CHARLESTON, Ill. — In an exciting matchup on Saturday, Pierce Holley showcased his prowess by throwing for five touchdowns, leading Eastern Illinois to a thrilling 45-38 victory over their long-standing rival, Western Illinois. This win marks Eastern Illinois’ second victory of the season.

Holley’s initial touchdown pass arrived just before halftime, as he completed a 13-yard connection with Alex Ginnever, leveling the score at 17-17. Coming back energized for the second half, Holley rapidly continued his offensive surge, first hitting MJ Flowers for a stunning 64-yard touchdown just two minutes into the third quarter, and soon after, tossing a 6-yard pass to Cooper Willman.

As the game progressed into the fourth quarter, Flowers added to his impressive performance with an 18-yard touchdown reception, marking his third score of the day. Ginnever also found the end zone again, catching a 10-yard pass from Holley, which pushed the score to 45-31 with seven minutes remaining.

Holley concluded the game with an impressive stat line, completing 19 of his 27 attempts for 338 yards without throwing an interception. Meanwhile, Flowers had a remarkable day on the ground, rushing for 194 yards and scoring a touchdown on 27 carries, while also contributing significantly in the air with three catches for 86 yards and two touchdowns. Ginnever also played a vital role, racking up six receptions for 100 yards along with his pair of touchdowns.

On the opposing side, Nathan Lamb had a commendable performance for the Leathernecks, throwing for three touchdown passes and adding a rushing touchdown to his tally, making a strong effort for his team. With this latest result, Eastern Illinois improved to a record of 2-7 overall and 1-4 in the Ohio Valley Conference, while Western Illinois fell to 3-6 overall and 2-3 in conference play.