Box Score
NASHVILLE - After gambling on 4th down most of the season, it was a different gamble by Eastern Illinois head coach
Adam Cushing that paid off. Trailing 38-35, EIU pulled off an onside kick with 5 seconds left in the third quarter and eventually cashed it in for a 42-38 lead with just over 10 minutes left to go in the game.
EIU would tack on an insurance touchdown midway through the fourth quarter as the Panthers picked up their first win of the season with a 49-38 win at Tennessee State.
EIU improved to 1-9 on the season, 1-5 in the OVC. TSU fell to 2-8 overall, 1-5 in the OVC.
Charles Shelton recovered the onside kick and
James Sheehan caught his second touchdown pass of the game to give EIU the lead with 10:17 to play.
On the other side of the ball, EIU's defense stepped up in the second half allowing only three TSU points after trailing 35-21 at the half. The Panthers had three sacks on TSU's final two offensive possessions with
Jason Johnson forcing a fumble on the first of those Tiger drives.
Jaelin Benefield scored one play later for the Panthers final score with a 9-yard run with 7:21 left in the game.
Benefield finished the day rushing for 105 yards and two scores as the Panthers had their best rushing attack of the season. Senior
Darshon McCullough had 155 yards on the ground as EIU churned out 265 on the ground.
As has been customary in their recent meetings, Eastern Illinois and Tennessee State put points on the scoreboard as both teams had two touchdowns in the opening quarter.
TSU drove the length of the field on the opening drive scoring a short run by DeMarco Corbin to lead 6-0 after the extra point attempt was missed. EIU answered on its first drive with Benefield breaking off a 45-yard run from the wildcat formation on a fourth down play to put the Panthers up 7-6.
TSU regained the lead on the next possession driving the field with quarterback Cameron Rosendahl rushing in from 3-yards out. Chris Rowland scored on a 2-point conversion to put TSU up 14-7.
The Tigers would stop EIU on the Panthers next offensive drive but quickly turned it back over as
Edwyn Brown intercepted a tipped pass by
Dytarious Johnson. Brown returned the interception to the TSU 15-yard line and McCullough scored on a 15-yard run on the next play to knot the game at 14-14.
The scoring continued in the second quarter with special teams playing a factor. EIU's first punt of the game was returned by Chris Rowland for a 57-yard touchdown to put the Tigers up 21-14 with 12:16 to play in the first half. TSU would gain 224 yards on the day on punt and kickoff returns.
Rowland continued his big day on the next TSU drive as he hauled in a 36-yard touchdown pass from Rosendahl. Rosendahl would connect with Steven Newbold just before halftime to put TSU up 35-21. Rosendahl finished the day with 209 yards passing.
EIU added its third touchdown following its second forced turnover of the game.
Ameer Aqel forced a fumble on a punt that EIU recovered deep in TSU territory. The Panthers would score on a Sheehan 12-yard touchdown pass from
Harry Woodbery. Woodbery passed for 206 yards.
The Panthers moved to within one score midway through the third quarter as
Isaiah Hill had a 4-yard touchdown run on an end around. The score was set up by a big run by McCullough.
Antonio Zita extended TSU's lead to ten points with a field goal in the third quarter after EIU made a defensive stand inside the ten yard line.
D'Mitri George made two of the three stops inside the ten.
Jason Johnson would lead EIU on the day with nine tackles.
Dytarious Johnson had seven tackles and two forced fumbles. EIU limited TSU to just 62 yards of offense in the second half.
Nick Harper led TSU with 11 tackles. Terry Straughter had nine tackles with 2.5 for loss.
