EIU Holds On For 19-16 Victory

Bradley Dewberry intercepted a pass at the one yard line with just under 20 seconds remaining on Saturday night helping Eastern Illinois hold on for a 19-16 win over Southeast Missouri in the Ohio Valley Conference opener for both schools.
 
EIU improved to 2-2 on the season, 1-0 in the OVC and will play at Tennessee State next Saturday night at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.  SEMO fell to 0-4 on the year, 0-1 in the OVC.
 
The Panthers took the ball with 5:19 remaining in the game holding a three point lead but could not move the ball going three and out.  Senior punter Cody Edwards kicking from his own end zone boomed a punt 62 yards which flipped the field and gave SEMO possession at its own 30-yard line with 3:01 left in the game.
 
Jesse Hosket drove the Redhawks down the field twice converting on fourth downs to keep the drive alive.  Hosket hit Trevon Billington for both fourth down conversion catches.  With 23 seconds remaining and the ball at the EIU 16-yard line, Hosket rolled around in the pocket and locked eyes with a receiver in the end zone.  Dewberry stepped in front of the pass intercepting the ball for the Panthers second interception of the day.  Dewberry ran the ball back to the SEMO 50-yard before Logan Larson made a touchdown saving tackle.  EIU would take a knee on the next play to clinch the victory.
 
EIU built a 12-0 halftime lead behind the solid play of redshirt freshman quarterback Scotty Gilkey Jr., who started in place of injured senior Mitch Kimble.  Gilkey scored his third rushing touchdown of the season on a 1-yard scamper with 7:48 to play in the first quarter.  He would then connect with Alexander Hollins for a 32-yard strike with 6:25 to play in the second quarter.  EIU missed on both extra point opportunities.
 
The Panthers defense held SEMO to six yards passing in the first quarter and four yards passing in the second quarter.  For the game the Redhawks were held to just 106 yards on the ground.
 
SEMO cut into the lead in the third quarter as Marquis Terry scored on a four-yard run.  EIU then had a fumble inside its own five yard line that was eventually recovered by Aaron Gooch to prevent a Redhawks touchdown, but the team did record a safety to make it 12-9 EIU with 44 seconds left in the third quarter.  Kendall Donnerson recorded the safety as part of his 12 tackle day to lead SEMO’s defense.
 
The Panthers pushed the lead back to two scores on their next offensive drive as Gilkey again connected with Hollins for a touchdown throw and catch, this one covering 38 yards.  Gilkey would finish the day 9-of-20 passing for 142 yards.  He added 98 yards on the ground on 26 rushes.  Hollins had seven catches for 118 yards and the two scores.
 
SEMO answered right back on the next kickoff as Cameron Sanders broke through a gap and raced 93-yards for the score to make it a 19-16 game.
 
Tray Mitchell led EIU with nine tackles.  Dewberry added seven tackles with the interception and another pass break-up.   Mark Williams had a first half interception that ended a SEMO drive right before the half as he had six tackles.
 
Hosket passes for 249 yards for SEMO going 22-of-43 with the two interceptions and no touchdowns.