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Box Score
CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois quarterback
Pierce Holley completed his first 20-passes of the game breaking a Panthers school record set by current Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton in 1986. Holley then completed seven of his final nine passes leading EIU on a game winning drive with 92 seconds remaining as the Panthers won the 111th Mid-America Classic 14-13 over No. 25 Illinois State.
Holley finished the day 35-of-48 for 273 yards and two touchdowns. Both scoring connections were to
Justin Thomas returning for his first game of the season.
Thomas opening touchdown reception was 31 yards with 5:39 to play in the first quarter. His second touchdown grab came with 30 seconds left in the game on a 25-yard strike from Holley. Thomas had seven catches for 80 yards.
The extra point following the last touchdown by
Julian Patino proved to the be the difference as the Redbirds had kicking difficulties all afternoon. ISU missed two field goals and then had the final extra point hit off the upright after they took the lead with 4:04 left in the game.
Blake Ruffin picked off a pass to end the game on ISU's final drive, the third interception of the day for the Panthers.
Mark Aitken and
Russell Dandy had the other two. Aitken's pick was in the endzone snuffing out a Redbirds drive while Dandy picked off a pass in the redzone to thwart a second ISU scoring march.
Wenkers Wright scored the first ISU touchdown with 7:30 to play in the third quarter to even the score at 7-7. ISU took the lead on a Mason Blakemore 12-yard rush with just over four minutes remaining. ISU ended the day with 108 yards on the ground while holding the Panthers to 18 yards net rushing due to eight sacks. Amir Abdullah had 2.5 of those eight.
EIU's defense was led by
Blake Ruffin with nine tackles.
This mark's EIU's first win over a ranked opponent since 2017 when the Panthers beat No. 24 Tennessee State. It ends a five game losing skid for EIU in the Mid-America Classic. EIU's last win was in 2016.
Both teams are now 2-1 on the season.
