Panther rewind: EIU drops fifth straight as Tennessee State pulls away in second half

Tennessee State’s Karate Brenson scores a second quarter touchdown during the 41-17 Tiger win against Eastern Illinois. (Photo by TSUTigers.com)

By Dan Verdun

Eastern Illinois appeared to be on the verge of staging a comeback at Tennessee State. Then, Tennessee State slammed the door.

Tennessee State rattled off 21 second-half unanswered points en route to a 41-17 win in Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Association play.

The Tigers (5-2 overall, 3-1 in the league) won their third consecutive game. The Panthers (1-6, 0-3) lost for the fifth straight game.

EIU had pulled to within 20-17 when running back M.J. Flowers scored an early third quarter touchdown. After Julian Patino added the PAT, the Panthers trailed by just three points.

Then, head coach Eddie George’s Tigers scored three touchdowns in just under six and a half minutes to put the game away.

“We fell behind, couldn’t sustain anything offensively,” EIU head coach Chris Wilkerson said.

EIU was playing without five of its top seven receivers as well as starting cornerback Moses Alexander because of injuries.

“Unfortunately, we are banged up, but there are no excuses,” Wilkerson said.

Tight end Alex Ginnever, receiver Aaron Rice and receiver C.J. Nelson all made their first career EIU starts, according to the EIU radio broadcast. Redshirt freshman Kiwaun Davis took Alexander’s place.

EIU also shifted around its defensive front in an attempt to combat Tennessee State’s offense.

Defensive end Nicholas Oliveira-Chace shifted inside and Tre’jon Lewis moved to nose tackle.

“That allowed us to put (defensive linemen) Joel (Barrows) and Ira (Armstead II) on the field at the same time,” Wilkerson said.

Game changers

1:43, 2nd quarter: Holley connected with redshirt freshman Quenton Rogers for a 62-yard completion to the TSU 9-yard line.

1:31, 2nd quarter: Holley found running back M.J. Flowers for a 9-yard touchdown pass. Patino’s extra point cut Tennessee State’s lead to 20-10.

0:32, 3rd quarter: TSU quarterback Draylen Ellis found Gerard Bullock for an 8-yard touchdown. The extra point gave the Tigers a 34-17 lead.

Prime Time Panthers

Prairie State Pigskin chooses the the top three EIU players in the game:

Holley, QB: The senior passed for 338 yards, his third straight week over the 300-yard mark. It was Holley’s fifth career game with 300 or more yards, tying him with Anthony Buich for fifth on the all-time EIU list.

Cooper Willman, WR: The senior from Sterling led the Panthers with eight receptions for career-high 141 yards. 

Rogers, WR: The Mahomet-Seymour High School graduate achieved career highs with five catches for 103 yards.

What it means

EIU has lost five straight games since defeating Indiana State Sept. 7 in Charleston.

What’s next?

EIU will enter its bye week. The Panthers return to action Oct. 26 at UT Martin for a Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Association game.

Dan Verdun is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin. He has written four books: NIU Huskies Football, EIU Panthers Football, ISU Redbirds Football and SIU Salukis Football.

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