Eastern Illinois hosts Lindenwood as the Panthers open their Ohio Valley Conference member/Big South Football Association schedule.

MJ Flowers finished with 117 yards and one touchdown on the ground on Saturday at Illinois State. It was his fourth career 100 yard rushing game.  Flowers has 255 yards rushing this season which ranks 58th in the FCS and second in the Big South / OVC. 

Eastern Illinois defense forced two turnovers on Saturday at Illinois State giving the Panthers six turnovers gained this season.  That total leads the Big South / OVC and ranks 28th in the FCS despite the Panthers playing two games against Big Ten opponents without a takeaway.

Nicholas Oliveira-Chace continues to be a force on the Panthers defensive line.  On Saturday he added four tackles and a half sack to his season totals.  Oliveira-Chace enters the conference opener as the Big South / OVC leader in sacks with 3.5 (36th in FCS) and third in tackles for loss with five (46th in FCS). 

 Lindenwood enters the conference opener also with a 1-3 record but is coming off a 64-0 win over Pioneer League member St. Thomas (Minn.).

Game time is 2 pm Saturday. Hear the action starting at 1:30 pm with pregame on WHOW and all its digitial platforms.