Eastern Illinois University Athletics

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CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois football had its best offensive day of the season but the Panthers had several critical turnovers leading to 14 Tennessee Tech points as the Golden Eagles beat the Panthers 40-29 in the Ohio Valley Conference opener on Saturday evening.
 
EIU dropped to 0-5 on the season, 0-1 in the OVC.  TTU improved to 4-1 on the year, 1-0 in the OVC as they beat EIU for the first time since the 2011 season.
 
EIU opened the game with a solid drive in the first quarter that was capped by a Harry Woodbery 20-yard touchdown pass to Xander Richards with 3:58 to play in the opening quarter.  It was EIU's first lead of the season and one of a school record 68 passing attempts for Woodbery on the evening.  The previous school record was 61 set by Jimmy Garoppolo in 2012.  Garoppolo was one of four former athletes inducted into the EIU Athletic Hall of Fame earlier on Saturday afternoon (Erik Lora, Jade Riebold and Mick Viken the others).
 
TTU would tie the game early in the second quarter as Bailey Fisher connected with Austin Hicks on a 5-yard strike.  It was one of six touchdown passes on the day for Fisher as he set the school record for touchdown passes in a game.
 
The Golden Eagles would build the lead to 21-7 in the second quarter scoring their next 14 points off EIU turnovers.  Aderick Moore intercepted a pass that set up the go ahead touchdown for TTU then forced a fumble that led to the second touchdown off EIU turnovers.  Fisher hit D.J. Wilkes for a 2-yard pass for the first score and the connected with Stafford from 16-yards to put the Golden Eagles up 21-7.
 
EIU drove down and missed a field goal as time expired in the first half.  Tennessee Tech would eventually build the lead to 34-7 with two more Fisher touchdown passes to Hicks and Stafford in the third quarter.  Fisher was 23-of-34 for 269 yards.
 
The Panthers defense did have two interceptions off of Fisher with Corneliuss Page and JJ Ross both picking off passes to end TTU drives.  Another miscue by the TTU offense resulted in a big tackle for loss for Mark Williams, one of nine tackles for loss recorded by EIU in the game.
 
EIU mustered some late offense behind Woodbery's arm and Jaelin Benefield's rushing.  Woodbery passed for 334 yards going 34-of-68 with two touchdowns and one interception.  His top target on the day was Robbie Lofton with ten catches for 124 yards.
 
Benefield rushed for 46 yards on 14 carries scoring a pair of short touchdowns to end the third quarter and midway through the fourth quarter.  Benefield's touchdown with 8:21 to play closed TTU's lead to 34-21.
 
Both teams would tack on a touchdown in the final four minutes.  Fisher hit Tavin Kilpatrick for the Golden Eagles.  Woodbery found DeWayne Cooks for the Panthers.
 
Sean Williams led the Panthers defense with seven tackles.  Dytarious Johnson added six tackles, a sack and two tackles for loss.
 
Moore led TTU's defense with seven tackles including two forced fumbles and an interception.