Pierce Holley (3) was named the Big South-Ohio Valley Assocation Offensive Player of the Week for his performance against UT Martin. (Photo by EIUPanthers.com)
By Dan Verdun
Illinois State head coach Brock Spack called Pierce Holley a difference maker earlier this season. Tom Matukewicz of Southeast Missouri – this week’s opponent – also sees that.
“He’s one of the biggest reasons that they’re having success,” Matukewicz said of the Eastern Illinois quarterback. “You can tell he’s played a lot of football because he doesn’t make a lot of mistakes.”
Holley transferred to EIU from Georgetown, where he earned second team All-Patriot League honors last season.
“Of course he’s talented, he had good numbers at his previous place,” Matukewicz said. “I really have been impressed with not only his playmaking but (also) with his decision making and, of course, not turning it over.”
EIU head coach Chris Wilkerson has talked time and again this season about his quarterback.
“He’s extremely intelligent. He’s played a lot of football,” Wilkerson said. “He’s got great accuracy and anticipation. He and Coach (Joe) Davis are very much on the same page.”
The 6-foot-2 Holley enjoys running Davis’s offense.
“I like how there is an answer to everything (with the offense). I have the power to change plays at the line. Those two things are my favorite parts,” he said.
Holley was named Big South-OVC Football Association Offensive Player of the Week following this 359-yard, four-touchdown performance in last Saturday’s 28-27 overtime loss to nationally ranked UT Martin.
Holley attributes his success to “being prepared and trusting what I’ve been taught.”
Wilkerson noted Holley’s “great vision, anticipation and accuracy” as marks of his success.
“The biggest thing with Pierce is his poise,” the second-year EIU coach said. “We have not done a very good job protecting him all season. He’s been sacked 23 times and he’s been hit a ton.
“But he continues to get back up and doesn’t get rattled. He’ll stand in there to make the big throw and he’ll distribute the ball where the space is. He’s been huge for us. He’s been an awesome leader and presence in the building.”
Holley, who also played basketball and lacrosse at his suburban Denver high school, is a big reason why the Panthers (4-2, 0-1) have already doubled their win total from a year ago.
This week’s opponent
Though it is often said about teams with losing records being better than they appear, Southeast Missouri may truly deserve that description.
The Redhawks (1-4, 1-0) are among the most talented and veteran teams in the Big South-Ohio Valley Football Association.
SEMO began the season with a loss to Kansas State, the No. 16 team in FBS. After a 45-7 conference win against Lindenwood, the Redhawks have suffered three straight heartbreaking defeats.
The latest occurred last weekend when 23rd-ranked Central Arkansas rallied from 24 points down to post a 38-33 win.
Matukewicz doesn’t buy into magical turnaround theories.
“It starts with clarity. It starts with owning it. This is what happened, and this is what we can do about it,” he said during a weekly Zoom media address.
(Kickoff: 2 p.m., TV: ESPN-Plus; Radio: WEIU.net)
Key matchup to watch
EIU defense vs. SEMO offense
The Panthers have risen to the challenge of stopping star running backs earlier this season against Illinois State and UT Martin.
However, an old foe returns in the form of SEMO graduate student back Geno Hess. The Peoria native has run for a combined 305 yards and four touchdowns in his last two meetings with EIU.
“Geno Hess is an all-time OVC great,” Wilkerson said.
The EIU head coach is quick to point out that SEMO is far more than just its star runner.
“Their offense is one of the most explosive I’ve seen in a long, long, long time,” he said. “The irony is that Paxton (DeLaurant), the quarterback, is shredding people. He’s only thrown one interception the entire year. If you load the box to try and stop Geno, Paxton is just shredding people.”
DeLaurant, a Homewood-Flossmoor product, has a dangerous receiving corps led by 6-foot-3 Damoriea Vick and 6-foot-2 Ryan Flournoy.
“He’s battled some injuries, but he’s absolutely an NFL talent,” Wilkerson said of Flournoy. “Vick is a threat to go the distance every time he touches the ball.”
What’s at stake
Eastern is determined to avoid losing for the second time in a row this season. The Panthers also want to claim their first league win.
Quick hits
Saturday is SEMO’s Homecoming. This marks the fourth time Eastern Illinois is the Redhawks’ Homecoming foe. The Panthers went 1-2 in those contests. “Homecoming is great when you win. Not so much when you lose. I wish I was more mature than that, but that’s the facts,” Matukewicz said. … EIU forced four fumbles – recovering three – and grabbed an interception in last week’s loss. The Panthers lead the FCS with 17 turnovers gained this season. “Those don’t just happen. That is hard to do. You’ve got to coach it well, but you also have to have a team that buys into it,” Matukewicz said. … Eastern sophomore Justin Bowick hauled in five passes for 67 yards and two touchdowns against UT Martin. Bowick leads the Big South-OVC in touchdown receptions (15th nationally) and has 21 catches for 325 yards this season. Both totals rank in the top ten in the conference.
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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