Eastern Illinois at Tennessee State
Hale Stadium (10,000)  •  Nashville, Tenn.
March 14, 2021  • 1 p.m.  •  TV: ESPN+
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NOTES TO KNOW
• Eastern Illinois special teams blocked a punt which resulted in a safety on Sunday at UT Martin. The punt block was credited to
DeAirious Smith with the punt rolling out of the back of the end zone for the safety. It was the first blocked punt for EIU since Julian Hess blocked a punt on Sept. 16, 2017 against Illinois State. The last time EIU recorded a team safety was on Nov. 14, 2015 which was also a blocked punt out of the back of the end zone at UT Martin.
• Eastern Illinois defense had two forced fumbles on Sunday at UT Martin with the Panthers able to recover one of the two loose balls for a turnover.Â
Jason Johnson and
Mark Williams forced the two fumbles at UT Martin. In the opener against Southeast Missouri,
Kaelin Drakeford forced a fumble which was recovered by EIU. For the season EIU has two fumble recoveries which ranks 20th in the FCS.
• With his two touchdown passes on Sunday at UT Martin, senior quarterback
Harry Woodbery moved into a tie for 10th on the Eastern Illinois career charts for touchdown passes. Woodbery now has 25 career touchdown passes in three seasons with the Panthers. He moved into a tie with Jalen Whitlow (2014-15). Next up is Anthony Buich (1998-99) who is ranked ninth on the Panthers top ten list with 27 career touchdown passes. Â
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Matt Judd has been a big part of Eastern Illinois kick return game through the first two games of the season. On Sunday at UT Martin, Judd had three kick returns for 98 yards to average 32.6 yards per return. He ripped off a long return of 53 yards in the second quarter which set up the Panthers first touchdown of the game. On the season Judd is averaging 26.2 yards per kickoff return which ranks 11th in the FCS and first in the OVC.
• Last season EIU won at Tennessee State, 49-38, giving head coach
Adam Cushing his first win as the Panthers head coach. EIU has won five straight games against Tennessee State in Nashville and is 8-4 all-time in games played against the Tigers in Music City.
