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Photo Gallery (by
Sandy King)
CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois became the first Ohio Valley Conference team to post a halftime lead against Jacksonville State since the Panthers last beat the Gamecocks on Nov. 16, 2013 as EIU built a 14-9 halftime advantage. In the second half the third-ranked Gamecocks scored 21 unanswered points to beat EIU, 30-14, during the Panthers 100th homecoming game.
JSU moved into sole possession of first place in the OVC race at 6-1 overall, 4-0 in the OVC. It was the 28th straight OVC win for the Gamecocks. EIU fell to 5-3 overall, 4-1 in the OVC. The Panthers will play at UT Martin next Saturday at 2 p.m. with the game selected as the OVC Game of the Week that will be aired on ESPN3.
EIU has been using turnovers gained to its advantage all season as the Panthers entered the weekend ranked 12th in the FCS in turnovers gained. In the first quarter
Tray Mitchell forced a fumble that was recovered by
Nick Horne. On the following possession EIU drove 77 yards on seven plays capped by a
Darshon McCullough 40-yard pass from
Bud Martin to give EIU a 7-0 lead with 4:37 to play in the first quarter.
JSU would answer with a touchdown of its own on its next drive with Tramel Terry taking most of the carries in the backfield. Terry would score from 5-yards out at the 13:24 mark but would trail 7-6 after going for a two-point conversion and coming up short on the run. The drive did set the stage for Terry's day in the backfield as he led the Gamecocks with 84 yards as JSU rushed for 227 yards in the game.
Following a defensive stand by EIU midway through the second half, EIU extended its lead to 14-6 with
Isaiah Johnson scoring from two yards out with 7:05 to play. Johnson was held to 40 yards rushing on the day, a week after he posted the eighth best rushing day in school history with 236 yards at Murray State. As team EIU rushed for only 28 yards on the day.
Cade Stinnett made it 14-9 at the half as he made one of his two long field goal attempts in the second quarter. Stinnett's first attempt from 49 yards hit the left upright and bounced off. He would come back on the next Gamecocks drive and connect from 50 yards with that kick hitting the right upright and bouncing through with 23 seconds left in the first half.
Reggie Hall picked off a Martin pass to end the Panthers opening drive of the second half. JSU cashed in with Krenwick Sanders catching the first of two touchdown passes from Bryant Horn with 11:04 to play in the third quarter. The touchdown put the Gamecocks up 16-14. Sanders added a 5-yard touchdown pass at the 2:22 mark of the third quarter and JSU was able to put the game away. Sanders had five catches for 53 yards and the two scores. Horn passes for 164 yards going 15-of-27.
De'Marcus Flowers scored an insurance touchdown with 1:16 left in the game.
Aaron Gooch was the Panthers top receiver on the day with six catches for 39 yards. Martin passed for 219 yards.
Bradley Dewberry, Mitchell and
Joe Caputo all finished with double figure tackles for EIU. Dewberry had 12 tackles while Mitchell and Caputo both had 11.
Marlon Bridges led JSU with nine tackles including two tackles for loss.
