EIU Scores With Three Seconds Remaining For Win

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – After several dropped passes earlier in the game, Eastern Illinois wide receiving corps came up big in the final minutes as EIU scored with three seconds remaining to beat Indiana State, 22-20 in the season opener at Memorial Stadium.

ISU had a chance to add to a 20-16 lead but missed on a 48-yard field goal attempt giving the Panthers the ball with 1:52 to play and the ball on their own 31-yard line.  Mitch Kimble slowly moved the offense down the field and then connected with Alexander Hollins for a 17-yard pass to allow EIU to take a crack at the end zone after being sacked on the previous play.  Kimble then found Dennis Turner on a slant route for the game winning score.  EIU took a knee on the extra point after they were forced to use a series of back-up kickers.

Eastern Illinois offense went 3-and-out on its first offensive possession.  Indiana State drove 64-yards on its first offensive drive to take a 7-0 lead on an Isaac Harker 8-yard pass to LeMonte Booker.

EIU’s offense and defense clamped down the remainder of the first half as the Panthers took a 16-7 lead into halftime.

The Panthers defense allowed only 49 yards the remainder of the first half with Mark Williams helping turn the momentum with a 73-yard interception return for touchdown with 4:42 to play in the first quarter.  It was the first EIU interception returned for a touchdown by EIU since 2015 when Jarvis Williams had an interception return for touchdown against Tennessee Tech.

Following its stalled offensive drive to open the game, EIU moved the ball 75 yards on ten plays on its next drive to tie the game at 7-7.  Isaiah Johnson capped the drive with an 8-yard touchdown run.  Johnson finished the night with 65 yards rushing.  Freshman Matt Severino made the extra point as he was called to action after senior Nick Bruno was injured in pregame warm-ups.  Severino would miss on the extra point following Williams’ defensive score.

The Panthers pushed the lead to 16-7 as time expired in the first half as Nick Wilson made his first collegiate field goal, a 22-yard attempt.  On the drive, Kimble rushed for a first down in the red zone as the Panthers faced a fourth-and-ten in the final minute.  Kimble finished the day 27-of-44 passing for 204 yards.

In the second half the Sycamores made a change at quarterback with Cade Sparks indeed sparking the ISU offense.   The Sycamores drove for a pair of Jerry Nunez field goals from 43 and 19 yards to make it a 16-13 EIU game early in the fourth quarter.
Booker put ISU on top with 4:54 left in the game scoring his second touchdown of the game with a six yard run.  Booker had 154 yards rushing on 31 carries.    The touchdown was set up by a big punt return by Dimitri Taylor.

Tray Mitchell led EIU with 11 tackles including three tackles for loss, one sack and a forced fumble.  Mitchell had a 19-yard interception for touchdown nullified by an EIU penalty.  Brad Dewberry added eight tackles.

Jonas Griffith and Katrell Moss each had 13 tackles for ISU as they finished with five team sacks.

EIU plays at Northern Illinois next Saturday at 2:30 pm