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TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - An old fashion Midwest rivalry shootout is the best way to describe Saturday's contest between 20th ranked Eastern Illinois (2-2) and host Indiana State (0-4). The Panthers would come out and dominate the second half to pull away for a convincing 54-20.
The 54 points were highest total ever for EIU in the 81-game series while the 74 combined points was also a new series high besting the 66 the two teams combined for in 2000 when Tony Romo made his second collegiate start in 42-24 Panther win.
Eastern Illinois looked like they were determined to take the Sycamores behind the woodshed as EIU jumped out to a quick 20-0 lead in the first half. Redshirt freshman
Rashad Haynes was partly responsible for two of the Panthers first quarter scores.
On the opening punt of the game, Haynes blocked an ISU punt which Quinten Ponius scooped up and raced 14-yards for the games first score. Haynes would pick off a Reilly Murphy pass with 6:39 to go in the first quarter which EIU converted into a Chip Keys touchdown run from 1-yard out to put EIU up 20-0.
Keys had added a 2-yard touchdown run for the EIU's second score as the Panthers capped a 70-yard drive. The junior fullback would to his game total of touchdowns in the middle of the third quarter bowling into the end zone from three yards out.
Indiana State changed quarterbacks after three possessions and back-up quarterback Charles Dowdell sparked the ISU offense. Dowdell drove ISU down the field to score on the opening play of the second quarter as Dowdell connected on a 25-yard strike to Jerimy Robinson.
The Sycamores second touchdown was a defensive score as Darrius Middlebrook forced a Keys fumble as he was reaching for a first down. Mike Woods collected the loose ball and raced 81 yards to close the gap to 20-14 Eastern Illinois.
The teams traded offensive scores on their next drives and EIU gained a fourteen point cushion going into the half as Travorus Bess capped a 31-second, 56 yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown, his second score of the game. EIU led 34-20 at the half.
Eastern Illinois opened the second half much like it closed out the first as the Panthers marched down the field to score on a seven-yard run by Ademola Adeniji. The Panthers failed on the extra point for the second time as the snap was botched for the second time and conversion missed as EIU extended its lead to 40-20.
Ron Jordan scored his first collegiate touchdown with just under 11 minutes left in the game beating an ISU defender to the end zone from 35 yards out.
Bodie Reeder finished the game 23-for-26 in his first collegiate start while passing for 298 yards. Alicus Nozinor hauled in8passes for 93 yards while Bess had 93 yards to lead the ground game.
Eastern Illinois will play out the remainder of the 2007 season against Ohio Valley Conference opponents as the Panthers jump back into conference action next Saturday night at Southeast Missouri. The Panthers are already 1-0 in league action following a season opening win over Tennessee Tech.
