October 13, 2010

Golden Eagles look for back-to-back wins when EIU visits

The Golden Eagle football team will look to win back-to-back Ohio Valley Conference games Saturday when it hosts winless Eastern Illinois at 7 p.m. in Tucker Stadium.

Click here to view/download Tech game notes vs. EIU (PDF)

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- A host of streaks surround Saturday night's game when Tennessee Tech entertains the Eastern Illinois Panthers at 7 p.m. in Tucker Stadium.

The Golden Eagles are hoping to begin a winning streak, following a 34-21 win at Austin Peay last weekend. Tech is looking to post back-to-back wins and launch a successful second half of the 2010 season. The Golden Eagles are 2-4 overall and 1-2 in conference action.

Eastern Illinois, meanwhile, is eyeing the game as a chance to snap an eight-game losing streak, the team's longest since 1977. The Panthers come to Tech winless with an 0-6 overall record, including an 0-4 mark against OVC foes with losses to UT Martin, Jacksonville State, Southeast Missouri and Eastern Kentucky.

Coach Bob Spoo's Panthers have won five years in a row over the Golden Eagles, including a 23-15 victory last October in Charleston in which the Golden Eagles had a chance to win late in the game but couldn't connect in the end zone for a deciding score.

Tech, behind the strong play of sophomore quarterback Tre Lamb, leads the OVC in passing efficiency. Eastern Illinois, meanwhile, leads the league in passing efficiency defense, allowing just one passing touchdown in four league games.

A couple of Golden Eagles to watch will be Henry Sailes and Tim Benford. Sailes needs just 44 kickoff return yards to break the school record of 1,418 currently held by Gerald Bentley. Benford has climbed to fifth in career receptions and sixth in career receiving yards, and continues to make an assault on the numbers ahead of him. For instance, he needs just 20 yards to catch Jack Kelley for fifth in career receiving yards.

The matchup also features the league's two most veteran head coaches. Bob Spoo is in his 21st year as head coach at EIU and owns 132 career victories. Watson Brown is in his fourth season at Tech and his 26th year as a collegiate head coach, bringing 109 career victories into the contest.

Records in 2010:
Tennessee Tech is 2-4 overall / 1-2 Ohio Valley Conference
Eastern Illinois is 0-6 overall / 0-4 Ohio Valley Conference
Series Record: EIU leads the series, 12-4
First Meeting: 1975
Last Meeting: EIU 23, Tech 15 (Oct. 17, 2009)
Current Streak: EIU has won last five
Tech Radio:
Golden Eagle Sports Network (Roger Ealey, Buddy Pearson and Brandon Goodwin)
(also Free Teamline (Call 1-800-846-4675 - team code 0654)
Television: WCTE TV / Live (Tim Scruggs and Tony Maxwell)
Live Stats: www.TTUsports.com
Last Game: Tech defeated Austin Peay, 34-21; EIU lost to Eastern Kentucky, 35-7
Web Stream: OVCsports.TV
Web sites:
Tennessee Tech - www.TTUsports.com
Eastern Illinois - www.eiupanthers.com