Eastern Illinois (5-3, 1-2 Conf.) at Lindenwood (3-5, 1-3 Conf.)
Hunter Stadium (6,000) • St. Charles, Mo.
November 4, 2023 • 2 p.m. • TV: ESPN+
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NOTES TO KNOW
• Eastern Illinois comes off its bye week set up for a November stretch run beginning this weekend at Lindenwood. EIU will then face Tennessee State at home before ending the regular season at Robert Morris. The Panthers are 5-3 on the season looking to for one more win to post their first winning season since the 2017 campaign. EIU is among the teams also receiving votes in this week's AFCA FCS Coaches Top 25 poll marking the sixth straight week they have either been listed among the teams receiving votes which includes one week at No. 25. Lindenwood enters at 3-5 overall as they have two games remaining in the regular season.
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Pierce Holley was named the Big South-OVC Football Offensive Player of the Week following the Panthers last game on Oct. 21 against Bryant prior to the Panthers bye week. In that game Holley rushed for three touchdowns and won the game in overtime with a successful two-point conversion run. Holley was the first EIU player to rush for three touchdowns in a game since Isaiah Johnson in November of 2018 against Austin Peay. His two-point conversion via the run was the first successful rushing conversion for EIU in more than 20 years, the last by J.R. Taylor on Nov. 23, 2002 against Murray State.
• Corner
Russell Dandy recorded three pass break-ups in the Panthers overtime win over Bryant on Oct. 21. The fifth year player has become one of the top defensive backs in the Big South-OVC this season. Dandy now has 13 pass break-ups to go with one interception, two fumble recoveries and 25 tackles. He ranks fourth in the FCS in passes defended this season. Dandy's 13 pass break-ups this season tie him for third on the Panthers single season list with Corneliuss Page (2019). Ben Brown holds the EIU single season record with 16 pass break-ups in 2004.
• Eastern Illinois defense added another turnover gained in the win over Bryant with a forced fumble and recovery. Despite not playing last weekend, EIU continues to rank second in the FCS in turnovers gained this season with 20, trailing only national leader Richmond (23). In the last ten years EIU has twice finished in third in the nation in turnovers gained with 31 during the 2015 season and 37 during the 2013 season.
• Eastern Illinois played its second overtime game this season with the Oct. 21st, 25-24 win over Bryant. EIU is now 10-9 all-time in overtime games. It also marked the third time EIU has had an overtime game decided by just one point. EIU's last overtime win had been Oct. 20, 2018 vs UT Martin.
