Australian-born punter Jacob Horvath was named the Big South-OVC Football Association Freshman of the Week after his collegiate debut. (Photo by Sandy King, EIUPanthers.com)
By Dan Verdun
While there was plenty to celebrate in Eastern Illinois’ season-opening shutout win, the Panthers also suffered some key losses.
Injuries to kicker Stone Galloway, holder Cooper Willman and long snapper Jack Valente have EIU coaches testing the depths of their roster.
In a flashback to the last EIU victory in Terre Haute, Ind., Galloway – a preseason Fred Mitchell Award watchlist nominee – sustained a leg injury during warmups.
In 2017, kicker Nick Bruno suffered a similar fate. In fact, EIU staff had to place a call back to Charleston and get freshman Matt Severino out of class and into a car for a mad dash to the game.
No such call was placed last Thursday; redshirt sophomore Will Orth was on hand and assumed extra point duties.
A pair of internationals played important roles in Thursday’s 27-0 win. Daniel Luoma, a junior tight end from Finland, took over kickoffs. Jacob Horvath, a Australian who had never seen an American football game in person prior to playing in one, punted.
During Tuesday’s Big South-Ohio Valley Football Alliance Zoom call, EIU head coach Chris Wilkerson said, “Will Orth is our backup kicker and right now he would be our kicker (Saturday against FBS Bowling Green).”
However, Wilkerson added, “We’ve done some creative things this week to make sure we have a backup kicker in place.”
Those include Julian Patino, who was on the EIU roster a year ago but is now serving as a graduate assistant for the EIU men’s soccer team. Patino has a year of football eligibility remaining, according to Wilkerson.
There is also an unnamed walk-on “who joined right when school started,” the head coach said.
Valente continues to battle a hamstring issue and is questionable for Saturday, Wilkerson said. Redshirt sophomore Brett Galetti would take over as long snapper if Valente is not able. Jesse Garza, a junior college transfer linebacker, has also done some snapping.
Willman, a receiver who led EIU with five catches against Indiana State, is out with a “lower body injury,” according to Wilkerson. That leaves Horvath as holder with receiver Eli Mirza as his backup.
Luoma will continue to handle kickoffs after averaging 61.3 yards on his four boots at Indiana State.
This week’s opponent
Bowling Green, a member of the FBS Mid-American Conference, lost its opener, 34-24, last week at Liberty.
After falling behind 24-0, the Falcons staged a rally that fell short.
Turnovers sunk Bowling Green.
“Five interceptions are tough to overcome. We haven’t had five interceptions all training camp. We need to take care of the ball better,” head coach Scot Loeffler said.
(1 p.m. kickoff, TV: ESPN-Plus; Radio: WEIU.net)
One matchup to watch
EIU DL vs. Bowling Green run game
“Bowling Green provides a very, very physical presence on offense. They run a ton of different gap schemes. They love to run the counter plays seven different ways,” Wilkerson said.
The Falcons’ starting offensive line averages 6-foot-6, 305 pounds.
Bowling Green finished with 191 rushing yards against Liberty, which was the most by the Falcons since rushing for 221 yards at Buffalo in 2021.
What’s at stake
With a victory under their belt, the Panthers strive to continue to build positive momentum through the non-conference portion of their schedule before their league opener.
Quick hits
Linebacker Elijawah Tolbert picked up two weekly awards for his part in EIU’s defensive effort. Tolbert was named the STATS Perform FCS National Defensive Player of the Week and the Big South-OVC Football Association Defensive Player of the Week. The junior racked up 11 tackles, including seven solo stops. He was in on two of the Panthers’ six forced turnovers with one interception and one forced fumble. … Horvath was named the Big South-OVC Football Association Freshman of the Week after his collegiate debut. His first punt went 57 yards; he finished with four punts for a 42.5 yard average and two pinned inside the 20. … Eastern’s defense had six turnovers gained in the season opener with four interceptions and two fumble recoveries. EIU is tied for first in the FCS in turnovers gained with Furman, while the Panthers are third in the FCS in turnover margin. … EIU will receive a $350,000 guarantee for Saturday’s FBS-FCS game.
Dan Verdun is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin. He has written four books: NIU Huskies Football, EIU Panthers Football, ISU Redbirds Football and SIU Salukis Football.
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