Eastern Illinois quarterback Cole LaCrue has thrown 12 touchdowns and only three interceptions this season for the Panthers. His five rushing touchdowns are only two behind last year’s total in 46 fewer carries. (Photo by EIUPanthers.com)
By Barry Bottino
Eastern Illinois quarterback Cole LaCrue spent his off-season honing his craft. He did so with two men considered to be part of EIU quarterback royalty.
After throwing four touchdowns and seven interceptions in 11 games, LaCrue went to Dallas seeking to sharpen his game.
“The confidence was there, I just didn’t have the mechanics,” he said.
His tutor was former NFL quarterback and current QB coaching guru Jeff Christensen, who was a fifth-round draft pick of the Cincinnati Bengals in 1983 after throwing for 51 career touchdowns and nearly 6,300 yards in Charleston.
He also spent time with former Panther Tony Romo, who won the Walter Payton Award at EIU and spent 13 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys.
“I’m fortunate that I got connected with them,” said LaCrue, who leads the Panthers (3-6 overall, 2-2 Ohio Valley Conference) into a rivalry game Saturday at 2 p.m. at O’Brien Field against Western Illinois (5-4, 3-1), which is tied for first place in the league.
Eastern has won two games in a row against the Leathernecks. A win Saturday would give the Panthers their longest streak in the series, which dates back to 1930.
The off-season work by LaCrue began simply with Christensen.
“Changing the way I grip a football. Changing the way I hold a football,” LaCrue said. “I’m not as tense as I was last year. I’m more calm and relaxed and that’s helped with velocity.”
LaCrue said he also worked on the mechanics of his lower body while throwing, along with putting a ball over a defender, improving his touch on throws and maneuvering a defense with his eyes.
“Just being a more all-around quarterback,” said LaCrue, who transferred to EIU from FBS Wisconsin last year.
Through nine games this fall, LaCrue has 12 touchdowns and only three interceptions.
“(His confidence) started to grow the more comfortable he’s gotten with the system and the surrounding cast and the play calling,” Eastern head coach Chris Wilkerson said.
LaCrue’s comfort level initially at EIU came as a runner. He set the school’s single-game rushing record by a QB with 193 yards, along with three TDs, in last season’s opening victory against Dayton.
“It felt good, but I took a beating,” LaCrue said of the 26-carry effort. “It wasn’t sustainable.”
While LaCrue’s work as a passer has allowed him to throw more “consistent spirals,” he also has added more than 10 pounds to be able to absorb hits as a runner. In 46 fewer carries than last season, he has five rushing TDs. Last fall, he ran for seven TDs.
Adding more weight has not limited LaCrue’s effectiveness as a runner.
“My legs are a weapon still,” he said.
Kickoff: 2 p.m.; TV: ESPN-Plus; Radio: WEIU.net/hitmix
Key matchup to watch
EIU defense vs. WIU QB Kennedy McGill: This is the matchup that will determine the game. Slow down McGill, and the Panthers have a chance. That’s way easier said than done, though. McGill is the likely OVC Offensive Player of the Year with 1,185 rushing yards and 15 TDs. As a passer, he has thrown 11 TDs but seven interceptions. Do the Panthers stack the line of scrimmage in hopes that McGill doesn’t break loose? (See Charleston Southern last week.)
What’s at stake?
Beating Western for the third year in a row would be historic for the Panthers. Eastern has not won three consecutive meetings against the Leathernecks since the early 1980s. That’s when EIU had its longest winning streak – five games – from 1980 to 1984.
Quick hits
EIU’s 45 points against UT Martin was its most since Nov. 2, 2024, a 45-38 victory against Western Illinois. The team’s 552 yards of total offense was its first game above 550 yards since Oct. 16, 2018, when the Panthers piled up 643 yards in a 48-41 loss to Murray State. LaCrue said the team’s improved effectiveness on third down helped EIU put together scoring drives of 65, 80, 70, 75, 80, 75 and 76 yards. … Eastern’s streak of consecutive games gaining a turnover reached 12 last week against UT Martin. “Ball disruption is a big statistic for us,” Wilkerson said. “We teach attacking the football and we understand the value of possessions. You’ve got to do a good job stealing possessions.” … Senior defensive tackle James Collins blocked an extra point at Martin for EIU’s third blocked kick of the season. The special teams units also have produced a blocked field goal by defensive lineman Premiere Whitley and a blocked punt by safety Kaleb Lyons. … Punter Cade Cox ranks 20th nationally in punting average at 43.25 yards. His 61 punts lead all of FCS. Cox has booted 15 punts over 50 yards and 10 of his kicks have landed inside the opponents’ 20-yard line. … For the third time this season, EIU did not give up a sack in a game, this time against UT Martin, with the starting group of center Rahfeeq Katumbusi, guards Alejandro Arellano and Panayiotis Mihalopoulos and tackles Antonie De Lau and Jordan Yandila. EIU has allowed 14 sacks this season, the second-fewest in the conference EIU ranks 43rd nationally with 1.56 sacks allowed per game.
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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