Senior Stone Galloway’s 56-yard field goal was the second longest in school history. (Photo by Sandy King, EIUPanthers.com)
By Dan Verdun
CHARLESTON – Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” blared over the O’Brien Field public address system following the second straight Eastern Illinois comeback victory.
EIU’s Stone Galloway trotted onto the field for the first time this season and promptly kicked a 56-yard field goal with 20 seconds remaining. The kick completed a Panther rally that resulted in a 21-18 nonconference win over visiting McNeese.
“The guys keep believing, and that’s what this team is about,” EIU head coach Chris Wilkerson said. “It’s been the next person up.”
There were many who fit that bill Saturday afternoon from running back M.J. Flowers to numerous offensive linemen to reserve defenders.
But in the end, it was Galloway, a rare team captain from the special teams unit.
Galloway, who missed just one field goal attempt last season, had yet to play this year. He was injured in warmups prior to the Aug. 31 season opener at Indiana State.
A week ago, it was Julian Patino – filling in for Galloway – who kicked the extra point in EIU’s comeback 14-13 win over rival Illinois State.
While Patino kicked three extra points against McNeese, it was Galloway who was called on for the game-winner.
“Stone has been battling and battling and we said (before the game) that in an emergency situation (we would use him),” Wilkerson said.
That situation came about after EIU quarterback Pierce Holley’s pass to Justin Thomas was incomplete, leaving the Panthers facing a fourth-and-8 at the McNeese 39-yard line.
“There were a number of scenarios we considered,” Wilkerson said of the fourth down play, “but it came down to sending Stone out there.”
After a timeout, McNeese put speedy Jonathan Harris back near the goal post for a possible return if the field goal attempt fell short.
“We practice for all those scenarios,” Wilkerson said. “Coach (Kyle) Derickson even has the guys prepare for that one too.”
Galloway began warming up with just over two minutes left when EIU got the ball back.
“I looking at the clock and I didn’t know (if I’d be called upon) because I was waiting for my coach (Derickson) to say something to me,” Galloway said. “After the punt he came up to me and I asked, ‘Do I need to be (warming up)?’”
Derickson gave Galloway a hearty yes.
Galloway’s 56-yarder was the second longest in EIU history, two yards shorter than Rich Ehmke’s 58-yarder that gave the Panthers’ a 31-30 Homecoming win against Northern Iowa in 1986.
“It felt good coming off the leg. I felt like I hit it solid. I watched to see what happened with the ball and it ended up going in,” said Galloway, whose previous career-long was 46 yards.
Wilkerson, in his second year as head coach of his alma mater, described his view.
“I knew it was going to be close. The official came over and asked how far it was. When I told him it was 56. He said, ‘well, it would have been good from 57; you had about one yard to spare’,” Wilkerson said.
Galloway said, “I only got emotional when I saw my dad. There’s a lot that we’ve been through, especially with me with the injury.”
Father and son embraced in a teary postgame hug.
“It worked out great, a storybook ending,” Wilkerson said. “For anybody who left, 50 years from now they’ll swear they were in the stadium.”
Game changers
3:15, 4th quarter: Transfer Juwon Farri broke loose for 19-yard touchdown run. Patino’s extra point tied the game at 28.
2:26, 4th quarter: Eastern’s Elijawah Tolbert and Joel Barrows pressured McNeese quarterback Nate Glantz into a hurried incompletion on a third-and-10, forcing the Cowboys to punt the ball back to the Panthers.
:20, 4th quarter: Galloway made the eighth field goal of more than 50 yards in EIU history.
What it means
Eastern is 3-1 for the first time since 2016. The three wins already exceeds last year’s total of two.
Primetime Panthers
Prairie State Pigskin chooses the top three Panther players in the game:
Flowers, RB: The redshirt sophomore from Cincinnati rushed 37 times for 272 yards, the third highest total in school history. The also caught six passes for 26 yards.
Galloway, K: The senior captain kicked the game-winner out of a snap by Brett Galetti and hold by Jacob Horvath.
Eli Mirza, WR: The junior college transfer led EIU with eight receptions for 52 yards. He scored on a 12-yard touchdown run off a reverse just before halftime.
What’s next?
EIU plays one more non-conference game, visiting Northwestern State (La.) Sept. 30.
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.
Find us on social media!
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PSPigskin
Facebook: Prairie State Pigskin
Prairie State Pigskin 
Leave a comment