Eastern Illinois tight end Alex Herrera (81) celebrates his third-quarter touchdown while receiver Surahz Buncom (5) looks on. (Photo from ESPN-Plus)
By Dan Verdun
Eastern Illinois, battered by injuries for much of this season, took further lumps Saturday in its sixth consecutive loss.
UT Martin scored 24 unanswered points in the second half and pulled away for a 52-17 win in Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Football Association action.
The Skyhawks (5-3 overall, 3-1 in league) took advantage of good field position and EIU turnovers to turn away the Panthers (1-7, 0-4).
Four of UT Martin’s six touchdown drives began in Eastern territory. Two were set up by interceptions.
The Skykhawks returned three kickoffs for 110 yards and flipped the field with a 43-yard punt return in the game.
“It’s almost two first downs in hidden field position,” EIU head coach Chris Wilkerson said. “We gave up a long kickoff return early, (and) we gave up a long kickoff return to start the second half. We gave up a long punt return.”
UTM featured a balanced attack on offense with 248 passing yards and 212 net rushing yards.
The Skyhawks also intercepted Eastern quarterback Pierce Holley three times, one of which was returned 72 yards for a touchdown.
“It’s tough to throw the football when they’re going to drop eight (defenders) on you and they’re going to play all their exotic coverages because they know you’re chasing (points on the scoreboard),” Wilkerson said. “That’s what leads to turnovers and sacks.”
Skyhawk quarterback Kinkead Dent passed for three touchdowns, while running back Patrick Smith scored two TDs.
Holley set career highs for completions (36) and attempts (54). He topped the 300-yard for the fourth straight week.
EIU rushed for just 64 sack-adjusted yards. Running back M.J. Flowers ran for team-high 49 yards.
“We’ve got to continue to be balanced on offense, but the yards really don’t matter. We’ve got to find a way to score,” Wilkerson said. “We’ve got to finish drives in the end zone.”
Game changers
4:39, 1st quarter: UTM punt returner Oshae Baker caught a 49-yard punt by EIU sophomore Jacob Horvath, made the first Panther defender miss and broke off a 43-yard return. A five-yard penalty on Eastern moved the ball at the EIU 33-yard line.
Two plays later, Dent completed a 33-yard touchdown pass to Max Dowling. After the extra point, the game was tied at 7-7.
11:49, 2nd quarter: UTM linebacker Tevin Shipp intercepted a Holley pass and returned it 30 yards to the Panther 37-yard line. The Skyhawks cashed in the turnover with a touchdown, boosting their lead to 21-7.
5:21, 3rd quarter: Eastern tight end Alex Herrera caught his first career EIU touchdown pass. It came on a 17-yard pass from Holley.
Prime Time Panthers
Prairie State Pigskin chooses the the top three EIU players in the game:
Holley, QB: The senior passed for 348 yards, his fourth straight week over the 300-yard mark. It was Holley’s sixth career game with 300 or more yards. Holley moved past both Anthony Buich and Eric Arnold on the all-time school list.
Cooper Willman, WR: The senior from Sterling led the Panthers with career highs in receptions (11) and yards (143). Willman caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from Holley to give EIU an early 7-0 lead.
Herrera, TE: The junior college transfer caught seven passes for 80 yards and a touchdown.
What it means
EIU has lost six straight games since defeating Indiana State Sept. 7 in Charleston.
What’s next?
EIU hosts Western Illinois Nov. 2 at O’Brien Field. Kickoff is at 2 p.m.
Both schools, now members of the Big South-OVC, will meet as conference opponents for the first time since 1995.
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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