The male Panther of the Week is going to Blake Ruffin from the football team.
The redshirt sophomore safety from Louisville, KY provided a game clinching interception to help the Panthers beat the Northwestern State Demons 19-10.
Ruffin’s interception led to a field goal by senior kicker Stone Galloway to make the game a two-possession game with eight minutes left in the fourth quarter.
Ruffin finished the game with 13 tackles.
Eastern is currently 4-1, and this is the best start to the football season since 2013.
The female Panther of the Week is going to Mackenzie Aldridge from the cross-country team.
The senior runner from Crystal Lake placed in 67th place with a 18:04.6 5K time.
Aldridge set a personal record with her time at the Louisville Cross Country Classic.
Aldridge’s original personal record was at the EIU Walt Crawford Open to start the 2023 season.
Aldridge finished the Walt Crawford Open was a 5K time of 18:09.2.
Zaria Flippin can be reached at 581-2812 or zhflippin@eiu.edu.
