Panther rewind: Eastern running game grinds down Dayton for season-opening victory

Cole LaCrue rushed for an EIU quarterback record 193 yards and three touchdowns as the Panthers posted a 24-14 win Thursday against Dayton. (Photo by Sandy King, EIUPanthers.com)

By Dan Verdun

CHARLESTON – Cole LaCrue doesn’t care what it takes to win, even if it means 26 rushing attempts.

That’s what it took Thursday night for the Eastern Illinois quarterback to lead the Panthers (1-0) to a 24-14 season-opening victory against Dayton.

“That is a lot of rushing attempts,” said LaCrue, who scored three touchdowns. “If that’s what it calls for us to win, that’s fine.”

LaCrue, a redshirt sophomore transfer from FBS Wisconsin, set the EIU single-game quarterback rushing record with 193 yards. The previous mark was Jalen Whitlow’s 142 yards in 2015.

LaCrue and running back Charles Kellom combined for 326 yards on 56 carries. 

Thursday was the first time in 12 years that two EIU players surpassed 100 yards rushing in a game. Kellom added 133 yards on 30 attempts.

The last time two Panther players achieved the feat was Nov. 16, 2013, when Shepard Little (245) and Jimmy Lera (111) combined for 356 yards against Jacksonville State.

Eastern accomplished this in front of 6,775 fans, including former NFL head coach and Dayton graduate Jon Gruden, who was invited by EIU head coach Chris Wilkerson.

“We wanted to be the more physical team and impose our will at the end of the game,” Wilkerson said. “We did a really nice job at halftime of not panicking.”

Eastern, which trailed 7-3 at the half, rushed 62 times for 336 yards. The Panthers accumulated 465 total yards of offense. EIU scored on four of its five red zone trips.

Dayton (0-1) is a member of the FCS non-scholarship Pioneer League.

Flyers quarterback Bryce Schondelmyer threw for 261 yards and two touchdowns.

Game changers

6:03, 3rd quarter: LaCrue rushed up the middle for an 11-yard touchdown, giving EIU a 10-7 lead.

10:48, 4th quarter: LaCrue connected with DeAirious Smith on a 47-yard pass play to the Dayton 1. 

“That was a big play,” LaCrue said. “That was the turning point of the game.”

LaCrue scored a rushing TD on the next play.

2:47, 4th quarter: LaCrue pulled the ball down in the pocket and scrambled on third and 11 for a first down to the Dayton 6-yard line. He rushed for a touchdown on the next play.

Prime Time Panthers

Prairie State Pigskin chooses the the top three Eastern Illinois players in the game:

LaCrue, QB: The transfer amassed 322 total yards, including a single-game school rushing record for a quarterback with 193 yards.

Kellom, RB:  The Akron transfer piled up a career-high 133 yards on 30 carries. 

Drake Van Hyfte, DL: The graduate student collected two tackles for loss and recorded one of three EIU sacks.

What it means

Eastern Illinois opened the season with a win for the first time since a 27-0 victory at Indiana State in 2023. The last time EIU won a season opener at home was Aug. 30, 2012, when the Panthers beat Southern Illinois, 49-28.

What’s next

EIU visits Indiana State Sept. 6. The Sycamores won their season opener Thursday night, defeating Division II McKendree, 41-24, in Terre Haute.

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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