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JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – Jason Horton picked off a Jimmy Garoppolo pass with 2:09 remaining as No. 15 Jacksonville State was able to hold off Eastern Illinois, 28-21 on Saturday night.

JSU improved to 3-1, 2-0 in the OVC while EIU dropped to 1-3, 0-2 in the OVC.

JSU took the lead 21-14 relying on the ground game as Calvin Middleton put the Gamecocks up 21-14 with 1:14 left in the third. JSU then tried an on-side attempt that sailed out of bounds giving EIU great field position. Jimmy Garoppolo found Chris Wright for a 47-yard strike to knot the score at 21-21 with 21 seconds left in the third.

Middleton again put the Gamecocks up a score as he plunged over from 1-yard out with 12:22 left in the game. Middleton finished with 96 yards on the ground while Washaun Ealey rushed for 155 yards.

Garoppolo's second TD pass of the day moved him into 10th on the EIU career touchdown pass list with 23. Wright's TD reception moved him into 10th on the EIU list for career EIU touchdown receptions.

Jacksonville State opened the game with a steady drive on the ground behind the rushing of Ealey and Middleton but it was Coty Blanchard delivering the first score of the game with a 9-yard pass to Justin Howard at 10:09 of the 1st quarter.

EIU responded on its drive of the game as Garoppolo moved the Panthers down the field covering 80 yards on ten plays. Garoppolo connected with Von Wise at 4:53 of the 1st quarter with the 18-yard strike tying the score at 7-7.

The Panthers defense forced back-to-back turnovers by the JSU offense. The first ended in a missed 27-yard field goal but EIU was able to capitalize on the second with a 2-yard touchdown run by Jake Walker. Tavares Crawford set up the second score forcing a fumble as EIU went up 14-7 with 4:26 left in the half.

JSU answered with 1:22 left in the half as Blanchard threw his second touchdown pass of the day hitting Trey Smith from 10-yards out.

Garoppolo finished with 203 yards passing but had two interceptions to go along with two touchdown passes.

Nick Beard led the Panthers with 10 tackles. The Panthers play at Southeast Missouri next Saturday at 6 p.m.