Eastern Illinois (2-8, 1-3 OVC) at No. 25 UT Martin (6-4, 4-0 OVC)
Graham Stadium (7,500) • Martin, Tenn.
November 19, 2022 • 2 p.m. • TV: ESPN+
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NOTES TO KNOW
• Eastern Illinois has the chance to play spoiler as the Panthers travel to No. 25 UT Martin for the final game of the regular season. EIU enters at 2-8 overall, 1-3 in the OVC. UT Martin is playing for at least a share of the OVC title as they enter at 6-4 overall, 4-0 in the OVC. EIU held an early lead over No. 19 Southeast Missouri last week but a pair of turnovers in the second quarter proved costly as they lost the game dropping their fifth straight. UT Martin bounced back last week with a win over Tennessee State after an early November loss to Kennesaw State as the Skyhawks are looking for a second straight FCS playoff appearance.
• Eastern Illinois added to its season takeaway total on Saturday against Southeast Missouri as the Panthers recovered a fumble on a muffed punt return and added a fourth quarter interception. EIU now has 20 turnovers on the year which ranks 15th in the FCS. Jordan Vincent picked off the pass, his third of the season and the 13th by the EIU defense as they rank 11th in the FCS in interceptions. Zay Gentry came up with the fumble recovery on special teams.
• Trey Wilhoit was named the OVC Special Teams Player of the Week for the third time this season after the sophomore punter averaged 41.6 yards per punt on a cold and windy day at O’Brien Field. Wilhoit had three punts pinned inside the 20-yard line. On the season Wilhoit ranks seventh in the FCS in punting average at 43.7 yards per punt. Only two punters in program history have averaged over 43 yards per punt for the season – Kevin Cook at 44.6 in 2007 and former NFL Pro Bowl punter Jeff Gossett at 43.0 in 1977.
• Safety Jordan Vincent continues to make plays for the Panthers defense including solo tackles. Vincent added seven more solo tackles to his season total against Southeast Missouri as he leads the OVC and ranks 16th in the FCS with 55 solo tackles. Vincent picked off his third pass of the season in the fourth quarter as he is tied for the EIU lead and ranks 38th in the FCS.
• Collin Tyson came up the middle to block a punt for the Panthers on Saturday as they have now blocked both a field goal and punt this season to rank 37th in the FCS in blocked kicks. EIU has blocked two or more kicks in four straight seasons. Jordan Vincent blocked a field goal earlier this season against Tennessee Tech that Mark Aitken scooped up and raced 65 yards for a score.
