Final Statistics | Final Statistics in PDF Format

CHARLESTON, Ill. - Erik Lora caught 15 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown to lead Eastern Illinois (7-3, 6-1) to a 39-20 win over Southeast Missouri (3-7, 2-5) Saturday at O'Brien Field.

Lora hauled in a 43-yard touchdown pass from Jimmy Garoppolo with 40 seconds left in the third quarter to give EIU the lead for good.

The Panthers, who scored 23 unanswered points, including 16 in the fourth quarter, clinched at least a share of this year's Ohio Valley Conference regular-season title.

Southeast trailed, 16-14, at the half and took its first lead of the game when Drew Geldbach kicked a 30-yard field goal with 10:14 left in the third quarter.

Geldbach later added a 22-yard field goal to extend the Redhawks lead to 20-16 at the 1:43 mark, but that would be all the scoring for Southeast.

After Lora's touchdown reception, Cameron Berra kicked a 40-yard field goal, while Taylor Duncan and Jake Walker scored on short runs of one and four yards, respectively, in the final quarter.

Scott Lathrop rushed for 102 yards and one touchdown on 27 carries, and completed 6-of-12 passes for 32 yards. Lathrop finished with over 100 rushing yards for the third time this season.

Renard Celestin scored the Redhawks other touchdown on a 4-yard run with 11:18 lef in the first quarter. Levi Terrell added 96 yards on 22 attempts, as well.

Defensively, Blake Peiffer posted a game-high 11 tackles to lead Southeast. Peiffer went over 100 tackles for the second-straight season, becoming the first Redhawk to get 100 or more tackles in back-to-back seasons since Adam Casper (108 in 2006; 112 in 2007).

Meanwhile, Garoppolo threw for 257 yards (25-of-35) and two touchdowns, and Walker ran for 132 yards and a pair of scores to lead EIU.

EIU outgained Southeast, 441-233, in total yards. The Redhawks, however, won the time of possession. Southeast had the ball 37:42 to the Panthers 22:18 mark.

Southeast wraps up its 2012 season at Murray State on Nov. 17.