lane Clark 40-yard field goal. Clark also hit from 36-yards in the first overtime after
Matt Severino connected on a 42-yard field goal for EIU on its possession.
EIU had two big plays late in the game coming on special teams and defense.
Antonio Crosby recovered a fumble at the TSU 33 with 2:13 remaining in the game but the Panthers could not cash in. The turnover came after EIU had gone three-and-out following a 51-yard Clark field goal that tied the game at 10-10 with 3:18 to play.
Xzavier Shugars then forced a fumble on the last TSU drive of regulation that EIU recovered with 16 seconds remaining. EIU took three cracks at the end zone but could not score in regulation forcing overtime. It was the third time EIU beat TSU in overtime after a 25-22 win in 2015 at Nissan Stadium and a 31-28 overtime win in 2010, also at Nissan Stadium.
Nick Horne was active for the EIU defense in the opening half helping set up one score and preserving a 10-7 halftime lead for the Panthers.
On the second play of the game Horne forced a fumble which set up EIU inside the red zone. Gilkey would put EIU up 7-0 with a 9-yard touchdown run with 12:25 to play in the first quarter.
Horne would then intercept a Treon Harris pass with six seconds remaining in the first half at the EIU 25-yard line ending the Tigers drive. Horne finished the night with 12 tackles.
EIU pushed its lead to 10-0 on a 32-yard field goal by
Nick Wilson with 9:30 to play in the second quarter. TSU trimmed the EIU lead to 10-7 with 2:17 to play in the second quarter with an Earl Harrison 1-yard run.
Gilkey finished the day with 104 yards rushing becoming the third quarterback in EIU history to rush for 100 or more yards in a game. He joins Jalen Whitlow and Joe Davis.
