2023 Eastern Illinois Panthers football team

American college football season

2023 Eastern Illinois Panthers football

Conference	Big South–OVC
Ranking
FCS Coaches	No. 24
Record	8–3 (4–2 Big South–OVC)
Head coach	Chris Wilkerson (2nd season)
Offensive coordinator	Joe Davis (2nd season)
Defensive coordinator	Clay Bignell (1st season)
Home stadium	O'Brien Field
Seasons ← 2022 2024 →

2023 Big South–OVC football standings
v t e
Team	W		L	W		L
Gardner–Webb +^	5	–	1	7	–	5
No. 25 UT Martin +	5	–	1	8	–	3
Eastern Illinois	4	–	2	8	–	3
Bryant	4	–	2	6	–	5
Southeast Missouri State	3	–	3	4	–	7
Tennessee Tech	2	–	4	4	–	7
Robert Morris	2	–	4	4	–	7
Charleston Southern	2	–	4	4	–	7
Tennessee State	2	–	4	6	–	5
Lindenwood *	1	–	5	3	–	7

+ – Conference co-champions ^ – FCS playoff participant Note: Lindenwood ineligible for Big South–OVC title and FCS postseason play due to transition from NCAA Division II. Rankings from STATS Poll

The 2023 Eastern Illinois Panthers football team represented Eastern Illinois University as a member of the Big South–OVC Football Association during the 2023 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by second-year head coach Chris Wilkerson, the Panthers played home games at O'Brien Field in Charleston, Illinois.

Preseason

Preseason coaches' poll

The Big South-OVC released their preseason coaches' poll on July 25, 2023. The Panthers were picked to finish in eighth place.^[1]

Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
1	Southeast Missouri	96 (6)
2	Gardner-Webb	86 (2)
3	UT Martin	85 (1)
4	Tennessee Tech	58 (1)
5	Tennessee State	57
6	Bryant	48
7	Lindenwood	45
8	Eastern Illinois	33
9	Charleston Southern	30
10	Robert Morris	12

Preseason Watchlist

The Panthers had ten players selected to the preseason Big South-OVC watchlist.^[2]

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 31	5:00 p.m.	at Indiana State*	Memorial Stadium Terre Haute, IN	ESPN+	W 27–0	4,355
September 9	1:00 p.m.	at Bowling Green*	Doyt Perry Stadium Bowling Green, OH	ESPN+	L 15–38	12,312
September 16	2:00 p.m.	Illinois State*	O'Brien Field Charleston, IL (Mid-America Classic)	ESPN+	W 14–13	6,602
September 23	2:00 p.m.	McNeese*	O'Brien Field Charleston, IL	ESPN+	W 31–28	6,565
September 30	6:00 p.m.	at Northwestern State*	Harry Turpin Stadium Natchitoches, LA	ESPN+	W 19–10	6,021
October 7	2:00 p.m.	No. 18 UT Martin	O'Brien Field Charleston, IL	ESPN+	L 27–28 ^OT	8,078
October 14	2:00 p.m.	at Southeast Missouri State	Houck Stadium Cape Girardeau, MO	ESPN+	L 28–35	7,263
October 21	2:00 p.m.	Bryant	O'Brien Field Charleston, IL	ESPN+	W 25–24 ^OT	3,690
November 4	2:00 p.m.	at Lindenwood	Harlen C. Hunter Stadium St. Charles, MO	ESPN+	W 16–10	3,788
November 11	12:00 p.m.	Tennessee State	O'Brien Field Charleston, IL	ESPN+	W 30–17	3,423
November 18	11:00 a.m.	at Robert Morris	Joe Walton Stadium Moon Township, PA	ESPN+	W 28–14	2,118
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

^[3]^[4]

