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PDF Box Score  | 2024 Senior Day Photo Gallery and Football Game Day Photo Gallery (by Sandy King)

Offense, defense, special teams, overtime; something for everyone was on the menu Saturday afternoon as Eastern Illinois beat Charleston Southern, 16-13, in overtime on Senior Day at O'Brien Field.
 
Eastern Illinois led 13-7 at the half and was able to hold that lead until late in the fourth quarter when after the third big punt return of the day by Noah Jennings put Charleston Southern in business inside the EIU 20-yard with less than five minutes to play.
 
On the first play of the drive Jamil Bishop ran around the right end for a 15-yard touchdown which tied the game at 13-13.  Each team had two more possessions in the final five minutes of regulation but neither was able to move the ball eventually forcing the overtime period.
 
In the overtime session, Charleston Southern had the ball first.  On a fourth and one play Anthony Shockey and Kaelin Drakeford came up with a big fourth down stop holding Autavius Ison just short of the first down marker.
 
On EIU's possession Charleston Southern would make an initial stop forcing a field goal attempt after a three-and-out.  On the attempt the snap sailed high over the holders head and while racing to the ball a Charleston Southern player illegally kicked the ball to advance it.  The penalty provided EIU with a first down and moved the ball inside the 10-yard line.  CSU would make a two goal line stops before Julian Patino knocked home an 18-yard field goal for the win.
 
CSU jumped on the board with a pair of field goals in the second quarter with Reid Montgomery knocking home kicks from 37 and 39 yards to give the Buccaneers a 6-0 lead. 
 
EIU answered quickly taking the lead 7-6 on a MJ Flowers 2-yard run with 1:36 to play in the second quarter.  CSU had its next drive quickly halted and Cody Silzer made a big special teams play with a punt block to set the Panthers up at the 21-yard line.  Pierce Holley hit Alex Herrera three plays later for an 18-yard touchdown to give EIU a 13-7 lead after a missed extra point. 
 
The Buccaneers made one final first half charge driving into field goal with Zay Gentry blocking a 50-yard Montgomery field goal attempt as time expired in the half.
 
EIU's defense came up big several times in the second half led by Phoenix Porter with nine tackles.  Joel Barrows had six tackles with two tackles for loss.  Jerrad Price added a sack and a pass break-up with both big plays coming on the same CSU possession forcing a three-and-out.  The Buccaneers were limited to just 210 yards of total offense on the day.
 
The Panthers also struggled to generate big offensive numbers finishing with 244 yards of total offense.  Flowers rushed for 72 yards.  Jay Pearson added 53 on the ground.
 
Ison led CSU with 48 yards on the ground, Bishop contributed 44.  Steve Zayachowsky had nine tackles with two of CSU's seven sacks in the game. 
 
EIU is now 3-8 overall, 2-5 in the Big South OVC.  CSU falls to 1-10 overall and finished Big South OVC play at 0-8.  They will end the year next week with a game at Florida State.