CHARLESTON, Ill. – Charleston Southern dropped its Big South/Ohio Valley finale on a chilly Saturday afternoon to Eastern Illinois in overtime by a final score of 16-13. The defense finished the day with seven sacks for a season-high and their most in a single game since hosting Tennessee State last November when they also had seven. This gives CSU their first winless season in conference play since the 2011 season when they went 0-6 in the league.
 
Heading into overtime, the Bucs had the first possession of the period. On their 3^rd and ten, Kaleb Jackson completed a pass to Autavius Ison over the middle and he was able to turn and go for nine yards to setup a 4^th and one. CSU elected to go for it and handed the ball off to Ison who was stopped at the line of scrimmage, giving the ball to Eastern Illinois for their possession.
 
The Panthers were faced with a third and long as well and were able to have Jay Pearson rush for a ten-yard gain to set up a 4^th and one of their own. EIU chose to go for a field goal as with a make, they would claim the victory. With everyone in position for the 34-yard attempt, the Panthers' Brett Galletti snapped the ball over the heads of everyone. With the ball still squirming around, CSU's Ja'Kobe North kicked the ball away from everyone to give himself a better chance of recovering it, returning it to the endzone. However, the kick of the ball drew a flag on North for an illegal play on the ball, awarding EIU enough yardage for a first down.
 
The Charleston Southern defense held up again with their backs on the goal line for the kick on 4^th and goal from the one. Julian Patino knocked it through from 18 yards out to give them the victory.
 
The game was action-packed all afternoon. Charleston Southern claimed a 6-0 lead during the second quarter with kicks made by Reid Montgomery from 37 and 39 yards out. Eastern Illinois got on the board with a MJ Flowers' two-yard touchdown run and claimed the lead at 7-6 with 1:36 left in the half. They then forced a three-and-out by the Bucs, blocked the punt and scored another touchdown on a Holley Pierce to Alex Herrera throw to the right of the endzone. The PAT was missed and sent the game to the half at 13-6.
 
The second half, the defenses continued to make plays all over the field to keep the offenses off the board. Charleston Southern was finally able to get more points on the board halfway through the fourth quarter. The drive was set up by a Jacob Horvath 50-yard punt that Noah Jennings was able to return for 47 yards to the EIU 15. On the first play of it, the Bucs gave the ball to Jamil Bishop on an end around play, he danced down the right sideline to reach the endzone. The made PAT tied it at 13 apiece with 4:52 left to play. Neither team was able to truly put together a drive in the remainder of regulation which sent the game into the overtime period.
 
The Buccaneers used both Rob McCoy Jr and Kaleb Jackson behind center today. McCoy went 7-13 for 52 yards and 20 on the ground while Jackson was 4-7 for 33 yards. Ison led the team in rushing with 44 yards while Bishop added 44 and Tyson Greenwade had 21.
 
On the defensive side of the ball, Steve Zayachkowsky led the team in tackles again. He collected nine of the day including a pair of sacks. Davion Williams was next on the team with seven tackles including a pair of TFLs which had a sack. There were four other Bucs who had a sack on the day with the group having Juliuz Walton, Darrius Bell, Chandler Perry and Dylan Manuel. The Bucs were able to come up with a pair of interceptions with Leon Thomas and Ja'Kobe North getting these. Manuel recovered a fumble which was forced by Bell.
 
Gilbert Brown had six punts on the day with them averaging 44 yards. He had a long of 59 with three being downed inside the 20, three going over 50 yards and two going for touchbacks. Noah Jennings provided a big spark in the punt return game. He had three returns with them going for 83 yards including the long of 47. Montgomery went 2-3 on his attempts.
 
Charleston Southern will complete their 2024 season next weekend with a trip to Florida State (1-9). The kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. with the game to be available live on ACC Network Extra.