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CHARLESTON, Ill. – Transfer quarterback Johnathan Brantley had one of the best passing days in Eastern Illinois school history on Saturday evening but in the end the Panthers were outdone by Indiana State as the Sycamores beat EIU for the first time since the 2004 season winning 55-41.
 
EIU fell to 0-3 on the season and opens Ohio Valley Conference play next Saturday at home hosting Tennessee State.  The Tigers are 1-0 after having their last two games cancelled due to weather issues.   Indiana State improved to 2-1 as they won their first game over a NCAA Division I opponent since Oct. 22, 2016 when they beat Southern Illinois.
 
The tone for the game was set on the opening kickoff as Isaiah Johnson broke a tackle early and broke loose for a 59-yard return.  Brantley would connect with Alexander Hollins for the first of three touchdown passes between the duo with 12:52 to play in the first quarter.  Brantley passed for 443 yards on the day, the eighth highest total in school history.  He became the first EIU player to pass for more than 400 yards since Jimmy Garoppolo on Nov. 23, 2013 at UT Martin.   Hollins three touchdown passes marked the second time this season and third time in his career that he has hauled in three touchdowns in a game.  Hollins finished the day with 10 catches for 167 yards.
 
After the EIU extra point was blocked, Indiana State answered back with a quick drive as Ja'Quan Keys scored from 3 yards out.  It was the first of four rushing touchdowns for Keys as he finished with 232 yards on 34 carries.  As a team Indiana State rushed for 326 yards and seven touchdowns as Christian Covington scored twice and Ryan Boyle scored once.
 
The two teams traded points on their first three possessions with each scoring.  EIU had another touchdown catch from Hollins and a 96 yard kick return for touchdown by Matt Reyna.  Covington scored for the Sycamores and Jerry Nunez added a 22-yard field goal as EIU led 20-17 at the end of the first quarter.
 
Kick returns proved to be a large part of the day as EIU had 298 yards on kick returns.  Reyna finished with 160 including his touchdown return which was the first for EIU since Tray Mitchell took one the distance on Oct. 31, 2015 at Murray State.  Isaiah Johnson had 138 return yards.   The Sycamores were able to keep pace as Dakota Caton had five returns for 178 yards including a 98-yard touchdown return called back on a penalty. 
 
The Sycamores took the lead on back-to-back touchdown runs by Keys in the second quarter and led 31-20 at the break. 
 
Aaron Gooch caught ten passes for 110 yards for EIU giving the Panthers two receivers with double digit catches.  Brantley was 37-of-49 on the day as EIU's run game was held to 46 yards.  Brantley was the team's leading rusher with 15 yards.
 
Dante Hendrix had five catches for 99 yards to lead a Sycamore air attack that had 209 yards.   Indiana State finished with 535 yards of offense while EIU had 501.
 
On defense Raymond Crittenden and Mark Williams both posted double digit tackles.  Crittenden had 11 stops while Williams had ten.
 
Jonas Griffith was Indiana State's leading tackler with 11.