It wasn’t pretty, but they’ll take it.

The Eastern football team nearly blew a 20-point lead Saturday before hanging on for a 23-15 Homecoming victory over Tennessee Tech at O’Brien Field.

The Panthers dominated nearly every statistical aspect of the game, holding the ball for 43 of 60 minutes and forcing five Golden Eagle turnovers. But at the end of the game they found themselves having to make a final-minute stand to stave off a potential game-tying drive.

“We didn’t initially take advantage of some opportunities early in the game,” Eastern head coach Bob Spoo said. “With the possession time, it shouldn’t have been that close.”

Eastern’s defense held the Golden Eagles in check for the majority of the game. The Panthers led 20-0 with under a minute left in the third quarter, but the Golden Eagles clawed their way back, getting within five points on a touchdown pass with 3:54 remaining in the game.

Eastern appeared to have put the game on ice when senior kicker Austin Signor nailed his third field goal of the game, a 46-yarder with 53 seconds remaining. But the Golden Eagles returned the ensuing kickoff to the Eastern 19-yard line, setting up a potential game-tying drive.

Eastern’s defense was up to the challenge, allowing only five more yards on the drive and forcing an incomplete pass on fourth down to seal the victory.

“We dominated the whole game,” said Eastern junior cornerback Rashad Haynes, who had four tackles, a fumble recovery and broke up two passes in the win. “Just a couple of plays here and there made it closer than we wanted it to be.”

The Golden Eagles entered the game having committed only four turnovers all season, but the Panthers forced five Saturday.

Tennessee Tech senior quarterback Lee Sweeney, who had the second highest quarterback efficiency rating in the OVC coming into the game, threw two interceptions and finished 19-of-46 for 198 yards and two touchdowns. The Golden Eagles also fumbled three times, including one on the second play of the game.

Sophomore running back Tremain Hudson, sophomore cornerback Jimmie Blair and freshman defensive back Caleb Mitchell all lost fumbles for Tennessee Tech.

Eastern’s defense dominated despite playing without three regular starters. Junior defensive end Nathan Galan, senior strong safety Adrian Arrington and sophomore linebacker Cory Leman all were out of action because of injuries.

The Eastern offense struggled to get going and take advantage of the miscues by the Golden Eagles.

Both of the Panthers’ touchdowns came in the first half, with the first score coming when senior quarterback Jake Christensen hit freshman wide receiver Chris Wright for a 20-yard touchdown to make it 10-0. The second touchdown came about six minutes later when junior running back Mon Williams scored on a one-yard run.

Christensen finished 17-of-27 for 182 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Williams had 29 carries for 81 yards and a score, and junior linebacker Nick Nasti led the defense with eight tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

The Panthers return to the road next week when they travel to Jacksonville, Ala., to face Jacksonville State. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Collin Whitchurch can be reached at 581-7944 or cfwhitchurch@eiu.edu.

Tennesse Tech Golden Eagle’s running back, Jimmie Blair, loses his helmet to Eastern defense in the Homecoming game Saturday. (Chelsea Grady/The Daily Eastern News)

(more…)