EIU Hosts UT Martin For 101st Homecoming Game
Eastern Illinois vs. UT Martin
O'Brien Field (10,000) • Charleston, Ill.
October 20, 2018 • 2 p.m. • TV: ESPN3
EIU Game Notes | UTM Game Notes | Listen Live | Live Stats | Watch Live ESPN3 |
NOTES TO KNOW
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Johnathan Brantley set the Ohio Valley Conference record for consecutive passes without an interception as he went 28-of-39 at Jacksonville State. Brantley has a streak of 213 straight passes without an interception. The previous OVC record was 207 by Casey Brockman of Murray State set in 2012.
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Alexander Hollins caught his 12th touchdown pass of the season at Jacksonville State as the senior leads the FCS in touchdown receptions. He is now tied for seventh on the EIU single season touchdowns list with Adam Drake and
Erik Lora. Hollins has now caught at least one touchdown in five straight games.
• Long time Eastern Illinois football coach Bob Spoo passed away in Rockford, Ill., earlier this week (Monday). Spoo was the Panthers head coach for 25 years (1987-2011) winning 144 games with nine FCS playoff appearances, 11 FCS Top 25 end of year rankings and five conference championships. He was inducted into both the Eastern Illinois and Ohio Valley Conference Hall of Fame.
• Eastern Illinois run game was shut down at Jacksonville State as the Panthers rushed for 15 yards on 19 carries against the Gamecocks. Quarterback
Johnathan Brantley was the leading rusher with 18 yards on 10 carries.
Robert Columbus was the only EIU running back of three that played that finished with positive yards in the game (+1).
• Eastern Illinois will be playing its 101st homecoming game. EIU is 51-41-8 all-time on homecoming. This will be fourth time EIU has hosted UT Martin for homecoming with a 2-1 record in previous meetings.
THE SERIES
• Eastern Illinois and UT Martin will be meeting for the 24th time when the Panthers and Skyhawks meet on Saturday. EIU holds a 14-9 all-time series lead but the Skyhawks have an 8-4 series advantage since current UTM head coach Jason Simpson took over the program in 2006. The Skyhawks have won two straight. EIU's last win in the series was in 2015 as they beat UT Martin 23-21 en route to the Panthers 16th FCS playoff appearance.
