Eastern’s football team earned a share of first place in the Ohio Valley Conference, beating No. 18 Eastern Kentucky, 24-7, on Saturday in Richmond, Ky.

The Panthers were led by a strong defensive effort that shut down the Colonels’ high-powered offensive attack en route to recording their first road win of the season.

The seven points were the lowest Eastern has held an opponent to this season, and was the lowest point total for the Colonels since its season-opening 48-6 loss to Purdue.

“Our defense played great today,” head coach Dino Babers said. “Defensive coordinator Kim McCloud and his staff had a great game plan for stopping a good Eastern Kentucky offense. EKU is a great team at home, they are 17-3 under coach Hood and now we have one of those wins.”

Walter Payton Award watch list candidate Matt Denham was held under the 100-yard mark, totaling 95 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries.

The Panthers also limited red-shirt senior quarterback T.J. Pryor to 203 yards, no touchdowns and one interception.

Pryor ranked third nationally in passing efficiency heading into the game, but completed just 19 of 34 passes against the Panthers.

Junior defensive back Pete Houlihan and red-shirt junior LeQuince McCall led Eastern’s defensive unit as they each recorded 11 tackles.

The Panthers also had an impact behind the line of scrimmage, totaling 12 tackles-for-loss and five sacks in the win.

Offensively, junior quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, red-shirt senior running back Jake Walker and red-shirt junior wide receiver Erik Lora led the Panthers.

Garoppolo totaled 266 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions while completing 32 of his 51 pass attempts.

Lora was held under 100 yards for the first time this season, snapping a seven-game streak where he eclipsed the 100-yard mark.

Lora totaled 97 yards and a touchdown on 10 receptions en route to setting the OVC single season reception record. He now has 93 catches on the season.

In the running game, Walker totaled 119 rushing yards and a touchdown on 21 carries, marking the third straight game where he has rushed for at least 100 yards.

With the win, the Panthers move to 5-3 overall and 4-1 in the OVC, holding a tie for first place with Tennessee State and Tennessee-Martin.

“Our focus today was to get a win on the road against one of the best teams in our conference,” Babers said. “I wanted people at home when they are watching the score ticker to see that EIU picked up a road win today over the No. 18 team in the country.”

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