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CHARLESTON, Ill. – Jeremy Caldwell forced a Jake Christensen fumble with six seconds remaining to end a late drive as No. 18 Eastern Kentucky held on for a 36-31 win over No. 23 Eastern Illinois in Charleston. The fumble was recovered by Jordan Dalrymple near midfield as the Panthers final drive fell short.
The two teams entered the contest as co-leaders in the Ohio Valley Conference race as EKU improved to 3-1 overall, 3-0 in the OVC. EIU fell to 4-1, 2-1 in the conference.
Eastern Illinois squandered two early chances with good field position. Lorence Ricks blocked a Logan O'Connor punt on the first possession which gave EIU the ball at the EKU 39. Five plays later it was EKU with the block as Chris Moore blocked a 38-yard field goal attempt by Austin Signor.
The Panthers forced the Colonels to punt from deep in their own end on the following drive only to have a muffed punt bounce off an EIU player and EKU recovered. The Colonels moved the ball 72 yards on 9 plays with T.J. Pryor hitting Ryan Aldrin for a four yard strike with 6:11 to go in the first. The Colonels would go up 9-0 as a snap on the next EIU drive went over Christensen's head for an EIU safety.
EIU would climb back into the game take a 17-16 half time lead as Mon Williams scored on a 1-yard run, Signor hit at 42-yard field goal and Christensen hit Chavar Watkins for a 45-yard strike. EKU had a chance to take the half time lead but a mishandled snap on the field goal attempt led to a run for loss as time expired.
EIU padded its lead to 24-16 on the opening drive of the third quarter with Christensen hitting Chris Wright from 22 yards out. Christensen finished the day 21-of-35 for 294 yards and 3 touchdown passes. Unfortunately he was sacked six times with two lost fumbles.
The Colonels closed to 24-23 with 5:20 in the third on a Pryor 31 pass to Orlandus Harris. Pryor matched Christensen's numbers 19-of-30 for 293 yards and two touchdowns.
EKU took the final lead on a C.J. Walker 1 yard run with 23 seconds left in the third quarter. They extended it to 36-24 early in the fourth as Caldwell intercepted a pass and returned it 10 yards for a touchdown.
EIU would make a game of it in the final minutes as Kenny Whittaker broke loose for a 44-yard touchdown reception. Caldwell then ended the game with a forced fumble in the final seconds.
EKU was 10-of-16 on third down conversions with several coming in third and situations. Walker has 81 yards rushing for the Colonels. Harris led EKU with 5 receptions for 120 yards.
Mon Williams led EIU with 77 yards rushing. Whittaker had five receptions for 82 yards.
EIU plays next Saturday at Penn State. The game will be an 11:05 a.m. (Central) kick off and be televised nationally on ESPN Classic.
