Eastern Illinois vs. Tennessee State
O'Brien Field (10,000)   •   Charleston, Ill.
September 22, 2018   •  2 p.m.   •   TV: ESPN+

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NOTES TO KNOW
• Eastern Illinois will be opening its 23rd season of play in the Ohio Valley Conference.  The Panthers are 18-4 in OVC openers including riding a six game conference opening win streak.  Head coach Kim Dameron is 4-0 in conference openers.

• Quarterback Johnathan Brantley was named the Ohio Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week following his efforts in the home opener against Indiana State. Brantley passed for 443 yards which ranks as the eighth best single game total in school history.  His 37 completions in the game are tied for fourth most in a game at EIU.

• Junior Matt Reyna was named the Ohio Valley Conference Special Teams Player of the Week after having a big return day against Indiana State.  Reyna had four returns for 160 yards (a 40 yard average) including returning a kickoff for a touchdown 96 yards in the opening quarter.  It was the first kickoff return for touchdown by a Panther since Oct. 31, 2015.

• Senior wide receiver Alexander Hollins continues to have a breakout senior season as he caught ten passes for 167 yards and three touchdowns against Indiana State.  It was the second three touchdown game of the season for Hollins who currently leads the NCAA with six touchdown receptions.

• Eastern Illinois defense allowed 55 points in the loss to Indiana State marking the second time this season EIU has allowed 55 points in a game.  The Panthers are currently 120th in the NCAA in scoring defense allowing 52.7 points per game.  

THE SERIES
• Eastern Illinois and Tennessee State will be meeting for the 22nd time when the two schools face off on Saturday for the Ohio Valley Conference opener.  EIU has won six straight in the series and leads the all-time series 14-8.  The last three meetings between the two schools have been decided by a total of seven points with two of the contests going to overtime.  EIU won 25-22 in OT in 2015.  EIU won 35-34 in 2016 and last season the Panthers won in two overtime's 19-16 in Nashville.  TSU's last win in the series was an 18-17 win in November 2011, the final home game for long time coach Bob Spoo.