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COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- A host of streaks surround Saturday night's
game when Tennessee Tech entertains the Eastern Illinois Panthers
at 7 p.m. in Tucker Stadium.
The Golden Eagles are hoping to begin a winning streak, following
a 34-21 win at Austin Peay last weekend. Tech is looking to post
back-to-back wins and launch a successful second half of the 2010
season. The Golden Eagles are 2-4 overall and 1-2 in
conference action.
Eastern Illinois, meanwhile, is eyeing the game as a chance to
snap an eight-game losing streak, the team's longest since 1977.
The Panthers come to Tech winless with an 0-6 overall record,
including an 0-4 mark against OVC foes with losses to UT Martin,
Jacksonville State, Southeast Missouri and Eastern Kentucky.
Coach Bob Spoo's Panthers have won five years in a row over the
Golden Eagles, including a 23-15 victory last October in Charleston
in which the Golden Eagles had a chance to win late in the game but
couldn't connect in the end zone for a deciding score.
Tech, behind the strong play of sophomore quarterback Tre Lamb, leads the OVC
in passing efficiency. Eastern Illinois, meanwhile, leads the
league in passing efficiency defense, allowing just one passing
touchdown in four league games.
A couple of Golden Eagles to watch will be Henry Sailes and
Tim Benford. Sailes needs just 44 kickoff return yards to break the
school record of 1,418 currently held by Gerald Bentley. Benford
has climbed to fifth in career receptions and sixth in career
receiving yards, and continues to make an assault on the numbers
ahead of him. For instance, he needs just 20 yards to catch Jack
Kelley for fifth in career receiving yards.
The matchup also features the league's two most veteran head
coaches. Bob Spoo is in his 21st year as head coach at EIU and owns
132 career victories. Watson Brown is in his fourth season at Tech
and his 26th year as a collegiate head coach, bringing 109 career
victories into the contest.
Records in 2010:
Tennessee Tech is 2-4 overall / 1-2 Ohio Valley Conference
Eastern Illinois is 0-6 overall / 0-4 Ohio Valley
Conference
Series Record: EIU leads the series,
12-4
First Meeting: 1975
Last Meeting: EIU 23, Tech 15 (Oct. 17,
2009)
Current Streak: EIU has won last five
Tech Radio:
Golden Eagle Sports Network (Roger Ealey, Buddy Pearson and
Brandon Goodwin)
(also Free Teamline (Call 1-800-846-4675 - team code
0654)
Television: WCTE TV / Live (Tim Scruggs and
Tony Maxwell)
Live Stats: www.TTUsports.com
Last Game: Tech defeated Austin Peay, 34-21; EIU
lost to Eastern Kentucky, 35-7
Web Stream: OVCsports.TV
Web sites:
Tennessee Tech - www.TTUsports.com
Eastern Illinois - www.eiupanthers.com