Box Score
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CHARLESTON, Ill. - Jacksonville State's Brooks Robinson intercepted a pass on the 3-yard line with 1.2 seconds remaining to help the No. 4 ranked Gamecocks hold off a furious rally by Eastern Illinois. JSU won 28-23 to improve to 4-0 while EIU fell to 0-4, 0-2 in the OVC.
The Panthers trailed 28-9 with 6:22 left in the game following an 8-yard touchdown run by Alphonso Freeney that marked the fourth rushing touchdown of the day for JSU. The touchdown was set up after Robert Gray picked off Jimmy Garoppolo and returned the ball to the EIU 16 yard line.
Garoppolo would start the Panthers drive at the 6:22 mark but was knocked out of the game on a pressure by Rodney Garrott. Enter into the contest redshirt sophomore Brandon Large who was the starter in the Panthers opening three games. Large would rush for 39 yards on his first two plays including a lateral to Jimmy Potempa on the second rush that placed the ball at the 7-yard line. Potempa would score three plays later and Large would hit Lorence Ricks on the two-point conversion.
EIU's defense was able to hold and force a punt on the next possession but the Panthers had to start the drive from its own 2-yard line with 2:05 remaining after Coty Blanchard pinned EIU deep. Large would drive the Panthers down the field hitting Erik Lora for a 2-yard pass with 38 seconds remaining. JSU's lead was cut to 28-23 after EIU failed on the two-point conversion.
Ricks would then recover the onside kick giving the Panthers one more shot. Large hit Chris Wright and Lora to put the ball at the JSU 25-yard line. Following two failed shots at the end zone, Robinson picked off Large's final attempt to help JSU prevail. Large finished 10-of-17 for 126 yards and one touchdown in relief while Lora hauled in seven passes for 86 yards.
EIU moved out to the early lead in the contest scoring on a Cameron Berra field goal and Potempa touchdown run to take the early lead. EIU was unable to score a touchdown on its first score after Nick Martinez picked off a pass and put EIU in business at the 18-yard line. Berra would also miss an extra point on the Potempa score which would later force the Panthers to make conversion decisions.
Jamal Young went to work for the Gamecocks in the second quarter scoring three times. He rushed in from one yard out at the 10:38 mark and then gave JSU the lead as he bust through the middle for a 76-yard run at 2:35. His final score came with 1:35 left in the first half as Keginald Harris picked off a Garoppolo pass to give JSU the ball inside the 15 yard line. Young finished the day with 162 yards on 18 carries.
Potempa led the Panthers ground game with 101 yards on 13 carries. Large finished with 48 yards rushing on three carries. Nick Nasti led the EIU defense for the fourth straight week making 16 tackles (7 solo).
EIU will host Southeast Missouri at 1:30 p.m. next Saturday for EIU's annual Family Weekend contest.
Post Game Notes
• EIU off to first 0-4 start since 1977
• EIU scored in second half for first time in five games (dating back to 2009)
• Jimmy Potempa 100 yards first running back over 100-yards since Mon Williams (2009 vs. Southern Illinois)
• EIU recovered an onside kick against Jacksonville State for the second straight year.
