Eastern Illinois running back Jacarre Fleming rushed for a career-high 111 yards Saturday against Western Illinois and had touchdown runs of 30 and 55 yards. (Photo by Barry Bottino, PrairieStatePigskin.com)
By Barry Bottino
MACOMB – Late in Saturday’s 31-23 victory at Western Illinois, offensive tackle Nic DiSanto offered a reminder to teammate Jacarre Fleming.
“I called him over to the bench and said, ‘Hey, I told you two things: Run behind me and run with your opportunity,’” DiSanto said. “He ended up doing both.”
DiSanto, a junior team captain, helped pave the way for Fleming and EIU’s running game, which used three backs to pile up 239 rushing yards and start OVC-Big South conference play 1-0.
DiSanto was especially happy for Fleming, a redshirt freshman who rushed for a career-high 111 yards and two touchdowns.
“I’ve told Jacarre since he’s been here to trust the process, trust the plan. Your opportunity’s going to happen,” DiSanto said. “I’m proud of that kid.”
Fleming, a Georgia native, rushed nine times, averaging 12.3 yards a carry.
His 55-yard touchdown run less than two minutes before halftime gave the Panthers a 21-6 halftime advantage. His 30-yard scoring run early in the fourth quarter gave EIU (2-2) a 12-point lead.
“I think I’ve developed a lot,” the 5-foot-8, 195-pound Fleming said. “I practiced hard all week. I went into practice knowing this was going to be a big game. I’m just going to keep that mentality going forward.”
Junior Charles Kellom added 74 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries, while fellow junior Jay Pearson contributed 59 yards on 11 carries.
Western played without defensive end Peyton Bradford, who was on the sidelines with his lower right leg in a cast. On EIU’s first-quarter touchdown drive, which led to a 7-0 lead, defensive tackle Payne Miller was ejected for what officials called a flagrant face mask penalty.
Eastern took advantage in the second half by running the football on 21 consecutive plays, bridging the third and fourth quarters.
That stretch relied on the work on starters DiSanto and redshirt freshman Kwan Johnson at the tackle spots, junior Alejandro Arellano and senior Dante Thompson at guard, and redshirt freshman Rahfeeq Katumbusi at center.
“Shoutout to all those guys,” Fleming said. “If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be in this position. They made the holes for me to go execute.”
Eastern’s 21 straight run plays produce 10 points and 140 yards on the ground.
“Being able to get a hat on a hat, used our strength and push them down the field definitely helped a lot,” DiSanto said.
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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