EIU - WIU Box Score

Eastern Illinois picked up its first win in Macomb in nearly 30 years as the Panthers opened the OVC-Big South season with a 31-23 win over Western Illinois.

The Panthers went heavy on the run game on Saturday afternoon building a 21-6 lead at the half with three first-half scores.

Jacarre Fleming led the way on the ground with 111 yards on nine carries (12.3 yards per carry) with his first score a 55-yard burst up the middle with 1:46 left in the opening half.

EIU opened the scoring with a 1-yard run by Connor Wolf and went up 14-3 with 10:52 to play in the first half on a Charles Kellom 25-yard rush.

Antonio Chadha kept the Leathernecks offense in the game in the opening half with field goals of 34 and 49 yards.  He added a 22-yard field goal to end the third quarter which made the score 21-16 at the time.  The field goal was set up by a blocked punt by WIU's special teams.

EIU responded to the WIU late third quarter score with a solid drive capped by Fleming's second touchdown of the day with 10:37 left to play from 30 yards out. 

EIU finished with 239 yards on the ground. 

WIU had a second half offensive spark with quarterback Cason Carswell passing for 118 yards and two touchdowns. Carswell hit Alex Williams for both WIU touchdowns.

EIU's defense was led by Ja'Wuan Nickson and Tylan Foster both with ten tackles.  Buju Aumua-Tulsavura led WIU with seven stops.

With the win EIU improved to 2-2 on the season, 1-0 in the OVC-Big South.  WIU fell to 1-4 overall, 0-1 in the OVC-Big South.