Eastern Illinois (1-5, 0-2)Â at Tennessee State (4-2, 2-1)
Nissan Stadium (69,143) •  Nashville, Tenn.
October 12, 2024 •  5 pm  •  TV: ESPN+Â
GAME INFO
EIU Game Notes | TSU Notes | Live Stats | Listen Panther Radio Network | Watch ESPN+
NOTES TO KNOW
• Eastern Illinois looks to rebound from an 0-2 start to Big South OVC play when the Panthers hit the road for the first time during the conference slate on Saturday at Tennessee State. EIU fell to 1-5 overall, 0-2 in the Big South OVC following a home loss to No. 13 Southeast Missouri. The game will also be EIU's first outside the state of Illinois as they played their first six games in the Prairie State with three home games at O'Brien Field and three road games at Illinois, Northwestern and Illinois State. EIU faces a Tennessee State team that is 4-2 overall, 2-1 in the Big South OVC. The Tigers have come-from-behind in each of their last two games to pick up wins over Charleston Southern and Lindenwood.
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NiJhay Burt picked off a pass in the fourth quarter and returned it 27 yards on Saturday against Southeast Missouri for what proved to be the games only turnover. For Burt it was his third interception of the season which ranks him eighth in the FCS and first in the Big South OVC. Burt's other two interceptions this season came against Indiana State. The former safety turned corner back has 37 tackles this season and now has six career interceptions.
• Linebacker
Anthony Shockey continues to have a nose for the football this season as he posted his third straight double figure tackle game finishing with 12 tackles against Southeast Missouri. He currently leads the Big South OVC in total tackles with 54 (23rd in the FCS) while ranking in the FCS Top 10 for solo tackles with 34 (8th). Shockey now has five career double figure tackle games and the 12 stops against SEMO pass his previous career high of eleven last season at Bowling Green. Â
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MJ Flowers rushed for 48 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries on Saturday against Southeast Missouri. Flowers also ended the day as the Panthers top receiver as he caught 11 passes for another 72 yards. The 11 receptions set an EIU single game reception record by a running back breaking the previous mark of ten set by Devin Church in 2015 against Northern Iowa in the FCS playoffs. Flowers currently ranks 38th in the FCS in rushing yards and 44th in rushing touchdowns. He has 1,398 career rushing yards and moved into 23rd on EIU's career rushing list.
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Cooper Willman hauled in a 12-yard touchdown pass for the Panthers first score of the game on Saturday against Southeast Missouri. Willman finished with four catches for 70 yards as he is one of four receivers on the Panthers team with 20 or more catches this season. The touchdown grab was the third of the season for Willman which ranks him 36th in the FCS in touchdown receptions. A five-year member of the EIU football team, Willman caught his first career TD earlier this year.
