The Eastern football team dropped to a record of 1-4, following a 37-30 loss against Southeast Missouri.

Special teams gets going

Sophomore defensive back Tavares Crawford became the first Eastern player to return a kickoff since red-shirt senior Lorence Ricks returned one in the team’s 2009 game against Jacksonville State.

Crawford took the kick back 83 yards for the score, returning kicks in place of the injured Ricks, who typically returns kicks. The Eastern special teams returned five kicks in the game for a total of 190 yards.

Crawford currently leads the team in total return yards this season with 312 on a total of 10 returns. Ricks, who was injured in the team’s game against Tennessee Tech, has the second most with 307 yards on 12 returns. Crawford averages 31.2 yards per return, while Ricks is averaging 25.6 yards per return. Ricks has not played since leaving the Tennessee Tech game in week three.

Defense misses senior

Red-shirt senior strong safety Nick Martinez was limited in last weekend’s loss. The Miami native was limited due to an injury, playing in only one series. Eastern defensive coordinator Roc Bellantoni said Martinez played for about one series in the game against the Redhawks, but was removed due to his lack of productivity.

Martinez currently holds the teams only two interceptions, both of which came in the final two minutes of the Panthers’ season opener against Illinois State.

Martinez currently has 11 solo tackles and four assisted tackles, totaling 15 tackles so far this season.

Taylor steps up at linebacker

Red-shirt sophomore linebacker Antonio Taylor was one of two players to led the team in tackles against the Redhawks. Taylor had nine total tackles, three of which were solo and the other six were assists. Red-shirt sophomore defensive back Alex McNulty also had nine total tackles, with five being solo and four being assists.

Taylor has the second most tackles on the team with 40, trailing behind fellow red-shirt senior linebacker Cory Leman, who has 51. Leman had six total tackles in the game against Southeast Missouri State.

Charleston native notches first touchdown

Red-shirt freshman wide receiver Adam Drake, a Charleston native, recorded the first touchdown in his Panther career on Saturday. Drake caught a 22-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo with 1:04 remaining in the fourth quarter. Drake’s touchdown capped off a six play, 72-yard drive to bring Eastern within seven points of the Redhawks.

Drake has a total of four catches for 61 yards this season. He averages 12.2 receiving yards per game.

The Panthers will be back in action this Saturday for the Family Weekend match-up against Ohio Valley Conference opponent Eastern Kentucky.

Dominic Renzetti can be reached at 581-7944 or dcrenzetti@eiu.edu