Charleston Southern’s David Portu’s blocked field goal preserved a 17-16 win against Eastern Illinois Saturday afternoon. (Photo by CSUSports.com)
By Dan Verdun
Eastern Illinois first failed to hold a fourth-quarter lead. Then came the failed potential game-winning field goal.
Charleston Southern redshirt junior David Portu blocked EIU sophomore Drew Schiller’s 35-yard field goal attempt with 5 seconds remaining Saturday to preserve a 17-16 win for the Buccaneers.
Schiller appeared to slip as he kicked and Portu was able to get his shoulder and hand on the ball.
CSU (3-6 overall, 2-3 OVC-Big South) rallied from a 16-3 deficit to topple EIU (3-5, 2-3).
“We got a lead in the fourth quarter and just didn’t make enough plays at the end,” Eastern head coach Chris WIlkerson said.
The Panthers missed two field goals in the final quarter, including the blocked kick.
“We were settling for field goals instead of sixes,” Wilkerson said.
EIU built its lead on the strength of three earlier field goals by Schiller and a 23-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Cole LaCrue to tight end Joe McNab.
CSU rallied for two touchdowns in the final quarter, each coming with under 6 minutes remaining. The Buccaneers scored the game-winner with 1:57 left.
Game changers
3:34, 3rd quarter: LaCrue found McNab with a TD pass. The score lifted EIU to a 13-3 lead.
1:57, 4th quarter: Hakeem Waters’ 1-yard TD run and Zach Gordon’s extra point gave CSU a 17-16 lead.
0:05, 4th quarter: Portu’s block thwarted EIU’s potential game-winning kick.
Prime Time Panthers
Prairie State Pigskin chooses the the top three Eastern Illinois players in the game:
LaCrue, QB: The redshirt sophomore passed for 123 yards and one touchdown. He added 64 rushing yards.
Tylan Foster, LB: The Incarnate Word transfer led the Panthers with 10 tackles, eight of which were solo. He also had a pass breakup.
Isaiah Houi, DB: The sophomore registered six tackles and two pass breakups.
What it means
Eastern Illinois suffered its third consecutive OVC-Big South loss after starting out league play with a 2-0 record.
What’s next
Eastern Illinois hosts UT Martin (3-5, 3-1) at 2 p.m. Nov. 1 at O’Brien Field.
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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