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Chevon Walker just needed a few openings.

The red-shirt freshman transfer running back from Florida pulled away from the Panthers’ defense and led the Eastern offense to a 45-29 victory in the spring game Saturday at O’Brien Stadium.

Walker escaped from the Eastern defense in the second quarter and ran 63 yards for a touchdown. His touchdown put the offense ahead 25-24. Walker led the offense with 22 caries for 135 yards.

Walker said he was used to Eastern’s offense because he ran the same offense in high school.

“I’ve been through it,” Walker said. “I got it pat down, but I got to work on being a little bit more patient back there setting up plays.”

Walker said the offensive line did a good job of creating holes and said he loves running inside zones and in the option.

Walker averaged 6.1 yards per carry – but he was also stopped by the Eastern defensive line multiple times.

Walker carried the much of the load in the spring game for Eastern’s running backs, but Eastern head coach Bob Spoo said the Panthers should have a deep backfield this fall.

“Chevon is a special talent we’re lucky to have,” said Eastern defensive coordinator Roc Bellantoni. “I’m glad we don’t have to prepare for our offense.”

The spring game was not scored like a regular football game. One point was awarded to the offense for a first down, two points for an explosive play of 20-yards or more, three points for a field goal, six points for a touchdown and one for a PAT.

The defense was awarded one point by stopping the offensive from scoring, three points with a three-downs-and-out series, six points for a takeaway, two for a safety and one for a defensive score on a PAT.

Junior running backs Travorus Bess and Norris Smith added 92 yards of offense. Smith, who missed nearly the entire 2007 season with a knee injury, scored the Eastern offense’s other touchdown in the second quarter.

Bellantoni said he thought his defense did a good job of handling the offense.

“We played the run a lot better than we had been,” Bellantoni said. “The backups did pretty good too.”

Bellantoni said he expects a deep backfield and is only worried about the condition and fitness of the defense.

“We just need more a commitment in the summer than we’ve ever had,” Bellantoni said.

Red-shirt junior wide receiver Quinten Ponius provided highlights from the opening kick when he ran it back 97 yards for a touchdown to score one point for the offense.

The Panthers open the season at 6 p.m. Aug. 31 against Central Michigan in Mt. Pleasant, Mich.

Kickers go long, often

Junior Tyler Wilke’s longest field goal during the regular season was 42 yards.

Wilke hit a 52-yard field goal Saturday.

Wilke also hit a 46-yard field goal, and junior kicker Zach Yates added two field goals in the fourth quarter.

Quarterback battle continues

Freshman quarterback D.J. Brown is adapting to the spread offense Eastern is implementing with new offensive coordinator Roy Wittke.

Brown finished 5-of-7 for 45 yards, including a 27-yard pass to Ponius.

“Coach Wittke is a very patient guy,” Brown said. “He really works on your weaknesses. He’s more likely to build you up than put you down.”

Brown fumbled a snap but salvaged a 12-yard run on the play.

“When somebody’s not open and the play breaks down, he’s the guy that can gain some yards and make a positive play out of something really negative,” Bellantoni said.

Brown had nine carries for 52 yards but fumbled three times and was sacked once.

Spoo said all positions are still open.

“It’s still a competition, and that’s the way it should be,” Spoo said.

Red-shirt junior quarterback Bodie Reeder finished 7-of-10 and also threw for 45 yards. Reeder struggled with the run and finished with zero yards on three carries.

Freshman quarterback Luke Hockaday was taken out of the game after he took a hard hit in his second offensive drive but completed his only pass of the game for 15 yards.

Injured players plan to return soon

Pierre Walters and Trevor Frericks plan to return soon.

Frericks said his final check-up with a doctor is Monday in Columbia, Missouri.

Bellantoni said Frericks is ahead of Walters’ recovery.

“I thought (a return) could happen this spring,” Frericks said. “I’ll definitely be in pads by the fall.”

Frericks had surgery in December after playing the 2007 season with a torn labrum, a torn rotator cuff, a partially torn capsule and six bone chips.

Walters had surgery on a ligament on his right ankle in December.

Frericks said Walters should be lifting by July.

Walters tore the ligament during the last defensive play of Eastern’s 2006 game against Eastern Kentucky.

Kevin Murphy can be reached at 581-7944 or at kjmurphy@eiu.edu.

Chevon Walker, a red-shirt freshman running back, rushes in Eastern’s spring game on Saturday at O’Brein Stadium. Walker led the Eastern offense to a 45-29 victory against the defense with 22 carries for 135 yards. (Nora Maberry/The Daily Eastern News)

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