Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky ended the 2016 season with a 24-0 loss to Eastern Illinois at home on Saturday.
 
The Panthers (6-5, 4-4 OVC) scored once in the third and early in the fourth quarter to break open a close game.  Four turnovers in the game limited the Colonel offense.
 
Eastern Illinois grabbed a 7-0 lead with 4:15 left in the second quarter when Jared Pilson capped a 5-play, 34-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown run.  The Panthers got possession when they recovered a fumble on a punt return at the EKU 33 yard line.  Pilson moved the visitors to the goal line with a 30-yard pass to Devin Church.  Two plays later Pilson took it in himself for the score.
 
Eastern Kentucky had three first half turnovers, but Eastern Illinois was only able to capitalize on one of them.
 
At the 4:32 mark of the third quarter, Eastern Illinois put the game away when Church scored from eight yards out.  The score was set up by a 40-yard pass from Pilson to Anthony Taylor.  The extra point made it a 14-0 game.  EIU added a fourth quarter field goal and touchdown to cap the scoring.
 
Church finished with 177 rushing yards on 25 carries.  The Panthers held a 304 to 68 advantage on the ground. 
 
Ethan Thomas ran for 80 yards on 12 carries for the Colonels (3-8, 2-7 OVC).  Ryan Markush caught five passes for 49 yards.  EKU's Jeffrey Canady led all players with 15 tackles.
 
NOTES
With a 12-yard reception in the first quarter, senior Devin Borders moved past Alex Bannister (2,146) into fifth place on EKU's all-time career receiving yards list.  Borders finishes his career with 2,157 career receiving yards.
 
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Tyler Swafford was in Washington, D.C. Saturday morning intervening for a prestigious Mitchell Scholarship.  He immediately flew back to Richmond and arrived in time to start for the Colonels.
 
Six of Eastern Kentucky's eight OVC opponents, including Eastern Illinois, have been ranked or received votes in the national polls at some point during the 2016 season.  Jacksonville State (No. 2), Tennessee State (RV) and UT Martin (RV) were ranked or receiving votes at the time they faced EKU.  Tennessee Tech, Southeast Missouri and Eastern Illinois have been ranked or received votes at some point this season.