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Eastern Illinois (1-0) at Bowling Green (0-1)
Doyt Perry Stadium (24,000)  •   Bowling Green, Ohio
September 9, 2023  •   1 p.m.   •   TV: ESPN+

GAME COVERAGE LINKS
EIU Notes  |  BGSU Notes  |  Listen Live |  Live Stats  |  Watch on ESPN+

NOTES TO KNOW
• Eastern Illinois opened the season with a 27-0 win at Indiana State on Thursday night marking the first time EIU has opened a season with a win since 2017.   The shutout by the defense was the first for the Panthers since the final game of the 2016 season, a 24-0 win at Eastern Kentucky.  The season opening shutout was the first by the Panthers since 2003 when EIU opened the season with a 27-0 win over California (Pa.).

• Eastern Illinois defense was on-point in the opener forcing six turnovers with four interceptions and two fumble recoveries.  The last time EIU had six or more turnovers in a game was on Nov. 21, 2015 when the Panthers forced seven turnovers in a win over Eastern Kentucky.  The last time EIU had four or more interceptions in a game was last season when they picked off four passes in a road win at Murray State.

• Two of Eastern Illinois four interceptions in the game were returned for touchdowns with the two pick six's taking place in the final minute of the first half.  Tyris Harvey had a 19-yard interception return for touchdown while NiJhay Burt had a 67-yard interception return for touchdown.  It was the second career pick six for Harvey while Burt's touchdown return was the tenth longest interception return for touchdown in program history.  The last time EIU had two interceptions returned for touchdown in the same game was Sept. 14, 1985 in a 39-7 win over Indiana State.  Derick Wilhelms (35 yards) and Bob Bronaugh (55 yards) both had the scores. 

• Linebacker Elijawah Tolbert picked up two weekly awards for his part in EIU's defensive effort.  Tolbert was named the STATS Perform FCS National Defensive Player of the Week and the Big South-OVC Football Association Defensive Player of the Week.  Tolbert finished the game with 11 tackles including seven solo stops.  He was in on two of the Panthers six forced turnovers with one interception and one forced fumble.   

• Punter Jacob Horvath was named the Big South-OVC Football Association Freshman of the Week after his collegiate debut.  An Australian native, Thursday was not only the first American football game for Horvath but the first he had ever seen in person.  His first punt went 57 yards as he finished the day with four punts for a 42.5 yard average and two pinned inside the 20.