Theron Gaines celebrates after his 10-yard fumble return for a touchdown that gave Tennessee Tech a 21-3 lead in the fourth quarter against Eastern Illinois. (Photo by TTUSports.com)
By Barry Bottino
When Chris Wilkerson looked back on Saturday’s 21-9 loss to No. 5 Tennessee Tech, he saw opportunities galore.
But the Eastern Illinois head coach also noticed a lack of cashing in by his Panthers (3-7 overall, 2-5 OVC-Big South Football Association), who lost their fifth game in a row.
“We had a chance to finish some drives with sixes instead of an attempted three, and we ended up short,” Wilkerson said. “We just didn’t make enough plays in all three phases.”
On Senior Day, eight of Eastern’s 10 possessions ended with three punts, two turnovers on downs, an interception, a fumble and a blocked field goal.
TTU, meanwhile, scored on a 5-yard Q’Daryius Jennings run and a 48-yard pass from quarterback Kekoa Visperas to wide receiver Maury Sullivan for a 14-0 first-quarter lead.
Eastern’s only points in the game’s first 58 minutes, 44 seconds was a 20-yard Drew Schiller field goal in the second quarter.
Tech improved to 10-0 for the first time in school history and extended its national best winning streak to 15 games. Eastern, however, forced two third-quarter turnovers – a fumble recovered by EIU safety Josh Brown and an interception by Panthers cornerback Moses Alexander.
The turnovers resulted in Tech blocking a field goal and a turnover on downs.
“What you saw today was a team that was able to pick each other up in different moments,” Tech coach Bobby Wilder said.
Eastern also had 137 rushing yards, including 80 by running back Charles Kellom, against the top rush defense in FCS.
“We were able to gain some yards,” Wilkerson said. “It’s tough sledding in there. I’m sorry for the seniors not to be able to walk out of here with something that they can remember in that very last home game.”
With just under 4 minutes left in the game and Tech holding a 14-3 lead, linebacker Theron Gaines picked up a fumble by EIU quarterback Cole LaCrue and returned it 10 yards for a score.
Ten plays later, LaCrue connected with wide receiver DeAirious Smith for an 18-yard touchdown pass.
Game changers
0:37, 1st quarter: Visperas connected with Sullivan for a 48-yard TD through the air, extending TTU’s lead to 14-0.
3:50, 4th quarter: With Eastern down 11 points, Gaines picked up a fumble and returned it for a score.
1:16, 4th quarter: Smith caught an 18-yard scoring pass from LaCrue to give Eastern its only TD.
Prime Time Panthers
Prairie State Pigskin chooses the top three Eastern Illinois players in Saturday’s game:
Smith, WR: The senior wideout scored the lone TD for EIU late in the game.
Kellom, RB: Against the nation’s No. 1 rush defense, Kellom piled up 80 yards on 14 carries.
Nickson, LB: The transfer posted two sacks and forced a fumble.
What it means
Eastern lost its fifth game in a row and third straight at home this season.
What’s next
The Panthers travel Nov. 15 to Lindenwood (4-6, 3-3) for their final OVC-Big South game of the season. Kickoff is 2 p.m. in St. Charles, Mo. On Saturday, Lindenwood lost at Western Illinois, 24-21.
Barry Bottino is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin and a 19-year veteran of three Illinois newspapers. He has covered college athletics since 1995.
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