Eastern Illinois (1-6, 1-1 OVC) vs. Tennessee State (3-3, 1-1 OVC)
O'Brien Field (10,000) • Charleston, Ill.
Oct. 23, 2021 • 2 p.m. • TV: ESPN+
EIU Game Notes | Listen Panther Radio Network | Live Stats | Watch on ESPN+
NOTES TO KNOW
• Eastern Illinois hosts Tennessee State for the Panthers Homecoming Game this Saturday. EIU led No. 17 UT Martin last week at the half but could not hold on as the Panthers lost to fall to 1-6 overall, 1-1 in the Ohio Valley Conference. Tennessee State enters with a 3-3 record as the Tigers have won two straight including an OVC win over Tennessee Tech last Saturday to move TSU to 1-1 in the league standings.
• This will be EIU's 103rd Homecoming Game and the first for EIU since the 2019 season as the Panthers had their 2020 Homecoming Game canceled due to COVID-19. It marked only the third time that EIU has not played a Homecoming Game (missed in 1918 and 1943). EIU's first Homecoming Game was a 52-6 win over Shurtleff College in 1915.
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Jason Johnson continues to make tackles as the third year linebacker posted his third straight double figure tackle game with 14 stops against UT Martin. Johnson leads the OVC in tackles with 71 and ranks 12th in the FCS this season. Of his 71 tackles this season, 42 have been solo stops as he ranks sixth in the FCS in solo tackles. He is currently on pace to finish with more than 100 tackles this season. The last EIU player to collect 100 or more tackles in a season was Seth McDonald during the 2015 season.
• Wide receiver
DeAirious Smith hauled in one pass against UT Martin good for a six-yard touchdown against UT Martin. It was the third receiving touchdown of the season for Smith and his fourth overall touchdown (blocked punt return for TD vs. Illinois State). Smith currently leads the Panthers in scoring and is tenth in the OVC in touchdowns. The last wide receiver to lead EIU in scoring for a season was Alexander Hollins in 2018.
• Kicker
Stone Galloway knocked home a 33-yard field goal on Saturday against UT Martin for his third made field goal this season. Galloway is now 3-of-7 on field goals this season with a long of 44 yards against Illinois State. He was 5-of-7 on field goal attempts during the 2021 spring season with a long of 44 yards.
