EIU's Drake is OVC Offensive Player of Week

Eastern Illinois senior wide receiver Adam Drake was named the adidas Ohio Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Week as the league opened football action this past weekend.   Drake earned his first OVC weekly honor as the Panthers dropped their season opener at Big Ten Conference member Minnesota.  EIU plays its home opener against Southern Illinois this Saturday at 6 p.m. at O’Brien Field.  Tickets are available at 217-581-2106 or online at www.eiupanthertickets.com

Drake hauled in 11 passes for 109 yards and a touchdown against the Gophers.  The 11 catches are the fourth-most by an FCS player this season as the third team All-American picked up where he left off last season.  Drake capped the game with a 32-yard touchdown as time expired on the final play of the game.   His performance moved him into 10^th place on a pair of EIU career receiving lists as he now has 1,767 career receiving yards and 120 career receptions.  The 100-yard receiving game was the seventh of his career.

Offensive Player of the Week – Adam Drake, WR, Eastern Illinois

Defensive Player of the Week – Anthony Bass, DE, Tennessee State

Specialist of the Week – Andrew Lloyd, K, Eastern Kentucky

Newcomer of the Week – Tom Smith, RB, Tennessee State