EIU Looking For First 2018 Win, Head To Winless Tennessee Tech
Eastern Illinois at Tennessee Tech
Tucker Stadium (16,500) • Cookeville, Tenn.
September 29, 2018 • 6 p.m. • TV: ESPN+
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NOTES TO KNOW
• Eastern Illinois lost its Ohio Valley Conference opener for the first time since the 2011 season with last Saturday's 41-40 loss to Tennessee State. The Panthers are looking to avoid an 0-2 start in OVC play for the first time since 2011. EIU has only had an 0-2 start to OVC play four times since joining the league in 1996.
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Alexander Hollins caught eight passes for 132 yards as he posted his third 100 yard receiving day of the season. Hollins now has seven 100 yard receiving days in his two-year EIU career to rank sixth on that career list. He is currently ninth in the FCS in receiving yards with 500 for the season.
• Eastern Illinois defense and special teams forced three turnovers in the game against Tennessee State on Saturday. It marked the first time this season that the Panthers had forced a turnover.
BJ Ojo and
Dytarious Johnson both forced fumbles which EIU recovered while
Mark Williams had an interception.
• Eastern Illinois scored 40 or more points for the second consecutive week as EIU is now averaging 27.8 points per game. It marked the first time since Nov. 1 & 8 of 2014 that EIU had scored 40 or more points in back-to-back games. The last time EIU had three games with 40 or more points was the 2013 season.
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Nick Bruno's 48-yard field goal on Saturday against Tennessee State was the longest by a Panthers kicker since Austin Signor knocked home a 48-yard kick on Oct. 17, 2009 against Tennessee Tech. Bruno's previous career long was 45 yards as a freshman against Southeast Missouri.
THE SERIES
• Eastern Illinois and Tennessee Tech will be meeting for the 25th time on Saturday with the Panthers leading the all-time series 18-6. EIU has won six straight in the series including a one point win last year in Charleston and six point win in Cookeville two years ago. The last win in the series by Tennessee Tech was in 2001 with a 31-20 win at EIU as the Golden Eagles went on to win a share of the OVC crown that year and advance to the FCS playoffs.
