PHILADELPHIA – Eastern Illinois junior wide receiver Erik Lora was named the National co-Offensive Player of the Week by the Sports Network and College Sporting News for his efforts in the Panthers win over Murray State on Saturday night.  Lora joins quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo as Panthers to win National Player of the Week honors this year after Garoppolo was a week one award winner.

Lora was the Ohio Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Week after setting the EIU and OVC single game record for receptions with 21.  His biggest play of the night was his contribution in overtime as he threw the winning two-point conversion to Von Wise during the 50-49 victory.  Lora had 13 receptions for 172 yards and three touchdowns in the opening quarter against the Racers. He finished with a school single game record 269 yards becoming the sixth EIU receiver ever to eclipse the 200-yard receiving mark.  Lora was just three receptions shy of matching the FCS record of 24 held by Jerry Rice.  The previous OVC record of 20 was set in 1969 by Harold Roberts of Austin Peay.

It was Lora's fourth straight game with 100+ yards receiving as he leads the nation in receptions (48) and receiving yards (647).  He broke into the Panthers career top ten for receptions in the game and now ranks 8th all-time at EIU.  His seven touchdowns this year rank him fifth nationally in scoring while his 163.7 yards per game of all-purpose yardage rank 12th. 

Lora shared National Offensive Player of the Week honors with Tyler Heinicke of Old Dominion as the quarterback set an NCAA Division I record for passing yards with 730 during a win over New Hampshire.

EIU returns to action this Saturday hosting Austin Peay in the Family Weekend contest.

PANTHERS STILL AMONG TEAMS RECEIVING VOTES

PHILADELPHIA – Eastern Illinois fell among the teams also receiving votes in the latest Sports Network Top 25 poll despite a dramatic 50-49 overtime victory over Murray State.  The Panthers, 2-2 overall and 1-0 in the OVC will host Austin Peay this Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at O'Brien Field.

North Dakota State remained the nation's number one team picking up 154 first place votes.  The Bison were followed by Montana State, Youngstown State, Old Dominion and James Madison in the top five.  Montana State and Youngstown State both received first place votes.

Wofford was ranked sixth followed by Eastern Washington, Delaware, Sam Houston State and Georgia Southern.  Sam Houston State dropped from third to ninth following a loss to Central Arkansas.  EIU will end the regular season at Central Arkansas as the Bears climbed to 16th in this week's poll.

The Citadel led off the next group of schools in 11th followed by Towson, Illinois State, Northern Iowa and Lehigh in the top 15.  Central Arkansas was 16th with Appalachian State, Stony Brook, Eastern Kentucky and New Hampshire rounding out the top 20.  EKU beat Jacksonville State in a match-up of ranked OVC teams.  Eastern Illinois hosts JSU on Oct. 13 and plays at EKU on Oct. 27.

The final five schools in the poll were Montana, Northern Arizona, Cal Poly, McNeese State and South Dakota State. 

EIU is listed 44th in the nation with future opponents this season UT Martin, Jacksonville State and Tennessee Tech also listed among those schools receiving votes.