CHARLESTON, Ill. (AP) — Tennessee State scored 13 fourth-quarter points Saturday to defeat Eastern Illinois 18-17 and spoil the final home game for longtime Panthers coach Bob Spoo.
The Tigers (4-5, 3-3 Ohio Valley) trailed 17-5 before Trabis Ward rushed for a pair of touchdowns — from 3 yards out with 14:28 remaining and from 1 yard out with 1:49 left in the game. The final score capped a six-play, 77-yard drive after Tennessee State had stopped the Panthers on a fourth-and-one play at the Tigers 23-yard line with 4:31 remaining.
Ward finished with 142 yards rushing on 27 carries.
Jake Walker rushed for 109 yards and a touchdown for Eastern Illinois (2-8, 1-7). The Panthers also scored on a 13-yard pass from Jimmy Garopollo to Chris Wright and a 37-yard field goal from Cameron Berra.
Spoo has announced this will be his last season at Eastern Illinois after 25 years at the school.
