Eastern Illinois football made an exciting comeback bid on Saturday night thanks in large part to the play of quarterback Cole LaCrue and linebacker Ja'Wuan Nickson.
 
On Monday, both players earned Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week honors for their performances in Saturday's game against Indiana State.
 
LaCrue was named the OVC Offensive Player of the Week as he helped the Panthers rally from down 35-7 at one point to make it a one-score game with less than four minutes remaining.  He rushed for 65 yards and one score while throwing for 267 yards and three touchdowns.  His two fourth quarter touchdown passes to Jacarre Fleming-Page and Charles Kellom brought the Panthers to within one touchdown with 4:03 to play in the game.  LaCrue was 20-of-34 in the game without an interception.
 
Nickson was named the OVC Defensive Player of the Week leading the Panthers defense in the game.  He finished with a team-high ten tackles including 1.5 tackles for loss and a half sack.  One of his biggest plays of the game was late in the fourth quarter with an interception returned inside the Indiana State 20-yard line which set up an EIU touchdown, brining the score to within one touchdown at the time.
 
EIU returns to action this Saturday playing at nationally ranked Illinois State in the Mid-America Classic.