By Rob Schabert, Assistant A.D. for Sports Information
CHARLESTON, Ill. – The Tennessee Tech defense played one of its better games of the year, but the Golden Eagle offense couldn't match the effort, missing on countless opportunities and host Eastern Illinois took full advantage on the way to a 51-20 Homecoming victory Saturday afternoon on O'Brien Field.
The Panthers (4-3/4-0 OVC) intercepted the first three Tech pass attempts of the afternoon, and finished the game forcing six Golden Eagle turnovers. EIU turned those into 24 points to remain unbeaten in Ohio Valley Conference play. Tech (2-6/1-4 OVC) lost for the fourth consecutive week.
EIU quarterback Jalen Whitlow was 15-for-23 for 160 yards with a touchdown to lead the Panther offense, which finished with 433 total yards. He also rushed 10 times for 21 yards.
Devin Church led the EIU receivers with five catches for 65 yards, while Malik Harrison, playing the fourth quarter, rushed for 123 yards on just five carries, highlighted by an 83-yard run for the game's final points.
Tech used three quarterbacks in the game. Junior Jared Davis, returning to action after sitting out two games with a hand injury, was intercepted on the first three passes he attempted and yielded to sophomore Colby Brown.
Brown had some success, leading Tech on three scoring drives. He was 7-for-15 for 115 yards, but left the game in the third quarter with an injury. That brought Davis back into the contest. He was hit as he threw a pass, and it sailed over the receiver and became his fourth interception of the contest.
The Golden Eagles turned to redshirt freshman Ty Jobe in the fourth quarter, and he also suffered an interception. Trailing 24-13, Jobe was hit as he threw and the ball spun into the hands of defensive lineman Jarvis Williams, who rambled 24 yards for a touchdown.
Altogether, Tech's three quarterbacks combined to go 10-for-30 for 205 yards with five interceptions. Tech also lost the ball on a fumble when Ladarius Vanlier mishandled a fair catch on a punt. That error turned into a short touchdown run by Shephard Little that made it 31-13 with one minute left in the third quarter.
Brock McCoin caught three passes for 88 yards to pace the receivers, while Vanlier finished with 78 rushing yards on 15 carries.
Paul Gossage grabbed a 33-yard pass in the end zone from Austin Green to make it 44-13 midway in the final period.
Jobe was able to answer with a 75-yard, seven-play scoring drive. He scored from 11 yards out, his first career touchdown, to make it 44-20 with just under three minutes to play.
Despite the three early interceptions, the Golden Eagles appeared able to withstand that early misfortune. The defense held EIU to 10 points off those mistakes, and the Golden Eagles battled back to tie it at 10-1. Dorian Carter scored a two-yard run to cap an 80-yard, seven-play scoring drive to make it 10-7 to start the second quarter.
Four minutes later, John Arnold kicked a 44-yard field goal to tie the score, his longest of the season. Arnold also had a 40-yard field goal in the third quarter.
Maleek Hall topped the tackle chart for the Golden Eagles with nine. He also broke up two passes and had two tackles-for-loss. Jay Rudwall added eight tackles and recovered a fumble.
The Golden Eagles play their final road game of the season next week with a visit to Southeast Missouri for a 1 p.m. contest Saturday in Houck Stadium in Cape Girardeau, Mo.
PREGAME NOTES
* Tennessee Tech has been the Homecoming opponent at Eastern Illinois twice in the past, winning in 1999 and falling in 2009.
* Brock McCoin enters the game with 58 catches, the fourth-most in school history in a single season. He needs four catches to achieve the third-best, eight for the second-most and 11 to break Tim Benford's record of 68.
* Quarterback Jared Davis has not played in the past two games because of a hand injury. The junior is expected to be back in the starting lineup at Eastern Illinois. Also back will be senior Jibrin Linge at right guard, who missed last week after being injured against Eastern Kentucky.
* Redshirt freshman Dorian Carter will make the first start of his career. He had 70 yards on 12 carries last week against No. 1 Jacksonville State.
* Golden Eagle game captains are Jibrin Linge (70), Stephen Bush (21) and Jay Rudwall (33).
* EIU won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. Tech chose to receive the kickoff. The Panthers selected the south end for the start of the game.
* Weather at game time includes heavily overcast skies with a chance of rain. Temperature at kickoff is 68 degree with fairly strong winds from the west gusting across the field.
