Although Eastern’s playoff hopes are nonexistent, the team has a chance to still shake up the final standings of the Big South-Ohio Valley Conference.
The Panthers are traveling to Cookeville, Tennessee, to compete against the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles on Saturday.
As this is the last game of the season, Eastern still has the opportunity to close the season with a big statement, despite their current 3-8 record.
Tennessee Tech currently has a 6-5 overall record and a 5-2 conference record. Along with the other two schools from Tennessee, UT Martin and Tennessee State, these three teams have a current conference record of 5-2, which leaves a three-way tie for second place within the conference.
However, if the first team in the conference in Southeast Missouri State loses to Tennessee State on Saturday, the Redhawks will also drop to a 5-2 conference record.
UT Martin is set to play Lindenwood for the last game of the season, and if the Skyhawks secure the win over the Lions, the Skyhawks will have a 6-2 record.
All of this goes out the window of SEMO records the win over TSU, but here is what needs to happen for there the be a four-way tie for first place within the conference:
Eastern’s head coach Chris Wilkerson says he’s excited for the Panthers to have an opportunity to end the football season on a high note.
“You always want to play for something in November, and we’re getting a chance to play against the hottest team in the league,” Wilkerson said.
Tennessee Tech is on a four-game winning streak, and the Panthers have the opportunity to end the Golden Eagles’ streak along with their chances of winning a part of the conference championship.
Outside of the aspect of wrecking the Golden Eagles’ standing, there is someone on the Panthers that wants this win more than anybody: Drew Wilder, the son of Tennessee Tech’s head football coach Bobby Wilder.
“As a coach, he’s a natural competitor,” Wilder said about his dad. “He really cares about his guys. As a father, he’s competitive for me when it comes to doing well in school but also on the field. He’s got two different hats, but he’s pretty much the same.”
Wilder, the senior offensive lineman, said there are bragging rights on this game, so he is hoping the Panthers get the win over his dad to close out the season.
Wilder also said the offensive line has been improving throughout the season when it comes to communication within the position room. With the number of injuries that happened throughout the season, Wilder has seen numerous guys step up and sees their determination and work ethic on the field.
Another person who is excited about what will be his final game of his collegiate career is quarterback Pierce Holley.
Holley said he’s excited to travel to Cookville to face the Golden Eagles, and he’s hoping to send all the seniors off on a high note. As for himself personally, Holley said he’s excited to get out on the field one more time.
“I don’t think it will really hit me until it’s over,” Holley said.
Moving to the defensive side of the ball, seniors Joel Barrows, Nicholas Oliveria-Chace, Ira Armstead II, Tre’Jon Lewis and Mark Aitken shared similar feelings about Saturday being their last collegiate game.
“I just want to leave it all out there,” Barrows said.
Barrows spent his entire collegiate career at Eastern, and he wants to bring his best for his last game in a Panther uniform.
Oliveria-Chace says he’s sad about his collegiate football career ending, but he’s happy to see what happens next for him.
“I feel like I paid my dues to where I’ve been, and I feel like I did it the right way,” Oliveria-Chace said. “I made some friends, and I don’t think you can end out on a right way.”
Armstead II, a transfer from Virginia, is finishing his third year with the Panthers’ program. Armstead said he’ll miss his teammates but is excited to play with them one more time.
“I am not looking forward to it because I’m going to miss my teammates, and some of my coaches,” Armstead said. “But I’m also excited because I get to be out with my teammates, and I get to play with them one more time.”
Lewis, a Texas Tech transfer, says Saturday will feel “unreal” for him, knowing this is his last game.
“It hasn’t hit me yet, I think it won’t until the clock hits zero,” Lewis said.
Aitken, a Northern Illinois transfer, has been with Eastern’s program since the 2021 season. Aitken said Saturday will be bittersweet, but he’s ready to move on and see what’s next in life for him.
But first, he wants a win.
“It’s my last college game,” Aitken said. “It’s going to be a challenge, but it’s a very winnable game. We got to play in all four quarters and not in specks.”
Eastern will have their last game of the season against Tennessee Tech with a kickoff time of noon in Cookville.
Zaria Flippin can be reached at 581-2812 or at zhflippin@eiu.edu.
