Eastern Illinois takes lead in Ohio Valley Conference

Vincent Webb ran for 109 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries Saturday to lead Eastern Illinois past visiting Eastern Kentucky 53-22, lifting the Panthers to first place in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Travorus Bess and Mike Donato also ran for two touchdowns each for the Panthers, who gained 281 yards rushing, compared to Eastern Kentucky's 54.

After just 5 minutes had passed in the first quarter, Eastern Illinois (4-2, 3-0 OVC) had a 21-0 lead, thanks in part to a pair of defensive touchdowns.

Eastern Kentucky (3-4, 3-1) did its damage in the air. Quarterback Josh Greco completed 39 of 71 passes, with three touchdowns and three interceptions.

Eastern Illinois is the only OVC team without a conference loss. Eastern Kentucky fell into a second-place tie with two-time defending champion Jacksonville State.

The Gamecocks (3-4, 3-1) pinned the first conference loss on Tennessee-Martin (4-2, 2-1) with a 37-17 victory.

I-AA football Western Kentucky 37, Missouri State 28

Justin Haddix ran for two touchdowns to lead Western Kentucky to a 37-28 victory over visiting Missouri State.

Haddix's 1-yard touchdown run with 13:25 left in the game put the Hilltoppers up 23-7. The Bears (3-3, 1-2 Gateway Conference) twice pulled to within two in the final quarter but never took the lead.

-- From staff, wire reports