Linebacker Anthony Shockey (5) had a game-high 10 tackles Saturday in a strong defensive performance as Eastern Illinois outlasted Lindenwood, 16-10. (Photo by EIUPanthers.com)
By Barry Bottino
The Eastern Illinois offense provided a quick start out of the blocks Saturday, then the defense came through with an impressive finishing kick to ensure the Panthers’ first winning season since 2017 with a 16-10 victory against Lindenwood.
The Panthers (6-3 overall, 2-2 Big South-OVC) raced to a 16-0 lead then stalled for three quarters offensively.
Enter the defense, which came through with two fourth-quarter interceptions, including the clincher from sophomore safety Nijhay Burt with 5 seconds remaining, along with four sacks in the final period.
“Winning’s hard and winning on the road in conference is even harder,” EIU head coach Chris Wilkerson said. “We found a way.”
Time after time, the defense stood tall for the Panthers. EIU limited the Lions (3-6, 1-4) to 16 total rushing yards and 3-for-14 on third-down conversions while Burt and fellow safeties Blake Ruffin and Nick Coates had interceptions.
“Three takeaways and only one giveaway,” Wilkerson said. “That’s what we’ve been all about. … We’ve talked about playing meaningful football games in November, and this was the first one. We’ve still got two more meaningful games. We still have a lot of unfinished business.”
Thanks to a 23-7 turnover margin in EIU’s favor, this season, the team is in a four-way tie for fourth place in the conference and only one game out of second place.
Offensively, the Panthers gained 176 yards and piled up eight first downs in the first quarter alone. A 38-yard pass from Pierce Holley to Eli Mirza produced a 9-0 lead 5 minutes into the game. Just before the first period expired, M.J. Flowers rushed for a 4-yard score.
In the final three quarters combined, Eastern managed only seven first downs and 152 yards.
“I felt it was our best offensive quarter of the season in the first quarter,” Wilkerson said. “Then, we had some opportunities to throw and catch, and we just couldn’t connect. We had some drops, some overthrows, some penalties.”
Wilkerson pointed to Eastern’s 3-for-13 performance on third down and 1-for-4 effort on fourth down for the inability to extend the lead.
Lindenwood scored on a 10-yard scoring pass with 1:19 left before wide receiver Justin Thomas successfully fielded the Lions’ onside kick attempt.
“I’m pleased with the victory, but we’ve got a lot of things to correct,” Wilkerson said.
Game changers
0:13, 1st quarter: Flowers rushed for a 4-yard touchdown to give EIU a 16-0 lead.
5:14, 4th quarter: Ruffin grabbed an interception on fourth down to snuff out a Lindenwood drive.
0:09, 4th quarter: Burt outjumped Lindenwood receiver Jalen Smith to grab the game-clinching interception.
What it means
The Panthers guaranteed their first winning season since 2017 with Saturday’s victory.
Prime Time Panthers
Prairie State Pigskin chooses the top three Eastern Illinois players in the game:
Ruffin, S: The sophomore had four tackles and grabbed his fourth interception of the season in the fourth quarter.
Anthony Shockey, LB: On a day in which EIU’s defense stood tall, the junior had a season-high 10 tackles.
Thomas, Mirza and DeAirious Smith, WRs: The trio of wide receivers each had five catches and a reception of at least 38 yards.
What’s next?
The Panthers’ final regular-season home game kicks off at noon on Nov. 11 against Tennessee State.
Barry Bottino is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin and a 19-year veteran of three Illinois newspapers. He has covered college athletics since 1995.
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