Illini Drop 29-20 Loss to No. 22 Iowa; EIU Wins

Big Ten receiving leader Geronimo Allison hauled in 8 receptions for 148 yards and a key touchdown for Illinois in the fourth quarter. But the Fighting Illini faltered late in a hostile environment at Kinnick Stadium to lose 29-20 against No. 22 Iowa.

Wes Lunt threw for 317 yards and a touchdown for Illinois (4-2, 1-1).

Once again, defense gave Illinois a fighting chance, stuffing the Hawkeyes on a fourth and goal in the first half and holding them to a field goal to keep the game a one score deficit late in the fourth quarter. T.J. Neal led the Orange and Blue with 14 tackles and the team racked up seven tackles for loss in total. Junior LEO Dawuane Smoot totaled one sack and three TFLs. Smoot has recorded a least one sack in each of the last three games.

But two critical turnovers - one on an interception thrown by Allison on a double reverse and one on a fumble by Ke'Shawn Vaughn in the fourth quarter - proved costly.

Vaughn put Illinois on the scoreboard in the first quarter on a 4-yard run, preceded by a one-handed catch by Malik Turner earlier in the drive.

The Illini offense produced 317 passing yards against Iowa, its second-highest passing total on the season.

Taylor Zalewski was 2-for-2 on field goals, connecting from 37 yards and 40 yards.

The Fighting Illini have a bye week before welcoming Wisconsin on Oct. 24 for Homecoming.

EIU 33, Southeast Missouri 28

Bradley Dewberry was among a host of players in the end zone knocking down a Hail Mary pass as time expired that gave Eastern Illinois its second Ohio Valley Conference win of the season.   The Panthers picked up a 33-28 win over Southeast Missouri on Family Weekend on EIU’s campus.

Southeast Missouri closed the score to 33-28 with 5:30 remaining in the fourth quarter and the Redhawks elected to kick deep instead of attempting an onside kick.  EIU’s offense was able to chew up nearly four minutes as they forced SEMO to use all three time outs on the drive.  Jalen Whitlow his Paul Gossage for an 11-yard strike for one first down and then the senior quarterback rushed six yards for another first down.

Freshman punter Mike Bernier then hit a 54 yard punt pinning SEMO at the five yard line with 34 seconds to go in the game.  Dante Vandeven hit Paul McRoberts with a 36-yard pass to give the Redhawks a chance just past midfield.  EIU forced three incomplete passes to end the game including the Hail Mary attempt as the clock read zero.

Whitlow passed for 282 yards with three touchdowns while rushing for 78 yards.  He now has 999 career rushing yards at EIU.  Whitlow as 19-of-29 with one interception.

EIU was effective on offense in the opening half as Devin Church scored on a 3-yard run with 12:30 to go in the first quarter.  Nick Bruno knocked home field goals from 20 and 39 yards to stake EIU to a 13-0 lead with 5:28 to play in the first half.

EIU’s defense was suffocating allowing SEMO 37 yards in the first quarter and 39 yards of offense in the second quarter.  The Panthers led 13-7 at the half as the Redhawks scored with 1:16 left in the first half on a Josh Kinzer 28-yard interception return for touchdown.

EIU's Bernier Named OVC Special Teams Player of Week

Eastern Illinois freshman punter Mike Bernier was named the Ohio Valley Conference Special Teams Player of the Week on Sunday after helping the Panthers improve to 2-0 in the OVC with a 33-28 win over Southeast Missouri.

Bernier punted five times against the Redhawks for an average of 40.6 yards.  His biggest punt of the day came in the final minute of the game as he connected on a 54-yard punt that was downed at the five-yard line with 34 seconds remaining in the game.

For the season Bernier is averaging 39.1 yards per punt with three punts over 50 yards and eight punts inside the 20-yard line.

EIU returns to action on Saturday at Tennessee State.  The game will be broadcast on American Sports Network with a 6 p.m. kickoff time.

Eastern Kentucky quarterback Bennie Coney was named the OVC Offensive Player of the Week.   Demetrius Mason of Murray State was named the OVC Defensive Player of the Week.  Kendall Morris of Austin Peay was named the OVC Newcomer of the Week.