The handful of fans who made the trek from tailgating to the actual football game were treated to more than just horizontal rain.

They saw J.R. Taylor outrush the entire Southeast Missouri team. His 241 yards rushing was more than double that of the Indians’ ground game.

His feat was not only award-winning, but put him in a class of running backs that includes the Chairman of Eastern’s Board of Trustees.

In a 1972 game against SEMO, which apparently hasn’t managed to solidify its run defense in the past 29 years, BOT Chairman Nate Anderson rushed for 259 yards.

While short of the all-time record, Taylor’s ground work Saturday was good enough to earn him Ohio Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors. His performance included two touchdown runs, good enough for the Panthers to preserve a 12-0 win over the Indians.

Taylor was instrumental in securing the Homecoming victory, that while soggy, was good enough to earn praise from interim President Lou Hencken, who spoke highly of the football’s team’s continued success at Eastern’s Board of Trustees meeting Monday morning.

Taylor’s big game Saturday stands as fourth all-time on the Panthers’ single game rushing leaders. However, if Taylor wants to move up on that list, he’s going to have to pass the chairman of the board.

Anderson, who serves as superintendent of East St. Louis school district 189, has a master’s degree in education and a doctorate in educational administration.

However, the Chairman admitted Monday that it was his ability to run the ball that brought him to Eastern. He said there were no special programs designed to aid gifted minority students when he was applying.

“We didn’t have Gateway, but I played football pretty well, so I got in,” Anderson said.

Saying Anderson played pretty well is like saying Saturday’s game was played in light drizzle. Anderson was the first Panther to rush for 2,000 career yards and is one of only two Eastern tailbacks to rush for more yards in a single game than Taylor did Saturday.

His 1972 performance ranks third all time. Always the overachiever, in 1973 Anderson broke his own single game rushing record by nine yards when he ran for 268 yards against St. Joesph’s of Indiana.

However, Taylor may not get the opportunity to break his own or Chairman Anderson’s single game marks. Saturday’s torrential downpour was a unique situation that did not favor the passing game.

The Panthers did not attempt a single pass and the Indians had a meager 47 yards passing, with their longest pass going for only six yards.

Consequently, Taylor not only carried the ball 37 times, he carried the team.

And while he may not get an opportunity to break his own or Anderson’s record, Taylor may have the chance to achieve