Eastern Illinois lost its season finale, falling 56-0 to FBS No. 10 Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa. (Photo by Sandy King, EIUPanthers.com)
By Dan Verdun
Years from now, Eastern Illinois players can tell their children and grandchildren about playing at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
However, the Panthers were shut out, 56-0, Saturday by perennial FBS powerhouse Alabama.
“Our players got a better understanding of the detail and the intense preparation that needs to occur every single snap regardless of opponent, score or location,” EIU head coach Chris Wilkerson said. “If they want to play elite, high-level football, they have an idea of what that looks like.”
The No. 10 Crimson Tide (9-2) dominated EIU (3-9) in the Panthers’ season finale. Alabama amassed 539 yards on 79 plays compared to EIU’s 34 yards on 39 plays.
Alabama held a 32-2 edge in first downs. The Crimson Tide used 13 rushers, six of whom scored a touchdown.
“They’re big. They’re physical,” Wilkerson said of Alabama’s offensive line. “They’ve got great depth in the backfield.
“And if you outnumber them in the box, they’re very capable of ripping the ball outside on the access throws or the screens.”
The Crimson Tide scored touchdowns on five of their first six drives and breezed to the win. Alabama scored two touchdowns in each quarter.
EIU defensive backs Kaleb Lyons and Dillon Conway each intercepted Alabama QB Ty Simpson. Lyons returned his pick 19 yards, setting up the Panthers deep in Crimson Tide territory. However, EIU’s subsequent drive ended on downs.
Game changers
12:54, 1st quarter: EIU quarterback Cole LaCrue was intercepted on third-and-long, ending the Panthers’ opening drive.
9:47, 1st quarter: Alabama running back Jam Miller opened the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run.
4:49, 1st quarter: Alabama’s Daniel Hill ran up the middle for a 7-yard touchdown, giving the Crimson Tide a 14-0 lead.
Prime Time Panthers
Prairie State Pigskin chooses the the top three Eastern Illinois players in the game:
Moses Alexander, DB: The senior led EIU with a career-high 13 tackles, nine of which were solo.
Conway, S: The redshirt freshman from Chicago Mt. Carmel recorded a career-high six tackles and grabbed an interception.
Mason Miller, P: The graduate student averaged 48.7 yards per punt. He ended the year with a 47.37 average, which broke Kevin Cook’s school record (44.6).
What it means
Eastern Illinois ends the season with a seven-game losing streak.
What’s next
Eastern Illinois fully focuses on recruiting season, which opens with the Dec. 3-5 signing period.
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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