Eastern Illinois (2-5, 1-1 OVC) vs. Tennessee Tech (1-6, 0-3 OVC)
O'Brien Field (10,000) • Charleston, Ill.
October 29, 2022 • 2 p.m. • TV: ESPN+
EIU Game Notes | TTU Game Notes | Listen Live | Live Stats | Watch on ESPN+
NOTES TO KNOW
• Eastern Illinois and Tennessee Tech both look to snap losing skids as the two teams wrap up the month of October with an OVC contest this Saturday. EIU returned to conference play this past Saturday with a road loss at Tennessee State as EIU has lost two in a row dropping to 2-5, 1-1 in the OVC. Tennessee Tech (1-6) enters at 0-3 in the OVC and lost its fifth straight game last weekend with an overtime setback at Kennesaw State. A win by EIU would give the Panthers the second OVC victory of the year, the most by the Panthers in an OVC season since the 2018 campaign.
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Stone Galloway continues to be perfect for the season as the kicker knocked home a 32-yard field goal in the fourth quarter in Saturday's game at Tennessee State. Galloway had made another field goal earlier in the half which EIU took off the board following a penalty which resulted in a first down and ultimately a touchdown. Galloway is one of three kickers in the FCS this season still perfect on field goals and has the most makes of those three kickers at 9-for-9. Joining Galloway on the list are Colby Kintner (The Citadel) and Luka Zurak (Butler), both 7-for-7 this season.
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Cooper Willman had several standout special teams plays on Saturday at Tennessee State as the wide receiver also serves on the Panthers punt and kick units. As EIU's primary punt returner Willman had two punt returns for 33 yards. For the season he is averaging 18.8 yards per return which would lead the OVC and rank second in the FCS, but he does not have enough returns to currently qualify. On the Panthers kickoff unit, he recovered an onside kick in the fourth quarter, EIU's first successful onside kick since their 2019 game at Tennessee State.
• Eastern Illinois defense has been able to get to the quarterback over the last three games as the Panthers finished with four sacks at Tennessee State. EIU has recorded 13 of its 15 sacks this season in the last three games.
Jordan Miles had two of the four sacks on Saturday as he is now one of three players tied for the team lead with three sacks joining
Cameron Leach and
Joel Barrows. This season nine different players have been credited with at least a half sack.
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Jordan Vincent led EIU with nine tackles at Tennessee State including seven solo stops, one tackle for loss and two pass break-ups. The preseason All-OVC safety is now Eastern Illinois leading tackler on the season with 51. Of those 51 tackles, 35 have been solo stops as Vincent currently leads the OVC in solo tackles and ranks 35th in the FCS.
