Western Illinois receiver Eli Aragon (2) led all receivers with nine receptions for 83 yards. (Photo by Sandy King, EIUPanthers.com)
By Dan Verdun
CHARLESTON – A slow offensive start and defensive struggles combined for a Western Illinois loss in a renewal of its rivalry with Eastern Illinois.
Though the Leathernecks staged a late drive that included two passes into the end zone in the final nine seconds, WIU suffered a 45-38 defeat to EIU Saturday afternoon at O’Brien Field.
The loss dropped Western to 3-6 overall, 2-3 in the Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Football Association.
Eastern (2-7, 1-4) snapped a six-game losing streak.
“Defensively, we continue to struggle mightily,” WIU head coach Joe Davis said. “That was a (Panther) team scoring 15 points a game and they scored a lot today.”
Western allowed 534 yards of total offense. The last time Eastern had gained over 500 yards occurred in 2018.
“We let up way too much, too often,” senior defensive back K.J. Coleman said.
Western’s offense sputtered early, producing just 38 yards and two first downs in the opening quarter.
“Offensively, we started too slow. We gave them hope. We had an opportunity to come out early and sort of impose our will. We weren’t able to do that,” Davis said.
Eastern took a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter on a 10-yard run by M.J. Flowers.
After Western answered with a touchdown of its own on a 20-yard touchdown pass from Nate Lamb to Eli Aragon, EIU reclaimed the lead with a field goal.
The Leathernecks appeared to have momentum with 10 unanswered points, staking themselves to a 17-10 lead with just 61 seconds left until halftime.
However, Eastern drove 75 yards in seven plays for the game-tying touchdown and extra point with two seconds remaining.
EIU tight end Alex Ginnever accounted for 47 yards on the drive, including a 30-yard catch-and-run. Ginnever hauled in a 13-yard TD pass from quarterback Pierce Holley to cap the scoring drive.
“I said all week if we let them hang around, they’ve got a good quarterback and he’ll make some plays,” said Davis, who coached Holley last season and spent two years in Charleston as EIU offensive coordinator.
Second-half shootout
The second half proved to be a back-and-forth shootout with EIU outscoring WIU, 28-21.
The Panthers built a 38-24 lead with 10:45 remaining.
The Leathernecks pulled to within seven points when receiver Christian Anaya corralled a 29-yard touchdown pass in the right corner of the end zone despite tight coverage by EIU true freshman Isaiah Houi.
The play was originally ruled out of bounds, but replay overturned the call.
“Nate delivered a great ball,” Anaya said. “I make that play all the time in practice.”
Anaya and Aragon combined for nine catches for 98 yards in the second half.
“I saw a lot of holes in their defense,” said Aragon with seven catches for 60 yards after halftime. “When they were in zone coverage, I just sat behind the Mike (middle) linebacker. In man coverage, it was just one-on-one. “
Eastern again appeared to have the game well in hand when Ginnever caught his second touchdown pass, handing the Panthers a 45-31 lead.
Western rallied with a 6-play, 58-yard drive that resulted in a 4-yard TD pass to receiver Tristan Duncan from nearby Effingham.
After forcing EIU to punt, the Leathernecks had one final drive. Lamb used a series of short passes and a 15-yard facemask penalty on nose tackle Nicholas Oliviera-Chace to reach the EIU 24 with nine seconds on the clock.
Lamb’s final two passes into the end zone fell incomplete, allowing Eastern to snap a five-game losing streak to the Leathernecks dating back to 1995.
“We played some not-very-complimentary football today,” Davis said.
Game changers
8:01, 4th quarter: Anaya showed incredible body control with a defender tightly covering him while the sophomore reeled in a 29-yard touchdown pass from Lamb.
4:05, 4th quarter: Duncan caught a 4-yard pass from Lamb. Antonio Chadha’s extra point pulled Western within seven points.
0:00, 4th quarter: Lamb’s pass into the middle of the end zone toward 6-foot-4 receiver Cam Edwards fell harmlessly to the turf.
Nifty ‘Necks
Prairie State Pigskin chooses the top three WIU players in the game:
Lamb, QB: The senior threw for 309 yards – 230 in the second half– and three touchdowns. Lamb also ran for a score.
Aragon, WR: The junior college transfer led all receivers with nine receptions for 83 yards. He also scored a touchdown.
Cameren Smith, RB: The junior accounted for 112 yards of offense, 66 rushing and 46 receiving. He scored a TD on the ground.
What it means
Western falls below the .500 mark in league play with a 2-3 Big South-OVC record.
What’s next?
Western Illinois returns to Hanson Field in Macomb for its Nov. 9 game with Tennessee State in Big South-OVC action. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.
The game also marks a reunion for Leatherneck football alumni of all eras with a special focus on the 1974 team that defeated Hawaii.
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
Instagram: Prairiestatepigskin
Prairie State Pigskin 
Leave a comment