Red-shirt junior wide receiver Erik Lora was named the National co-Offensive Player of the Week by the Sports Network and National All-Star of the Week by College Sporting News for his performance in Eastern’s 50-49 overtime win Saturday over Murray State in the Ohio Valley Conference opener. 

The Panthers, as a team, are also receiving national recognition throughout the college football ranks.

Weekly Awards

Lora received the national honor following his record-breaking performance against Murray State.

The Miami native set a school record for receptions and yards in a single game, totaling 269 yards on 21 receptions. 

He also set the OVC record for catches in a single game, breaking a record that stood for 43 years.

Lora joined junior quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo as the only Panthers to be named the National Offensive Player of the Week by the Sports Network and College Sporting News, this season.

Lora shared the national honor with Old Dominion’s Tyler Heinicke. The sophomore quarterback set a Division-I record for passing yards in a game, throwing for 730 yards in a win over New Hampshire.

Lora was also named OVC Offensive Player of the Week.  

 Sports Network Top 25 Poll

The Panthers continue to be recognized in the “other teams receiving votes” category. They rank No. 44 overall and are one of five OVC teams to be ranked outside the top 25 as Tennessee State, Tennessee-Martin, Jacksonville State and Tennessee Tech are each receiving votes. 

Reigning FCS national champion North Dakota State remains the No. 1 ranked team in the FCS, receiving 154 first place votes. The Bison knocked off Prairie View A&M 66-7 in their final non-conference game of the season. 

Montana State, Youngstown State, Old Dominion and James Madison round out the top five. 

Eastern Kentucky is the only OVC team to be represented in the top 25. The Colonels are ranked No. 19 after beating then No. 24 Jacksonville State 51-21 in their OVC opener. They will face Tennessee-Martin on Saturday.

Around the OVC

Tennessee Tech and Southeast Missouri were also involved in an overtime thriller as the Redhawks edged the Golden Eagles 41-38 in double overtime.

Former Tennessee Volunteer and current Tennessee Tech junior wide receiver Da’Rick Rogers had a historic day, totaling 303 yards and two touchdowns on 18 catches. His 303 yards and 18 catches both set school records, and he fell just 13 yards short of setting the OVC record for receiving yards in a game.

Southeast Missouri also set an OVC record as senior safety Branden Spann intercepted a pass and returned it 100 yards for the score. Spann became only the fourth OVC player ever to return an interception 100 yards.  

Tennessee-Martin also began its OVC season on a winning note, defeating Austin Peay 31-6 on Saturday. The Skyhawks will host Eastern Kentucky this weekend.

Jordan Pottorff can be reached at 581-2812 or jbpottorff@eiu.edu.