Indiana State's football team survived a late rally by Eastern Illinois on Saturday to emerge victorious for the first time this season, by a 42-35 score at O'Brien Field.
The Sycamores' night was highlighted by three passing touchdowns and a pair of running TDs by redshirt junior quarterback Elijah Owens, who completed 21 of 33 aerials for 284 yards and rushed for a team-high 98 yards on 18 attempts.
"Coaches put together a great game plan," Owens told the Tribune-Star. "The guys around me executed. I feel like I did my job for the most part. [There's] still some things to clean up, but [I'm] really just proud of how we came out and executed today."
ISU coach Curt Mallory said the team talked all week about going 1-0 for this week.
"We jumped up on them," Mallory acknowledged. "We have to close out better. But give them credit. They never gave up and every game I've been a part of has always come down to the fourth quarter. This is no different."
EIU coach Chris Wilkerson said he was extremely disappointed in the way that the Panthers played in the first half.
Saturday's game started with a 45-yard run from Owens to give the Sycamores good field position. The Sycamores eventually ...