Photo Gallery (by Sandy King)

Quarterback Cole LaCrue rushed for 193 yards with running back Charles Kellom adding 133 on the ground as Eastern Illinois rushed to a 24-14 season opening win over Dayton.

LaCrue's 193 yards on the ground set a single game rushing record for EIU by a quarterback, previously held by Jaley Whitlow in 2015.

LaCrue scored all three of EIU's touchdowns on the ground with his first scamper from 11 yards with 6:03 to play in the third quarter giving the Panthers their first lead of the game at 10-7.
 
Dayton scored first in the contest with a Bryce Schondelmyer 48-yard strike to Gavin Lochow.  Schondelmyer passed for 261 yards while Lochow was one of two Flyers wide receivers with more than 100 yards receiving finishing at 124.
 
Drew Schiller put the Panthers on the board for the first time this season with a 25-yard field goal midway through the second quarter.
 
After LaCrue's first rushing touchdown, the transfer quarterback connected with DeAirious Smith on a long pass with Smith pulled down at the 1-yard line.  LaCrue went in from 1-yard out on the next play with 10:26 to play in the game.
 
Dayton had one more strike with Schondelmyer hitting Michael Mussari on a long pass covering 67 yards for a score.  Mussari had 101 yards receiving.
 
LaCrue's final score game from 6-yards out with 2:15 left in the contest to ice the game.   LaCrue also passed for 129 yards with Smith finishing with 58 on two catches.

Saipeti Maiava Jr led EIU with six tackles on a balanced defensive effort.  Christopher Sharp, Ja'Wuan Nickson and Samuel Robles each added five tackles.