Eastern Illinois won the 111th Mid-American Classic at O’Brien Field on Saturday afternoon.
The Panthers won the game against the 25th-ranked Illinois State Redbirds 14-13.
In addition to gaining the Mid-American Classic trophy for the first time since 2016, the Panthers also beat a ranked opponent for the first time since 2017.
“We’re so excited to bring the Mid-American Classic trophy back to Charleston,” Head Coach Chris Wilkerson said.
In the second quarter, the Panthers were the first team to get on the board.
Graduate wide receiver Justin Thomas scored the first touchdown. Redshirt junior quarterback Pierce Holley found an open Thomas at the 15-yard line. Thomas caught the ball and ran into the end zone to record six points for the Panthers.
Illinois State found its momentum when the team scored in the third quarter. Redshirt sophomore Wenkers Wight ran three yards for the Redbirds’ first points of the game.
With about four minutes left in the fourth quarter, junior running back Mason Blakemore ran for 12 yards to give the Redbirds another touchdown.
However, the extra point was no good as the ball hit the right post.
With 75 seconds left in the fourth quarter, the Panthers marched down the field with commanding plays.
Holley started the play with a pass to redshirt freshman running back MJ Flowers. Flowers ran for six yards to the Panthers’ 13-yard line.
On the next drive, redshirt junior tight end Anthony Manaves got the Panthers a first down by catching a pass from Holley.
Junior wide receiver Eli Mirza ran for 13 yards after catching a pass from Holley to give the Panthers another first down.
Holley targeted Flowers again for a seven-yard gain.
On the next play, Holley targets Thomas again, but the play resulted in an incomplete pass, a pass interference penalty and a targeting penalty on Redbird junior defensive backs CJ Hodgdon and Nigel White.
The penalties resulted in a 15-yard gain for Eastern as they moved to ISU’s 43-yard line.
Holley targeted Mirza for a seven-yard gain to keep the momentum going for the Panthers.
On the next play, Holley threw the ball to Flowers for an 11-yard gain to receive another first down.
Holley spiked the ball on the next play to stop the clock and give the offense more time to figure out what to do for the next play.
On second down, Holley threw a 25-yard pass to Thomas.
Thomas caught it in the end zone to score his second touchdown of the day and to tie with the Redbirds.
“[The team] trusted me when they needed me, and I couldn’t be more thankful,” Thomas said.
Redshirt sophomore kicker Julian Patino kicked the extra point and put the Panthers on top with 60 seconds left.
After his second touchdown, Thomas wasn’t thinking about the previous play at all.
“I was just thinking, ‘Defense, you got 30 seconds,’” Thomas said. “Make a stop. No points.”
On the third play of the Redbirds’ drive, redshirt senior quarterback Zack Annexstad threw an interception to Panthers’ redshirt sophomore Blake Ruffin to seal the win for the Panthers.
“I was thinking, ‘Hold on to the ball’,” Ruffin said when he stopped the Redbirds’ drive.
Ruffin led the Panthers with nine tackles.
Eastern’s defense recorded three interceptions from redshirt junior defensive back Mark Aitken, fifth-year defensive back Russell Dandy and Ruffin.
“This win just feels surreal,” Holley said. Holley ended the game going 35-of-48 for 273 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions.
Holley completed his first 20 passes of the game and broke the school record that was previously held by Sean Payton in 1986.
Thomas talked about what this win meant to him, and it wasn’t all about the trophy.
“This was the ‘flip the script’ game,” Thomas said.
The Panthers are currently 2-1. Eastern will play next Saturday against McNeese at O’Brien Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Zaria Flippin can be reached at 581-2812 or zhflippin@eiu.edu.
