In a sport where running backs, quarterbacks and middle linebackers get all the attention, a kicker is often the forgotten soul.

No one cares about the kicker, until the waning moments of a close game.

This past weekend, red-shirt senior kicker Tyler Wilke drilled a 44-yard field goal through the uprights to secure a Panther victory against Illinois State – the first Eastern victory against the Redbirds in six years.

This is not the first time Wilke has been called upon to seal a victory.

Wilke hit the 30-yard game-winning field goal against Tennessee State last year as time expired at LP Field.

Kickers, as well as other specialists, are the ultimate pressure players.

“That’s part of their job to be able to perform in clutch moments; especially after sitting on the sideline all game,” Eastern special teams coach Justin Lustig said.

The Panthers have three kickers and one punter on the roster this year, an impressive number considering most teams at both the collegiate and professional levels have just one of each.

The depth has created an increased amount of competition, which pushes the special teams unit to get better every week.

“I couldn’t be happier with their performance,” Lustig said. “It’s their job (to make pressure plays), and they keep continuing to do it week in and week out.”

Red-shirt senior defensive end Pierre Walters said the Panthers take a lot of pride in their special teams.

“We say they are the tip of the spear,” Walters said. “Our team is a big part offense and defense, but without special teams, you just have a blunt weapon. We take a lot of pride in having Wilke back there.”

In order for a team to be successful, they must trust in every facet of the team. They must trust in one another, just as the Panthers did this past weekend.

“The Illinois State game was tough for us; we knew coming in that it was going to be a fight,” Wilke said. “Everyone started clicking in the fourth quarter, and the offense put points on the board. When they couldn’t score they called on special teams.”

Wilke’s 44-yard field goal with 1 minute, 54 seconds left in the game put the Panthers ahead 25-21, forcing the Redbirds to score a touchdown.

“When I hit it, I was looking to make sure it went in because I didn’t know that I hit it that well,” Wilke said.

Red-shirt sophomore punter and holder Kevin Cook said the entire special teams unit was excited about the kick.

“It’s such a team unit on punt and field goal units,” Cook said. “My long snappers have been doing a great job of getting the ball to me.”

Wilke, Eastern’s leading scorer this season with 24 points, said he felt great after kicking what he knew to be the game winner,

“It took five years to beat ISU, and we were finally on our way to beating them,” Wilke said.

Richard Morse can be reached at 581-7944 or at [email protected].