Game summaries

at Bowling Green

Game Two – Eastern Illinois Panthers (1–0) at Bowling Green Falcons (0–1) – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Eastern Illinois	6	6	0	3	15
Bowling Green	7	14	10	7	38

at Doyt Perry Stadium • Bowling Green, OH

Date: Saturday, September 9, 2023
Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
Game weather: Sunny, 72 °F (22 °C) • Wind: NE 8 mph (13 km/h)
Game attendance: 12,312
Referee: Phil Hicks
TV announcers (ESPN+): David Wilson and Bob Gennarelli

Game information
First quarter (09:43) BGSU – Odieu Hiliare 10-yard pass from Connor Bazelak (Alan Anaya kick) (Drive: 11 plays, 90 yards, 5:11; Bowling Green 7-0) (04:57) EIU – Kevin Daniels 15-yard pass from Pierce Holley (William Orth kick failed) (Drive: 10 plays, 65 yards, 4:42; Bowling Green 7-6) Second quarter (12:10) BGSU – Terion Stewart 1-yard run (Alan Anaya kick) (Drive: 6 plays, 50 yards, 3:17; Bowling Green 14-6) (07:02) BGSU – Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim 11-yard pass from Connor Bazelak (Alan Anaya kick) (Drive: 8 plays, 56 yards, 3:29; Bowling Green 21-6) (01:31) EIU – DeAirious Smith 11-yard pass from Pierce Holley (Holley pass failed) (Drive: 11 plays, 90 yards, 5:24; Bowling Green 21-12) Third quarter (03:23) BGSU – Alan Anaya 27-yard field goal (Drive: 14 plays, 71 yards, 5:18; Bowling Green 24-12) (01:07) BGSU – Harold Fannin Jr. 19-yard pass from Connor Bazelak (Alan Anaya kick) (Drive: 3 plays, 74 yards, 1:18; Bowling Green 31-12) Fourth quarter (10:32) EIU – Julian Patino 31-yard field goal (Drive: 11 plays, 57 yards, 5:30; Bowling Green 31-15) (08:35) BGSU – Terion Stewart 1-yard run (Alan Anaya kick) (Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 1:57; Bowling Green 38-15)

Game information

First quarter

(09:43) BGSU – Odieu Hiliare 10-yard pass from Connor Bazelak (Alan Anaya kick) (Drive: 11 plays, 90 yards, 5:11; Bowling Green 7-0)
(04:57) EIU – Kevin Daniels 15-yard pass from Pierce Holley (William Orth kick failed) (Drive: 10 plays, 65 yards, 4:42; Bowling Green 7-6)

Second quarter

(12:10) BGSU – Terion Stewart 1-yard run (Alan Anaya kick) (Drive: 6 plays, 50 yards, 3:17; Bowling Green 14-6)
(07:02) BGSU – Abdul-Fatai Ibrahim 11-yard pass from Connor Bazelak (Alan Anaya kick) (Drive: 8 plays, 56 yards, 3:29; Bowling Green 21-6)
(01:31) EIU – DeAirious Smith 11-yard pass from Pierce Holley (Holley pass failed) (Drive: 11 plays, 90 yards, 5:24; Bowling Green 21-12)

Third quarter

(03:23) BGSU – Alan Anaya 27-yard field goal (Drive: 14 plays, 71 yards, 5:18; Bowling Green 24-12)
(01:07) BGSU – Harold Fannin Jr. 19-yard pass from Connor Bazelak (Alan Anaya kick) (Drive: 3 plays, 74 yards, 1:18; Bowling Green 31-12)

Fourth quarter

(10:32) EIU – Julian Patino 31-yard field goal (Drive: 11 plays, 57 yards, 5:30; Bowling Green 31-15)
(08:35) BGSU – Terion Stewart 1-yard run (Alan Anaya kick) (Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 1:57; Bowling Green 38-15)

Statistics	Eastern Illinois	Bowling Green
First downs	20	25
Plays–yards	59-325	64-509
Rushes–yards	26–75	34–141
Passing yards	250	368
Passing: comp–att–int	21–33–1	25-30-0
Time of possession	29:48	30:12

