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CHARLESTON, Ill. – Illinois State had a six-yard run by James Robinson cap the opening drive of the game as the Redbirds were able to use that score to beat Eastern Illinois, 21-3, on Saturday afternoon in the 108th playing of the Mid-America Classic.
 
EIU fell to 0-3 on the season.  Illinois State, ranked 12th, improved to 2-1 as they have now won three straight in the rivalry series.
 
The Redbirds marched 59 yards in seven plays to open the game with the first of three Robinson touchdown runs on the day.
 
EIU was forced to punt on its opening drive after going 29 yards on eight plays.  The Panthers were held to 3-and-outs on their next three series.
 
Robinson's second score came at the 10:41 mark of the second quarter to push the Redbirds out to a 14-0 lead.  Robinson would finish with 146 yards on the ground as Illinois State rushed for 254.
 
The Panthers cracked the scoreboard in the final minute of the opening half as Josh Delgado knocked home a 34-yard field goal.  Johnathan Brantley hit Jaelin Benefield on a swing pass the freshman back took to the ten yard line.  The Panthers then had a rush for loss and sack that pushed them back to the 24-yard line.  A penalty on third down gave EIU new life, but a sack on the next series forced EIU to settle for the Delgado kick.  Illinois State applied pressure in the backfield all day finishing with eight sacks.  Romeo McKnight picked up 2.5 of them.
 
EIU's own defense was able to apply some pressure as Dytarious Johnson collected the Panthers first sack of the season while Charlie Brooks and Terrell Greer combined on the other.  Johnson finished with nine tackles including three for loss.
 
Robinson's final score came midway through the third quarter as he broke around the right side and raced for a 52-yard touchdown.    EIU had two other drives into ISU territory missing a field goal in the third quarter and turning the ball over on downs in the fourth.
 
Brantley was the Panthers leading rusher on the day with 49 yards.  He complete ten passes with seven to Benefield.