Eastern Illinois running back M.J. Flowers (20) celebrates one of his four touchdowns with offensive lineman Drew Wilder (55) as quarterback Pierce Holley (3) looks on. (Photo by Sandy King, EIUPanthers.com)
By Dan Verdun
CHARLESTON – Eastern Illinois has proven to be opportunistic in each of its wins this season. Saturday was no exception.
The Panthers parlayed what head coach Chris Wilkerson dubbed a “defensive and special teams bonanza” backed by the power running of redshirt freshman M.J. Flowers.
The result was a 30-17 win against visiting Tennessee State in Big South-OVC Association action.
The win lifted EIU to 7-3 overall and 4-2 in the conference standings. Tennessee State slipped to 6-4 overall and 2-3 in the league.
“Our defense has been phenomenal all season long and our special teams, which were so good last year (but) haven’t quite been where we’ve wanted them to be this year, showed up big today,” Wilkerson said.
The first big play came with the Panthers leading, 7-0, in the first quarter. Sophomore NiJhay Burt blocked a TSU punt and returned it four yards to the Tiger 5-yard line.
“We had a design for him to try to block the ball and he was able to execute it,” Wilkerson said.
Burt said he keyed off the left end’s reaction.
“He extended on me, so I folded inside. After that, the hole just opened up for me to finish,” he said.
Two plays later, Flowers scored his second touchdown of the opening quarter.
Tennessee State rallied to take a 17-14 lead well into the third quarter.
“I was very pleased with the start and with the finish, but there was that bit in the middle (of the game) where we gave them some life,” Wilkerson said.
Given that new life, Tennessee State appeared to have seized control midway through the third quarter.
Then EIU produced another critical special teams play.
With Eastern stopped on offense, TSU dropped Boogie Trotter – a new returner – back deep awaiting EIU punter Jacob Horvath’s kick.
After fielding a 42-yard punt, Trotter had the ball knocked loose by junior Payton Orth. Freshman Christopher Sharp recovered for the Panthers at the TSU 36.
Three plays later, Flowers burst off the left side and raced 31 yards for the touchdown that put Eastern into the lead for good.
“I used my vision,” Flowers said. “The play was designed to go to the right side, but I saw the opening on the left, hit the gap and was able to break through.”
Flowers became the focus of the Panther offense as Tennessee State put its efforts into taking away EIU’s passing game.
“They basically wanted to double (team) all the receivers, so it was very hard for (EIU quarterback) Pierce (Holley) to get the ball to the wideouts on the perimeter. We had to take what they gave us,” Wilkerson said.
Flowers ran the ball 20 times in the second half for 144 yards. He finished with 201 yards on 31 carries.
“M.J. had some great vision cuts where he took the first read and got vertical and then got himself back in phase with the blocking,” Wilkerson said. “It was really fun to watch.”
Flowers, who earlier this season rushed for a career-high 272 yards in a win against McNeese, scored four touchdowns. He nearly had a fifth late in the game as EIU was running out the clock.
“I didn’t need it (the fifth TD) because we won the game, but I really wanted that one,” Flowers said with a laugh.
EIU hall of fame running back J.R. Taylor was the last Panther to score four touchdowns in a game. Taylor accomplished the feat in 2002 against Florida Atlantic.
Flowers is the third back in EIU history to have two or more 200-yard rushing games in a season, joining Willie High (1993) and Taylor (2002).
Game changers
7:13, 1st quarter: Burt broke through to block Jackson Foster’s punt and set up EIU’s second touchdown.
7:43, 3rd quarter: Payton Orth forced a fumble on a TSU punt return; Sharp recovered for the Panthers at the TSU 36.
6:51, 3rd quarter: Flowers raced 31 yards for the go-ahead touchdown, handing EIU a 20-17 lead it did not relinquish.
What it means
The Panthers have reached seven wins and put themselves in playoff consideration heading into next weekend’s regular-season finale.
Prime Time Panthers
Prairie State Pigskin chooses the top three Eastern Illinois players in the game:
Flowers, RB: The Cincinnati native ran for 201 yards and four touchdowns.
Elijawah Tolbert, LB: The junior led Eastern with 11 tackles, seven of which were solo. The Hillcrest High School graduate also had a tackle for loss.
Burt, S: The sophomore starred on special teams with a punt block as well as downing a Horvath punt on the TSU 4-yard line in the fourth quarter. Burt also had two tackles, one for loss.
What’s next?
Eastern Illinois closes its regular season at Robert Morris, located in Moon Township, Pa. The Colonials (4-6) defeated Charleston Southern, 14-12, Saturday.
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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