Drake Van Hyfte (95) puts pressure on Illinois State quarterback Zack Annexstad, forcing an incompletion in EIU’s 14-13 win last week against the Redbirds. (Photo by EIUPanthers.com)
By Dan Verdun
Going into this past offseason, Eastern Illinois head coach Chris Wilkerson knew his team needed to get better along the defensive line. It was one of the areas his staff addressed in recruiting.
That emphasis paid dividends in last Saturday’s 14-13 win against rival Illinois State. Despite missing its two starting defensive tackles, the Panthers turned in a strong showing against a Redbird team that was fresh off a 276-yard rushing performance the previous week.
Nevertheless, Eastern held ISU to 108 yards on the ground, prompting praise from its coach.
Wilkerson lauded interior linemen Terence Simon Jr., Alton Jefferson, Drake Van Hyfte and Jaron Hacha for their solid play.
The status of last week’s two injured starters – redshirt junior Tre’jon Lewis and junior Colby Smith – remains up in the air, according to Wilkerson.
Whether the duo plays or not, Wilkerson feels comfortable with the four who “stepped up and shouldered the load inside” against ISU.
“The competition provides depth, and the depth makes us all stronger,” he said.
The foursome combined for nine tackles, two quarterback hurries and one tackle for loss. Mere statistics, however, certainly don’t show the impact of an effective defensive front.
Wilkerson, a former EIU defensive lineman in the 1990s, commented on each player.
+“He’s not super tall, but he’s strong and compact. He’s quick and sudden, great with movement,” Wilkerson said of 6-foot-1, 285-pound Simon Jr.
+“(He’s) twitchy (and) active. He’s certainly paid his dues here,” he said of Jefferson. “He wanted more playing time and he made the most of it.”
+“Drake is a guy we’ve always known is as tough as a boot,” Wilkerson said, noting Van Hyfte can play inside or outside.
+“He’s one of the strongest players in our program,” Wilkerson said of Hacha. “And talk about a guy who will do anything. ‘Hach’ was asked to play offensive guard at the end of last year (because) we were so banged up.”
This week’s opponent
McNeese, located in Lake Charles, La., is 0-3 with a pair of FCS losses in addition to a defeat at SEC member Florida.
The Cowboys’ defense features one of the nation’s leading tacklers in linebacker Micah Davey, fifth nationally with 40 tackles.
Offensively, D’Angelo Durham has carried most of the load with 131 yards and
one touchdown.
Junior quarterback Nate Glantz, the 2020 national junior college player of the year, transferred to McNeese from Iowa State. He has two rushing touchdowns
while passing for 337 yards.
“They run the ball very efficiently,” Wilkerson said. “Their quarterback is very athletic. He can break you down with his feet or his arm. They are big and physical up front.”
(Kickoff: 2 p.m., TV: ESPN-Plus; Radio: WEIU.net)
Key matchup to watch
EIU special teams vs. McNeese special teams
McNeese ranks seventh in FCS for kickoff returns (28.5), largely thanks to a 91-yard touchdown return by Cam Thomas.
“They’re (also) in the top 15 (nationally) in net punt (yardage),” Wilkerson said. “They have a great punt returner (Jonathan Harris) as well.”
EIU ranks 22nd nationally in net punting (40.33) and 29th in punt return defense (3.17).
What’s at stake
A win would give the Panthers their first 3-1 start since 2016.
EIU, however, has never beaten the Cowboys.
“We’re 0-3 lifetime against McNeese, and I was part of all three of those games,” Wilkerson said. “I was a redshirt freshman standing on the sideline in 1990 when they beat us in a real tough, knockdown drag-out affair. I was part of a game in 1993 down there that was ugly to say the least. They beat the tar out of us.
“And last year, as the head coach, we went down there and to be honest with you, we got bullied around the yard (in a 29-15 loss).”
McNeese head coach Gary Goff said there isn’t a big difference between the two teams.
“The difference is they’ve won some close ballgames, and they believe (in themselves),” he said.
Quick hits
EIU plays the first of two games against Louisiana schools. The Panthers travel to Northwestern State Sept. 30 to wrap up a two-year, home-and-home contract between the schools. … Eastern running back M.J. Flowers was named Big South-OVC Football Association Freshman of the Week for his performance in the victory over Illinois State. Flowers came off the bench and had two important receptions as EIU drove 93 yards for the winning score… The Panthers received four votes in this week’s STATS Perform FCS Top 25 Poll after knocking off the Redbirds. … The last time EIU was ranked was Nov. 5, 2016. … Eastern is the FCS leader with seven interceptions after picking off three against ISU. The seven interceptions have come by seven different players this season. … Illinois State sacked EIU quarterback Pierce Holley eight times. “We need to see if we can expose that,” McNeese’s Goff said.
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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