Eastern is currently 1-4 in the 2024 season, and the team is hoping to get their first Big South-Ohio Valley conference win against the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks this Saturday.
SEMO is currently the 13th ranked football team in the Football Championship Subdivision. With a 4-1 overall record and a 1-0 conference record, the Redhawks are coming into Charleston with a three-game win streak.
Eastern is celebrating homecoming this weekend, so Panthers’ head coach Chris Wilkerson is wanting a big crowd for Saturday’s game.
“Homecoming is a great opportunity to see the Panthers play,” Wilkerson said. “We’re super excited about playing at home next week.”
After their last game, a 28-25 loss against Lindenwood, Eastern is hoping to bounce back from their three-game losing streak.
Graduate quarterback and captain Pierce Holley recorded his best statistical game against the Lions, and he’s looking forward for another chance to play against another worthy opponent in the Redhawks.
“We’re improving on the details,” Holley said. “The offense has continued to improve, but just like the whole team, we have to figure out how to put four quarters together and score more points.”
On the offensive side of the ball, redshirt sophomore tight end Alex Ginnever took the loss to Lindenwood as a learning opportunity to continue to get better. Along with the other tight ends, Ginnever says the entire room has stepped up continuously to improve.
“I think everyone is starting to piece together the passing and the running game,” Ginnever said. “Everyone has stepped up to what the standard is, and we keep pushing each other day in and day out. We want to out to there and be the best we can. Everything starts with getting our room better, which makes our offense better which makes our defense better.”
Senior wide receiver Cooper Willman said the wide receivers have continued to improve, and he saw that from the Lindenwood game with three receivers recording over 50 yards in Terrance Gipson (93), Willman (71) and Eli Mirza (69).
Willman also said the receivers have been focusing on trust.
“I think it’s just trusting ourselves, trusting the guys behind us, and trusting the guys we’re on the field with,” he said. “It’s good to see our work is paying off.”
Willman harped on an improvement he wants to see: not letting their foot off the gas. After a 17-0 lead at halftime, Willman believes the team took their foot off the gas for the remainder of the game, and he’s hoping the team doesn’t fall into that same situation against SEMO.
On the defensive side of the ball, redshirt senior defensive back and captain Mark Aitken said the defensive backs have been more focused throughout practice and have been playing tougher and more intense.
“I want us to play more as a team,” Aitken said. “It will help us out in the long run; playing for each other.”
Redshirt junior linebacker Phoenix Porter says the linebacker has continued to improve and step up when their numbers are called.
Porter also said him and redshirt senior linebacker Anthony Shockey are holding down the position room which helps everyone else continue to evolve and follow them.
“We’re still chasing that complete game and coming out with the win,” Porter said. “I hope it’s a great crowd. Great homecoming game, great environment, great opportunity to play a top ranked team in the nation. It should be a fun and exciting game.”
Kickoff for this game is scheduled for 2 p.m. at O’Brien Field.
Zaria Flippin can be reached at 581-2812 or at zhflippin@eiu.edu.
