RoWINg to Eastern Illinois – Opponent Preview
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We’re back! The Minnesota Golden Gophers (0-0) kick off another season of college football Thursday, Sep. 3, against the Eastern Illinois Panthers (1-0) at 7 p.m. CT at Huntington Bank Stadium.
Can they score on offense?
Fourth-year quarterback Cole LaCrue is a former Badger who transferred to Eastern Illinois after two seasons of not seeing the field at Wisconsin. Last year, he started the final five games of the season for the Panthers, completing 54.7 percent of his passes and throwing for 853 passing yards with four touchdowns and seven interceptions. The passing game struggled to get off the ground, ranking 109th in the FCS in passing offense (164.9 passing yards per game). Look for LaCrue to try to extend plays with his legs, as he carried the ball 125 times last season for 498 rushing yards and scored seven touchdowns on the ground.
Eastern Illinois’ top three receivers from a season ago are all gone, and the Panthers’ season-opening victory over Murray State didn’t offer much of a look at emerging playmakers. Samuel Gonzalez, a fourth-year wide receiver who transferred in from MidAmerica Nazarene, led the team with three receptions for 50 yards. Landers Green, the only returning receiver with double-digit receptions last season, hauled in the only touchdown pass of the game. LaCrue was an anemic 11-of-18 for 101 passing yards and one touchdown in the opener.
Aside from LaCrue, fifth-year running back Charles Kellom is the biggest returning contributor on offense. He rushed for 716 yards on 192 carries last season, with three touchdowns to his name. LaCrue and third-year running back Jacarre Fleming-Page will also factor into the ground game, operating behind a very greeen offensive line with only one returning starter from a season ago.
This was not a good offense a year ago, ranking 109th in scoring offense averaging 17.5 points per game. There is not much reason to believe they will be markedly improved this season.
Please tell me the Gophers will be able to score
Last season, the Panthers ranked 60th in run defense (154.7 rushing yards allowed per game), 82nd in pass defense (234 passing yards allowed per game), and 83rd in scoring defense (29.2 points allowed per game).
Only three defensive starters return, along with defensive back Nasir Maryland (Merrimack College), defensive lineman Premiere Whitley (Prairie View A&M), and linebacker Micah Valenzuela (Riverside City College) from the transfer portal. So this is not a defense with a lot of starting experience.
One name to know is Ja’Wuan Nickson. The linebacker finished second on the team last year with 95 total tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, three pass break-ups, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery.
Fourth-year safety Saipeti Maiava Jr. was also all over the field for the Panthers last year with 60 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one pass break-up, and one fumble recovery.
Against Murray State last week, the Eastern Illinois defense allowed 257 passing yards and two passing touchdowns, but limited the Racers to only 14 points, pitching a shutout in the second half. Murray State didn’t try to move the ball much on the ground, rushing for 63 yards on 26 carries.
But who will score more points on Saturday?
Shake off the rust, take care of business, and stay healthy. Minnesota 38, Eastern Illinois 13.
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