Eastern Illinois (1-7, 0-4 Conf.) vs. Western Illinois (3-5, 2-2 Conf.)
O'Brien Field (10,000) • Charleston, Ill.
November 2, 2024 • 2 pm • TV: ESPN+
GAME INFORMATION & LINKS
EIU Game Notes |
WIU Game Notes |
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Live Stats |
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NOTES TO KNOW
• Eastern Illinois renews a long-time rivalry with Western Illinois on Saturday afternoon as the Panthers welcome the Leathernecks to Charleston for Family Weekend. EIU is 1-7 on the season, 0-4 in the Big South OVC following a road loss at UT Martin. WIU is 3-5, 2-2 in the Big South OVC after a shootout loss to Lindenwood. This marks the third different conference that the two schools have faced each in as members starting with the IIAC followed by years in the Gateway Conference and now Big South OVC. It will be the first time they have met as conference foes since the 1995 season. WIU has won the five meetings in-between conference contests including a win in the 2002 FCS playoffs, the last collegiate game for quarterback Tony Romo.
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Cooper Willman continues to become the Panthers go to receiver as the season progresses as the senior finished with career highs of 11 receptions and 143 yards with a touchdown at UT Martin. It was the second consecutive 100-yard receiving day for Willman who had eight catches for 141 yards at Tennessee State. The last EIU wide receiver with back-to-back 100-yard receiving games was Isaiah Hill with three straight to end the 2021 season. Willman leads the Panthers with 41 receptions for 543 yards with his receptions ranking 37th in the FCS and receiving yards landing at 41st in the FCS. He now has 75 career catches for 923 yards as he looks to become the 35th EIU player to pass the 1,000 yard receiving mark for their career.
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Pierce Holley passed for 348 yards and two touchdowns at UT Martin marking the fourth straight game Holley has passed for 300 or more yards in a game. It was his sixth career 300-yard game at EIU moving him into fifth all-time on the Panthers list.. Holley ranks tenth this season in the FCS with 2,032 passing yards. He has 4,773 passing yards at EIU to rank sixth on the EIU all-time charts while his 26 touchdown passes at EIU are now tied for 10th. Jimmy Garoppolo was the last EIU quarterback with three or more 300-yard passing games, opening the 2013 season with nine straight 300-yard games.
• Linebacker
Anthony Shockey continues to be around the football for the Panthers defense this season as he tied for the team lead with eight tackles on Saturday at UT Martin. It was the third time this season Shockey has led the team in tackles for a game. His 67 tackles lead the Panthers this season and rank second in the Big South OVC and 32nd in the FCS. Shockey has made 40 of his tackles with solo stops with that total leading the conference and 15th in the FCS. He is averaging 8.4 tackles per game and is on pace to finish the year with 100 tackles.
