Eastern Illinois vs. Western Illinois
O'Brien Field (10,000)  •   Charleston, Ill.
November 7, 2026  •   2:00 pm   •   TV: ESPN+

GAME COVERAGE
EIU Complete Game Notes
Western Illinois Notes
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NOTES TO KNOW
• Eastern Illinois welcomes a familiar in-state rival to O'Brien Field on Saturday as the Panthers host Western Illinois on Family Weekend.  EIU is coming off a big road win at UT Martin that moved the Panthers to 3-6 overall, 2-2 in the OVC.  Western Illinois also won on the road last week as the Leathernecks open the final month of the season in a three-way tie for first in the OVC standings at 3-1. WIU is 5-4 overall.

• Quarterback Cole LaCrue put together his best all-around offensive performance on Saturday in the win at UT Martin rushing for 112 yards while passing for 269 yards.  It was his second career 100-yard rushing game which included a 50-yard touchdown run.  It was the third straight game LaCrue has passed for over 200 yards with the 269 his second best EIU total behind 282 earlier this season against Indiana State.  LaCrue connected with four different receivers for touchdown passes as he ranks 46th in the FCS and first in the OVC with 12 touchdown passes.

• The turnovers gained streak moved to 12 straight games with the Panthers defense coming up with at least one turnover in a game.  On Saturday at UT Martin it was two interceptions added to the season total as Jerry Addo-Boateng and Makhi Wilson both had late interceptions.   EIU opened OVC play with a six takeaway game in a road win at Gardner-Webb on Oct. 10.  EIU has 16 total turnovers gained this season which ranks the Panthers 14th in the FCS and second in the OVC.   The Panthers are sixth in the FCS in turnover margin ranking first in the OVC.

• For the second straight week and third time in four OVC games corner Jerry Addo-Boateng came up with an interception for the Panthers secondary.  His first pick this season ended a Gardner-Webb drive in the redzone.  Two weeks ago he had the lone turnover gained by the Panthers defense against Southeast Missouri before an interception this past week at UT Martin.  The fifth year player is currently 21st in the FCS in interceptions.  Including his time at previous schools, Addo-Boateng now has seven career interceptions.

• Jacarre Fleming-Page had his breakout offensive game of the season on Saturday at UT Martin finishing with 190 all-purpose yards.  The sophomore finished just shy of the century mark with 98 yards rushing on six carries (16.3 ypc) while hauling in two passes for 75 yards.  One of the receptions was a 67-yard screen pass for his second receiving touchdown this year.  In the season opener he had 81 yards against Murray State and now has 221 rushing yards this season.  His best career EIU rushing day was last year with 111 yards at Western Illinois.

• Eastern Illinois produced its best offensive output of the season on Saturday scoring a season high 45 points with 552 yards of total offense as the Panthers moved to 2-2 in the OVC standings.  The Panthers were balanced on the day with 283 rushing and 269 passing yards.  EIU's last game with 45 or more points was Nov. 2, 2024 against Western Illinois (45 pts).  The last game with 550 or more yards of total offense was Oct. 16, 2018 against Murray State (643 yards).