Late scoring flurry pushes Murray St past E Illinois 23-17
MURRAY, Ky. -- Preston Rice threw for 274 yards and three touchdowns, including back-to-back scoring passes as Murray State wrapped two touchdowns around a defensive stand and went on to defeat Eastern Illinois 24-17 Saturday.
Eastern Illinois had taken a 10-9 lead on Josh Delgado's 30-yard field goal after halftime when Rice engineered a lightning-quick 75-yard drive in four plays, capped by Rice's 12-yard TD pass to Jam Sappington.
Murray State (3-3, 1-1 Ohio Valley Conference) held the Panthers on downs -- allowing only seven yards on a fourth-and-9. Rice then capped a 12-play drive with a 23-yard TD pass to LaMartez Brooks. Sappington caught the conversion pass and the Racers led 24-10 with 10 minutes left.
Chris Walker scored on a 3-yard run as the Panthers (0-6, 0-2) closed to 24-17, but their 11-play final drive ended with first-and-goal at the 5 as time expired.
Harry Woodbury finished 30-of-49 passing for 231 yards and a TD for Eastern Illinois.
Game Information
2022 Ohio Valley Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| Southeast Missouri State | 5-0 | 9-3 |
| UT Martin | 5-0 | 7-4 |
| Tennessee State | 2-3 | 4-7 |
| Tennessee Tech | 2-3 | 4-7 |
| Lindenwood | 2-3 | 7-3 |
| Murray State | 1-4 | 2-9 |
| Eastern Illinois | 1-5 | 2-9 |
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