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Eastern Illinois	Passing	Pierce Holley	21/32, 250 yards, 2 TDS, 1 INT
	Rushing	Kevin Daniels	15 carries, 78 yards
	Receiving	DeAirious Smith	4 receptions, 83 yards, TD
Bowling Green	Passing	Connor Bazelak	23/28, 319 yards, 3 TDS
	Rushing	Terion Stewart	10 carries, 51 yards, 2 TDS
	Receiving	Ta'ron Keith	6 receptions, 123 yards

at Northwestern State

Eastern Illinois Panthers at Northwestern State Demons – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Panthers	3	7	6	3	19
Demons	3	7	0	0	10

at Harry Turpin Stadium, Natchitoches, Louisiana

Date: September 30
Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
Game weather: Sunny, 91 °F (33 °C)
Game attendance: 6,021
Referee: Gary Leeper
TV: ESPN+

Game information
First quarter NWST – Brett Money 23-yard field goal, 6:43. Demons 3–0. Drive: 12 plays, 50 yards, 4:26. EIU – Julian Patino 23-yard field goal, 0:05. Tied 3–3. Drive: 8 plays, 26 yards, 3:02. Second quarter EIU – Justin Bowick 52-yard pass from Pierce Holley (Julian Patino kick), 10:28. Panthers 10–3. Drive: 2 plays, 67 yards, 0:40. NWST – Chance Newman 1-yard run (Brett Money kick), 2:28. Tied 10–10. Drive: 7 plays, 90 yards, 3:08. Third quarter EIU – Kevin Daniels 6-yard run (kick failed), 11:54. Panthers 16–10. Drive: 7 plays, 71 yards, 3:04. Fourth quarter EIU – Stone Galloway 22-yard field goal, 8:03. Panthers 19–10. Drive: 7 plays, 19 yards, 2:52.

Game information

First quarter

NWST – Brett Money 23-yard field goal, 6:43. Demons 3–0. Drive: 12 plays, 50 yards, 4:26.
EIU – Julian Patino 23-yard field goal, 0:05. Tied 3–3. Drive: 8 plays, 26 yards, 3:02.

Second quarter

EIU – Justin Bowick 52-yard pass from Pierce Holley (Julian Patino kick), 10:28. Panthers 10–3. Drive: 2 plays, 67 yards, 0:40.
NWST – Chance Newman 1-yard run (Brett Money kick), 2:28. Tied 10–10. Drive: 7 plays, 90 yards, 3:08.

Third quarter

EIU – Kevin Daniels 6-yard run (kick failed), 11:54. Panthers 16–10. Drive: 7 plays, 71 yards, 3:04.

Fourth quarter

EIU – Stone Galloway 22-yard field goal, 8:03. Panthers 19–10. Drive: 7 plays, 19 yards, 2:52.

Statistics	EIU	NWST
First downs	18	19
Total yards	349	350
Rushing yards	75	69
Passing yards	274	281
Turnovers	1	3
Time of possession	28:25	31:35

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Eastern Illinois	Passing	Pierce Holley	19/37, 274 yards, TD
	Rushing	M. J. Flowers	15 rushes, 48 yards
	Receiving	Justin Bowick	4 receptions, 130 yards, TD
Northwestern State	Passing	Quaterius Hawkins	27/44, 281 yards, INT
	Rushing	Scooter Adams	9 rushes, 29 yards
	Receiving	Zach Patterson	7 receptions, 74 yards

References

^ "Southeast Missouri Voted 2023 Preseason Big South-OVC Football Association Favorite". bigsouthovcfootball.com. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
^ "Big South-OVC Football Association Reveals Preseason Watch List". bigsouthovcfootball.com. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
^ "2023 Eastern Illinois Football Schedule". FBSchedules. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
^ "2023 Football Schedule". Eastern Illinois University Athletics Eastern Illinois University Athletics. Retrieved April 21, 2023.

v t e Eastern Illinois Panthers football
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Bowls & rivalries	Illinois State: Mid-America Classic
Culture & lore	Billy the Panther
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