Box Score 

Eastern Illinois defense gave the Panthers a spark out of the locker room to open the second half with a three-and-out and a turnover gained.  EIU could not completely capitalize on that momentum as they lost 42-12 at Lindenwood.

EIU closed the OVC-Big South portion of the schedule at 2-6 and takes its 3-11 record to Alabama next week for the final game of the regular season.  Lindenwood improved to 5-6 overall, 4-3 in the OVC-Big South.

Lindenwood jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the opening quarter with Nate Glantz scoring on a two-yard run on the Lions opening drive.  EIU had a good drive of its own in the second quarter but settled for a 25-yard field goal by Nico Carrier, the first of the redshirt freshman's career. 

Lindenwood then blocked a punt late in the second quarter, converting that into a Jared Rhodes 18-yard touchdown as the Lions led 14-3 at the half.

The Lions had the ball to open the second half.  EIU's defense had a Moses Alexander interception and a three-and-out on the Lions first two offensive drives.   The Panthers could only muster a second Carrier field goal from those two stops.

Rhodes scored on the ground a second time with 3:15 left in the third quarter pushing Lindenwood's lead out to 21-6.  Rhodes finished with 76 yards on the ground.

EIU found the endzone on the next drive with Connor Wolf hitting DeAirious Smith in the back of the endzone with 19 seconds left in the quarter.  It was Smith's second consecutive game with a receiving touchdown.   Lindenwood blocked the extra point keeping the it a two-score game heading into the fourth quarter.

Lindenwood scored three times in the fourth quarter to put the game away.  Glantz passed for 280 yards for the Lions.

Wolf passed for 130 yards going 17-of-29 for the Panthers.  Starter Cole LaCrue passed for 47 yards going 8-of-10 with six yards rushing.

Smith finished with five catches for 48 yards.  Tylan Foster led the Panthers with six tackles.  Isaiah Houi had four tackles, one interception and two pass break-ups moving into the EIU single season top ten for pass break-ups.