Lindenwood celebrates its win against Eastern Illinois Saturday at O’Brien Field in Charleston. (Photo by David Snyder, LindenwoodLions.com)
By Dan Verdun
The Jeff Caldwell Show blew into the second half of Saturday’s Eastern Illinois-Lindenwood game reminiscent of a late summer Midwest storm.
The Lindenwood redshirt junior caught four touchdown passes – all following the halftime show – as the Lions rallied for a 28-25 win in the Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Association opener for both teams.
“We were able to run the football (and) started very fast and were able to finish some drives and possess the football (in the first half),” EIU head coach Chris Wilkerson said. “And in the second half, we completely flip-flopped.”
Caldwell, listed at 6-foot-5 on the Lindenwood website, finished the day with 115 receiving yards on those four touchdown receptions.
“We didn’t tackle very well (along with) our inability to stop the rush and certainly the big plays to No. 1 (Caldwell hurt us),” Wilkerson said.
Lindenwood improved its record to 2-3 overall and 1-0 in the league. EIU slipped to 1-4 overall and 0-1 in the conference.
Down 28-17, Eastern did pull within three points when quarterback Pierce Holley completed a 25-yard touchdown pass to Eli Mirza with 3:36 left in the fourth quarter.
The duo then connected on a two-point conversion, making the score 28-25.
The EIU defense forced a Lindenwood punt, giving the Panther offense a final drive. EIU reached the Lindenwood 13-yard, but true freshman kicker Drew Schiller missed a 30-yard field goal attempt with 10 seconds remaining.
“Love a team that loves and believes in each other,” Lindenwood head coach Jed Stugart said. “We continue to learn the importance of starting fast and not digging holes early, and we’ll continue to drive that home weekly, but they have resolve and never quit. And you always have a chance with a team that has that mindset.”
Linebacker Elijawah Tolbert, Eastern’s leading tackler through four games, was not in uniform or on the sideline.
The EIU radio broadcast reported Tolbert has decided to redshirt.
Game changers
6:05, 4th quarter: Caldwell reeled in a 74-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Nate Glantz. The fourth TD connection by the duo gave Lindenwood a 28-17 lead following the extra point.
3:36, 4th quarter: Holley connected with Mirza for a 25-yard touchdown and then connected on a two-point conversion, cutting the Lindenwood lead to three points.
0:10, 4th quarter: Schiller missed wide on a potential game-tying field goal.
Prime Time Panthers
Prairie State Pigskin chooses the top three EIU players in the game:
Flowers, RB: The redshirt sophomore rushed for a game-high 123 yards on 28 carries. It was the fifth time Flowers has rushed for more than 100 yards in his career.
Holley, QB: The senior quarterback threw for 326 yards and two touchdowns. He also scored on a 1-yard touchdown run.
Kaelin Drakeford, S: The junior safety led EIU with 11 tackles.
What it means
Eastern begins its conference schedule with a loss.
What’s next?
EIU hosts Southeast Missouri at O’Brien Field in a Big South-OVC Association game. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. for the Oct. 5 homecoming contest.
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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