From the pitch to gridiron, Patino provides winning kick for EIU Panthers

Julian Patino (96), shown with holder Jacob Horvath (93), kicked the game-deciding extra point as Eastern Illinois edged Illinois State, 14-13, Saturday at O’Brien Field. (Photo by Sandy King, EIUPanthers.com)

By Dan Verdun

CHARLESTON – One never knows where life may place you. One moment you’re on the high school football field kicking a game-winning field goal and ushering off to college with gridiron glory dreams.

Later, you realize you’re playing behind an all-conference kicker and are not likely to see the field other than practice or pregame warmups.

You leave football to try your prowess on the soccer pitch, only to discover you’re relegated to a student assistant coaching spot.

Then, by happenstance you find yourself needed again and your football dreams aren’t quite dead yet.

All of this essentially happened to Julian Patino, who provided the winning extra point in Saturday’s 14-13 Eastern Illinois win against No. 25 Illinois State in the Mid-America Classic rivalry game at O’Brien Field.

“My freshman year I got recruited here for kicking,” the Chicago Mount Carmel graduate said. “I didn’t see the field, (because) obviously Stone (Galloway) was really hitting well.

“So, I decided to walk onto the men’s soccer program my sophomore year. I enjoyed it, but after a long talk with Coach (Josh) Oakley after the season, he offered me a position to be an assistant coach. That was a no brainer for me because I still wanted to stick around.”

Flash forward to this season’s football opener at Indiana State. Galloway – a preseason Fred Mitchell Award watch list member after a stellar 2022 season in which he missed just one field goal – suffered an injury before kickoff.

Backup Will Orth was given an opportunity, but made just 1-of-3 PATs in two games.

In the meantime, EIU head coach Chris Wilkerson and special teams coach Kyle Derickson contacted Patino, who still had remaining football eligibility.

“They saw trust in me, and so they invited me back,” Patino said.

More than just for kicks

Patino got his first opportunity to kick in a game during Eastern’s 38-15 loss Sept. 9 at FBS Bowling Green. The 5-foot-10, 200-pound Patino nailed a 31-yard field goal.

Prior to Saturday’s home opener with Illinois State, Galloway warmed up but still didn’t feel quite right.

“We knew he was probably still about a week away,” Wilkerson said.

In true captain form, Galloway told the coaching staff that Patino was ready for the task at hand.

Wilkerson added, “We had all the confidence in the world in Julian. He had a great week of practice, two weeks really overall.”

During those those practices, Patino received guidance from Galloway and from above.

“Stone is like a big brother to me,” Patino said. “He’s helped me grow in my faith, and that’s the most important thing to me.

“I’m very appreciative of what Stone has done for me in my three years here. It’s going to be a lifelong friendship between us whether it’s kicking or some life situation. I’m super thankful for him.”

Preparation and delivery

With the game evolving into a close, defensive-oriented affair, teammates began approaching Patino on the sideline.

“They kept saying, ‘This might end up on you, this might end up on you,’” he said.

Trailing 13-7, EIU drove the ball 93 yards in 1:03 late in the fourth quarter to score the tying touchdown with 30 seconds remaining in the game.

That set up Patino for the potential game-deciding point after kick. His teammates rallied around him.

“Everybody was cheering and pushing me to go out there and make the PAT. It’s good to have that around you, that kind of support,” he said.

Patino trotted onto the field along with long snapper Jack Valente and holder Jacob Horvath. He pushed aside any pressure in the moment.

“Honestly, in that moment, I kind of blanked out. I just trusted the process and my ability to kick the ball,” he said. “I just trusted myself and didn’t think too much.”

Patino actually had to kick the PAT twice because ISU jumped offside, blowing the play dead and nullifying his first successful kick. He remained unwavering.

“I would have loved for it to have been good on the first try, but hey, if we had to do it again, then that’s what we did. I trusted my long snapper and my holder and the rest of the guys,” Patino said.

All that trust paid off as the PAT sailed through the uprights, lifting EIU into a lead it did not relinquish. It also meant the Panthers would hoist the Mid-America Classic trophy for the first time in six tries.

“We couldn’t be more thankful for him (Patino) to step up. It’s not an easy role to ask anyone to do,” said receiver Justin Thomas, who caught both EIU touchdown passes. “He made arguably the biggest play for us.”

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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