Click here for final stats!
Click here for radio highlights!

CHARLESTON, Ill. – The Eastern Kentucky University football team rallied for an exciting 36-31 victory over host Eastern Illinois Saturday afternoon at O’Brien Field. With the win, the No. 18 Colonels (3-1, 3-0 OVC) knocked the No. 23 Panthers (4-1, 2-1 OVC) from the ranks of the unbeaten.

The battle for first place in the OVC was sloppy at times as there were nine turnovers, two blocked punts and a blocked field goal. Sophomore defensive back Jeremy Caldwell came away with two interceptions, including one four minutes into the fourth quarter that was returned for a score and put EKU ahead for good, 36-24.

Eastern Kentucky built a 16-7 lead early in the second quarter behind the steady play of redshirt freshman quarterback #T.J. Pryor#. On EKU’s third possession of the game, the Colonels marched 72 yards on nine plays for a touchdown. Pryor went 4-for-4 on the drive, completing every pass attempt to junior Ryan Aldrin, including a four-yard touchdown pass.

Following an interception that led to EIU’s first touchdown, Pryor settled down and guided the Colonels on another long scoring drive – 80 yards in 13 plays. Pryor completed two long third-down passes before finishing the drive with a four-yard touchdown scamper.

Eastern Illinois bounced back to score the next 17 points to grab a 24-16 lead in the third quarter. EIU quarterback Jake Christensen found Chavar Watkins for a 45-yard touchdown pass two minutes before intermission to give the Panthers their first lead of the game, 17-16. The home team then moved the ball 82 yards on its first possession of the third quarter, capped by a Chris Wright 22-yard touchdown catch to make the score, 24-16.

Caldwell’s first interception of the game with seven minutes to go in the third quarter helped swing the momentum back to the side of Eastern Kentucky. Starting with the ball near midfield, the Colonels quickly moved the ball down the field. Redshirt freshman Orlandus Harris caught a 31-yard touchdown pass in double coverage to make the contest a one-point game, 24-23.

Two Eastern Kentucky sacks on the ensuing Eastern Illinois drive forced the Panthers to punt from their 21-yard line. Senior Phillip Herbst broke through the line and blocked the punt, giving the Colonels great field position at the EIU 13-yard line. Three rushes later, EKU found pay dirt again to stretch the lead to 29-24. The Colonels went for two points and did not convert.

Caldwell’s second interception which was returned 10-yards for a touchdown with 11:09 remaining in the game put EKU ahead by 12 points, 36-24.

Eastern Illinois put together one final push late in the game. The Panthers moved 91 yards, highlighted by a 44-yard touchdown strike from Christensen to Kenny Whittaker, to creep back to within five points, 36-31, with five minutes left.

The Colonel offense was then able to milk four minutes off the clock thanks to Pryor hitting junior Cody Watts on 3rd-and-25 for 29 yards. EKU’s defense finally finished the game when junior linebacker Antonio Fredrick recovered a Christensen fumble at midfield with six seconds left on the clock.

Pryor, who made his first career start, totaled career highs in pass attempts (30), completions (19) and passing yardage (293) while tossing two touchdown passes. Harris tallied his first career 100-yard receiving game with five receptions for 120 yards. Fredrick and junior Jordan Dalrymple each recorded 10 stops to pace the defense.

Next Saturday, Eastern Kentucky returns home to face another OVC opponent, Tennessee State. Kick-off on Oct. 10 is slated for 6 p.m.

GAME NOTES:
--EKU has won 22 of its last 23 Ohio Valley Conference games dating back to 2006.

--EKU’s defense has forced at least two turnovers in 10 of the last 11 games dating back to last year. The defense totaled two interceptions and three fumble recoveries against Eastern Illinois.

--EIU quarterback Jake Christensen had thrown one interception in his first four games before throwing two interceptions today.

--The Colonels converted 10-of-16 (62.5 percent) third-down attempts, including six that were at least 10 yards long. EKU had converted only nine third downs total in the previous three games.

--This was the first meeting between two OVC ranked teams since Oct. 28, 2006. That day, No. 12 UT Martin held off No. 14 Eastern Illinois, 15-9.

--Eastern Kentucky has held each of its first four opponents to less than 100 yards rushing. The Colonels held EIU to a season-low 44 yards on the ground.

--Eastern Kentucky recorded six sacks, including five in the second half.