Eastern Illinois finishes non-conference play this Saturday against 2nd ranked South Dakota State.
The Panthers suffered a 49-13 loss to 4th ranked Illinois State in the 114th Mid-American Classic matchup.
The Jack Rabbits are coming off a 27-20 win against 11th ranked Youngstown State.
This is the first time in program history where EIU will play two top five ranked opponents back to back.
“You’re playing on some of the best teams in the country, the number 3 team last week, the number 2 team this week. Certainly playing against Minnesota of the Big Ten and then two other Missouri Valley teams. You hope that it will prepare us for the rigorous OVC schedule,” head coach Chris Wilkerson said.
South Dakota State is the third best rushing offense in the Football Championship Subdivision.
They are averaging 276 yards per game and 6.27 yards per carry. The Jack Rabbits are only behind Leigh (291) and South Carolina State (280).
“Certainly on defense, our tackling, getting off the field on 3rd and 4th downs and our run defense needs to be cleaned up, especially this week, and our perimeter run support fits,” Wilkerson said.
Eastern allows an average of 304 yards passing and 161 yards running per game so far this season. They have also gave up 20 touchdowns this season which is the most in the Ohio Valley Conference
Through four games this season the Panthers have not thrown an interception and have only turned the ball over once.
Redshirt junior quarterback Cole LaCrue has now gone 89 straight pass attempts without an interception. LaCrue has thrown for 584 yards and five touchdowns so far this season.
Eastern ranks second in fewest turnovers given up.
Despite now turning the ball over, the Panthers have struggled to score in the first half of games this year.
“We have to do a better job on 3rd downs converting, and we got to do a better job finishing with touchdowns instead of field goals, and we got to just find a way to score more points,” Wilkerson said.
South Dakota State allowed 57 rushing yards against Youngstown State.
“They are good at their fundamentals from what we see on film and they are just good at what they do,” redshirt sophomore center Rahfeeq Katumbusi said.
The Jack Rabbits will present a unique challenge for the Panthers.
“You have to take what they give you. They’re very stout in the middle and as a defense, they’re very strong and physical and they shut down the number 7 team in the country last week,” Wilkerson said.
Redshirt senior running back Charles Kellom says the team has started to do good on good periods in practice to help them come out and start faster in games.
Kellom ranks first in the OVC in rushing yards with 299 and puts him 23rd in the FCS. He also has four touchdowns of the season.
At Illinois State, Eastern recorded another takeaway and has gotten at least one takeaway in all four games to start the season.
South Dakota State is the 4th ranked offense in the FCS averaging 508 yards per game behind Jackson State (532), Columbia and Yale (524).
The Panthers wrap up non-conference play this Saturday as they visit 2nd ranked South Dakota State.
Kickoff is at 6pm.
Cameron Thomas can be reached at [email protected].
