Tweet #EIUBleedBlue

PDF Box Score  |   Photo Gallery (by Sandy King)

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois was 7-of-7 in the red zone on Saturday afternoon as the Panthers rolled to a 52-21 win over Austin Peay on senior day at O'Brien Field.
 
EIU improved to 3-7 on the season, 3-4 in the OVC.  APSU dropped to 4-6 overall, 2-5 in the OVC.
 
The Panthers jumped out to a 14-0 run in the first quarter as Clarksville native Isaiah Johnson began his big rushing day with a pair of touchdowns from ten and 14 yards out.  Johnson would add a third score in the fourth quarter as he rushed for 187 yards on 23 carries.  His long run of the day was 76 yards which set up a second quarter touchdown.
 
Quarterback Johnathan Brantley extended the Panthers lead to 28-0 with back-to-back rushing touchdowns early in the second quarter.  Brantley scored from 11 yards on both runs with his second rushing touchdown at 10:21 pushing EIU's lead to 28-0.
 
Brantley connected with Alexander Hollins on a 38-yard touchdown pass following an Austin Peay turnover to make it 35-0 with 2:36 to play in the first half.  Brantley was 16-of-26 passing for 152 yards and the touchdown.  Harry Woodbery would add 36 yards through the air and a touchdown pass to Aaron Gooch in the fourth quarter.
 
EIU finished the day with 216 yards rushing and 404 yards of total offense.
 
Austin Peay got on the board at the end of the second quarter on a Jeremiah Oatsvall 6-yard pass to Gorel Soumare.   Oatsvall would connect through the air in the third quarter with DJ Montgomery for a 21-yard pass which made it 38-14 EIU with 4:50 to play in the third quarter.  Oatsvall passed for 188 yards with Montgomery his favorite target of the day with seven catches for 165 yards.
 
Five EIU players recorded eight tackles on the afternoon with Dytarious Johnson making eight stops with three tackles for loss.  EIU had three turnovers gained with Edwyn Brown getting an interception while Joe Caputo and Austin Johnson both had fumble recoveries.  Josh Price had eight tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble.
 
Gunnar Scholato led the Governors defense with 12 tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack.  Jaison Williams had two sacks for APSU.