Illini Beat Michigan State, 31-27

The Fighting Illini defense came through when it mattered most -- clinching the game with a clutch fourth-down stop deep in its own territory to send Illinois to a 31-27 win against Michigan State Saturday.

With 1:17 left in the game and the Illini trailing 27-24 , Jeff George Jr. connected with sophomore wide receiver Sam Mays for a 16-yard touchdown. The score gave Illinois a 31-27 lead and eventually George Jr.'s first career win as a starter.

The win broke a two-game losing streak for the Illini (3-6, 2-4 Big Ten). Michigan State (2-7, 0-6) has lost seven in a row.

''We had forgotten what it's like,'' said Illinois head coach Lovie Smith. ''There's no excitement like a winning locker room, just genuine emotion, that's what the locker room was like.''

Kendrick Foster had himself a day, rushing for a career-high 146 yards on 17 carries to go along with two touchdowns. The Peoria, Illinois, native got the Illini on the board late in the first half, capping an 11-play drive with a 19-yard touchdown run. Foster found himself in the end zone again, exploding for a career-high 64-yard touchdown run to give Illinois a 14-9 lead in the third quarter. It was the second-longest run of the season for the Illini behind Ke'Shawn Vaughn's 65-yard touchdown against North Carolina.

With 146 yards on the ground, Foster became Illinois' first 100-yard rusher against Michigan State since Juice Williams had 103 rushing yards on Sept. 30, 2006.

UT Martin 33, EIU 17

Turnovers plagued Eastern Illinois for the second straight home game as the 24th ranked Panthers committed seven turnovers on Saturday afternoon that allowed UT Martin to pick up a 33-17 win on senior day at O’Brien Field.
 
The Panthers fell to 5-5 overall, 3-4 in the OVC.  Two weeks ago during a 40-38 homecoming loss to Murray State, EIU committed six turnovers that led to 20 Racers points.
 
UT Martin turned their seven turnovers into 23 points as they improved to 6-4 on the season, 5-1 in the OVC.  One of the turnovers resulted in the final score of the game for the Skyhawks as Kahlid Hagens picked off a pass and returned it 52 yards for an interception.
 
EIU was able to battle in the first half as back-up quarterback Austin Green got the call to start the game.  UT Martin took a 6-0 lead in the first quarter on a Ladevin Fair touchdown run but the Skyhawks failed on the extra point.  For the second straight week Jared Pilson came into the game in a special set and threw a touchdown pass.  Pilson connected with Addison Bounds with 10:02 to play in the second quarter that gave EIU a 7-6 lead at the time.
 
UT Martin regained the lead with 5:18 to play in the second quarter as Jaimiee Bowe had a 2-yard touchdown.  The Skyhawks defense then prevented the Panthers from taking the lead just before halftime as Kevin Prather stripped the ball at the 2-yard line that Hagens recovered and returned to the nine yard line.  UTM was able to end the half with a  13-7 lead.
 
The Panthers cut the lead to 13-10 with Nick Bruno’s 3rd quarter field goal and limited UTM to a Brett Arkelian field goal later in the third quarter to remain within one score.
 
Another interception by Chris Williams-Hall set up the next Skyhawks score as Fair had his second rushing touchdown of the game with 9:58 to play giving UTM a 13-point lead at 23-10.  Fair rushed for 60 yards while Bowe had 62 yards on the ground.
 
Devin Church cracked the century mark for the fourth time this season finishing with 101 yards.  His fourth quarter touchdown run from 27-yards out brought he Panthers back within six points with 6:32 to play.
 
UT Martin put the margin at two scores with  a 42-yard field goal by Mitch Mersman before Hagens added the insurance interception touchdown.
 
EIU’s quarterbacks passed for 111 yards but had four interceptions going 12-of-26.  The defense did hold UTM quarterback Troy Cook, the OVC’s top passer, to just 116 yards passing and no touchdown passes.
 
Seth McDonald had a team high eight tackles to lead EIU.  Elven Walker and David Johnson both had seven tackles with each picking up a tackle for loss.
 
Prather and Hagens both had nine tackles to lead UT Martin.
 
The Panthers will have an off week on Nov. 12 and conclude the regular season on Nov. 19 at Eastern Kentucky with a 12 p.m. game.