Eastern rewind: Panthers create plenty of fireworks in shutout of Indiana State

Eastern Illinois cornerback Tyris Harvey celebrates Thursday night after scoring on a 19-yard interception return in the Panthers’ 27-0 victory at Indiana State. (Photo by EIUPanthers.com)

By Barry Bottino

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Fireworks boomed overhead Thursday night as Eastern Illinois players celebrated their 27-0 non-conference victory against Indiana State.

For the previous three hours, the Panthers’ defense provided plenty of explosive plays while shutting out an opponent for the first time in seven years.

Four interceptions, three sacks, two interception returns for touchdowns and two fumble recoveries were all part of Eastern’s stifling effort, which provided EIU with its first victory in a season opener since 2017.

“It proves to us that there’s a new era of Panthers coming,” said junior cornerback Tyris Harvey, whose 19-yard interception return 55 seconds before halftime gave Eastern a 12-0 lead. “We’re coming to take the ball away every game.”

Just 34 seconds after Harvey’s touchdown, sophomore safety NiJhay Burt returned an interception 67 yards, weaving through multiple defenders on his way to the 10th-longest interception return in school history.

“I knew after I picked it, it was green,” Burt said. “As soon as the ball touched my hands, I knew.”

The Panthers took advantage of an Indiana State team playing without injured quarterback Cade Chambers, last season’s Missouri Valley Football Conference Freshman of the Year.

Junior linebacker Elijawah Tolbert piled up a game-high 11 tackles, forced a fumble and had an interception.

“We didn’t have a lot of success the past couple of years,” Tolbert said. “We want to make statements every week. I know the talent we have on that side of the ball, and I know how many hours we put into this.”

The EIU defense limited the Sycamores to 217 total yards and only 3.5 yards per play.

“The takeaways were huge for us,” second-year Eastern head coach Chris Wilkerson said. “As a former defensive coach, I pride myself on us being pretty good on defense.”

The win was also the first for EIU assistant Clay Bignell as defensive coordinator.
“Coach Bignell and the staff have worked very hard, and our players have worked their tails off,” Wilkerson said.

The victory came after a unique day for Eastern.

One of the Panthers’ buses broke down in Charleston, Wilkerson said, causing the team to take two buses instead of three. Before the game, senior kicker Stone Galloway was injured in warmups.

During the game, the hits kept coming as starting right tackle/long snapper Jack Valente sustained a leg injury while attempting to recover a fumble. Starting wide receiver/holder Cooper Willman injured his right knee, leading to three losses to key special teams contributors.

Game changers
10:08, 1st quarter: New quarterback Pierce Holley, a transfer from Georgetown, connected with sophomore WR Justin Bowick for a 35-yard scoring play, EIU’s first touchdown of the day. Holley was 19-for-30 passing for 244 yards and two TDs.

0:21, 2nd quarter: Burt’s 67-yard return was the 10th-longest interception return for TD in EIU history.

1:28, 4th quarter: Tolbert grabbed Eastern’s fourth interception of the night to secure the Panthers’ first shutout since a 24-0 victory against Eastern Kentucky on Nov. 19, 2016.

What it means
The Panthers are 1-0 for the first time since 2017, when EIU also won at Indiana State, 22-20.

Primetime Panthers
Prairie State Pigskin chooses the top three Panther players in the game:
Elijawah Tolbert, LB: His effort included a game-high 11 tackles, a forced fumble and a late-game interception.

NiJhay Burt, S: The sophomore’s night included an interception return for a TD and a pass breakup.

Pierce Holley, QB: In his first start in an EIU uniform, the Georgetown transfer threw two TDs and passed for 244 yards.

What’s next?

EIU continues its non-conference schedule at FBS Bowling Green at 1 p.m. Sept. 9.

Barry Bottino is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin and a 19-year veteran of three Illinois newspapers. He has covered college athletics since 1995.

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