Redshirt senior Charles Kellom rushed for 171 yards and three touchdowns Thursday night as Eastern Illinois defeated Murray State. (Photo by Bill Biggs)
By Dan Verdun
On a night when a selection of Dolly Parton songs filled Murray State’s Roy Stewart Stadium air, Eastern Illinois used the ground game to strike a winning tune.
EIU rushed for 267 yards and three touchdowns en route to a 28-14 non-conference victory. The win snapped a seven-game losing streak, which dated back to last season.
“Really proud of the guys. I know they were ready to play,” EIU head coach Chris Wilkerson said. “It was a team effort tonight.”
Running back Charles Kellom rushed for a career-high 171 yards and three touchdowns. The redshirt senior broke off a career-long 88-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.
“For him to be able to finish the long run before half was big,” Wilkerson said. “He runs tough and hard and takes care of the football.”
Kellom’s last rush came with just over 12 minutes left in the game. Redshirt sophomore Jacarre Fleming-Page took over the reins and proved to be a major factor in finishing off the win. Fleming-Page rushed for 81 yards on 13 carries.
Redshirt junior Cole LaCrue played the entire game at quarterback. The Colorado native completed 11 of 18 passes for 101 yards.
LaCrue’s 20-yard touchdown pass to redshirt senior Landers Green provided the Panthers with their fourth score and put EIU on top by two touchdowns.
“Cole earned the right to be QB1, and he did a phenomenal job tonight leading our offense,” Wilkerson said. “He’s continuing to grow as a player.”
EIU did not turn the ball over on offense and grabbed two interceptions on defense.
Game changers
0:58, 2nd quarter: Kellom broke up the middle and outraced the Murray State defense for a career-best 88-yard touchdown run. The TD gave EIU a 14-6 lead.
9:05, 3rd quarter: Kellom’s 2-yard touchdown run, his third of the game, pushed the Panthers into the lead for good.
2:15, 4th quarter: Linebacker Ju’Wuan Nickson’s interception sealed the EIU victory.
Prime Time Panthers
Prairie State Pigskin chooses the the top three Eastern Illinois players in the game:
Kellom, RB: The senior rushed for a career-high 171 and three touchdowns. His 88-yard TD run was a career long.
Fleming-Page, RB: The sophomore ran for 81 yards on 13 carries and helped the Panthers run out the clock.
Nickson, LB: The senior collected a team-high 10 tackles, two for loss, and grabbed an interception to seal the EIU victory.
What it means
Eastern Illinois snapped a seven-game losing streak, which dated back to last season. The Panthers lead the all-time series with Murray State, 21-19.
What’s next
EIU travels to the University of Minnesota for its FBS game. The game, which will be broadcast on Peacock, kicks off at 7 p.m.
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
Blue Sky: PSPigskin
Prairie State Pigskin 
Leave a comment