Box Score

MURRAY, Ky. – A key turnover in the third quarter swung the momentum on Sunday afternoon erasing Eastern Illinois football's chance at knocking off No. 17 Murray State.

The Racers would take advantage of a fumble in the third quarter that cut the EIU lead in half as Murray State rallied for a 41-27 win at Stewart Stadium.

Tied 10-10 at the half, Eastern Illinois built a 27-13 lead early in the third quarter.   Mark Williams picked off a pass on the first MSU play of the second half and raced 38-yards to put the Panthers up 17-10 just 17 seconds into the second half.

Following a 58-yard field goal yard by Aaron Baum, EIU would score on its first offensive play from scrimmage as running back Jordan Smith changed directions in the backfield and raced 80 yards for a touchdown putting EIU up 24-13 just three minutes, 24 seconds into the second half.  Smith finished with 142 yards on 13 carries becoming the second EIU running back over 100 yards in a game this season.

On the ensuing kickoff, Marcus Bornslater would recover a muffed kickoff that gave EIU the ball at the Murray State 13 yard line.   The Racers defense would stiffen and hold the Panthers to a 29-yard Stone Galloway field goal, his second of the day as EIU led 27-13.

EIU's defense would force a 3-and-out on the next possession keeping the momentum on the Panthers sideline until Murray State forced a fumble on EIU's first offensive play following the defensive stand.   Marcis Floyd would force the turnover that was recovered by Darnel Victor at the EIU 17 yard line.

Murray State would cut the Eastern Illinois lead in half on that possession with a Preston Rice 15-yard pass to DeQuan Dallas.   Following a 3-and-out by EIU's offense, Rice would scamper to the end zone on a 2-yard rush to tie the game at 27-27 with 5:01 to play in the third quarter.

With the scored tied at 27-27, EIU drove down to the Murray State 13 yard line late in the third quarter but the MSU defense held on a fourth and one giving the Racers the ball.   On the first play of the Murray State drive, Rice hit LaMartez Brooks for a 50-yard pass to flip the field.  Murray State would cap the drive early in the fourth quarter with Baum 26 yard field goal, his third of the day.

Baum added another field goal and the Racers capped the scoring in the fourth with a Damonta Witherspoon four yard touchdown.

EIU's first half touchdown came on an Otto Kuhns 18-yard pass to Robbie Lofton.  Kuhns passed for 141 yards while rushing for 64 more.  Lofton was the Panthers leading receiver with three catches for 58 yards.   

Jason Johnson led the EIU defense with 11 tackles, Kaelin Drakeford added eight.