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CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois defense forced four turnovers to keep the Panthers in contention against UT Martin but the game was decided by the two-point conversion attempt that was incomplete as No. 18 UTM held off No. 25 EIU, 28-27, at O'Brien Field.
 
Max Dowling caught a seven-yard touchdown pass from Kinkead Dent on the opening possession of overtime to give the Skyhawks a 28-21 lead following the extra point.
 
On EIU's possession in overtime, Pierce Holley found Justin Thomas for a 21-yard touchdown to bring the Panthers within one.  EIU elected to go for two on its point-after-attempt with the pass into the end zone broken up.
 
The Panthers defense was solid all day holding the nation's leading rusher Sam Franklin to just 54 yards.  EIU forced four turnovers with fumbles forced by Elijawah Tolbert, Blake Ruffin and Phoenix Porter.  The fourth turnover came on a NiJhay Burt interception setting up the Panthers final drive of regulation.
 
EIU drove to the UT Martin 23-yard line but had a 40-yard field goal attempt blocked as time expired.   On a windy day at O'Brien Field, both teams had missed field goal opportunities with EIU also missing from 24 and 51 yards.   UT Martin missed on a 33-yard attempt.
 
The Panthers scoring damage was done through the air with Pierce Holley passing for 359 yards and four touchdowns. He hit Justin Bowick twice for scores in the first quarter (13 yards) and fourth quarter (14 yards).   Holley's top target on the day was Eli Mirza with ten catches for 119 yards and a 10-yard touchdown just before halftime that put EIU up 14-7 at the break.
 
The Skyhawks tied the game on their opening drive of the third quarter with a Dent to Dowling nine-yard strike.  Franklin added a four-yard score in the second quarter and Narkel Leflore a two-yard rush in the fourth.
 
Russell Dandy and Tolbert both had seven tackles to lead EIU.  Joel Barrows had five tackles with one of EIU's three sacks on the afternoon.
 
EIU falls to 4-2 overall, 0-1 in the Big South-OVC Football Association.   EIU plays at Southeast Missouri next week.
 
UT Martin improved to 5-1, 2-0 in the Big South-OVC.