Eastern Illinois will look to snap a three-game losing streak when the Panthers return home to O’Brien Field on Saturday to face UT Martin.
The Panther enters Saturday’s matchup 3-5 overall and 2-3 in the Big-South-Ohio Valley Conference, and the Skyhawks are 3-5 overall and 3-1 in the conference.
EIU is coming off a 17-16 loss against Charleston Southern after a 35-yard field goal attempt for sophomore kicker Drew Schiller was blocked.
The Panthers’ offense has been struggling. They had 296 total yards of offense against Charleston Southern which is the second-lowest yardage gained since week two against Indiana State.
“That’s something we have to do a better job with. We are going to be a little more aggressive with our playcalling,” head coach Chris Wilkerson said.
Redshirt sophomore Cole LaCrue got the start at Charleston Southern with redshirt freshman Connor Wolf out with a rib injury.
LaCrue finished the game against Charleston Southern completing 10 passes on 18 attempts for 121 passing yards, one passing touchdown and rushed for 64 yards.
Redshirt junior running back Charles Kellom led the Panthers with 71 rushing yards.
LaCrue said Saturday’s performance was not good enough but trusts the offense can turn it around.
“We kind of know where we’re at in terms of standings and everything,” LaCrue said. “So, in my eyes, you have nothing to lose. You just gotta go out there and play freely and have fun. I think that’s what it has to boil down to, just allowing us to get back to the basics, trusting each other and trusting ourselves.”
LaCrue has been making personal adjustments to handle his part of the offense.
“It’s more mentally. I have to hone down on more stuff, and physically if it takes more of me doing more things, taking over the game in more ways, I’m going to have to do it,” LaCrue said.
Eastern ranks last in the conference in passing offense averaging 169 yards per game and is tied with Tennessee State for the least number of passing touchdowns with seven.
“We just got to find a way to start fast. Lately, we have been getting off to a slow start, and I think a fast start would be able to keep us going throughout the quarters,” redshirt junior CJ Nelson said.
The Skyhawks rank fifth in the OVC-Big South in total defense allowing 28 points per game and are ranked last in the conference in passing defense allowing 251 yards per game.
Kellom says he has seen more fight and hunger on offense during practice with the team amid the three-game losing streak.
Wilkerson felt that the Panthers improved against Charleston Southern.
“The turnover margin was positive,” Wilkerson said. “We did win the battle of the explosive plays, so we limited those massive scoring plays defensively, and I thought it was probably our most physical performance as a defense for the year as a group.”
Charleston Southern had 61 net rushing yards which is the third lowest amount Eastern has allowed this season.
“I think that was the most sound [performance],” senior linebacker Tylan Foster said. “And on top of that, it’s crazy to think that was the most sound because for that game, we changed up all of our alignments. So, for us to get it done in one week and play sound as we did, that was good.”
The defensive line forced two fumbles, one by redshirt sophomore Trevon Piggee and the other one by redshirt freshman Isaiah Hare.
The Panthers are ranked second in the conference in rushing defense allowing 125 yards per game and ranked third in total offense allowing 366 yards per game.
UT Martin is ranked fourth in the conference in total offense averaging 340 yards per game and 113 rushing yards per game and 191 passing yards per game.
Kickoff is set for Saturday at 2 p.m. at O’Brien Field.
Cameron Thomas can be reached at 581-2812 or at cathomas8@eiu.edu.
