Eastern kept its playoff hopes alive with a 37-23 victory at Jacksonville State Saturday afternoon at Paul Snow Stadium in Jacksonville, Ala.

The Panthers (7-3, 6-1 Ohio Valley Conference) used their defense and running game to steamroll the Gamecocks (6-4, 5-2). Eastern left Jacksonville with an edge on the scoreboard and the edge in the position breakdown.

Quarterback

JSU quarterback Cedric Johnson became the second Gamecock to run for more than 100 yards this season as he hit that number on the dot on 14 carries. Although he threw two interceptions late in the game, Johnson was a problem for Eastern using his scrambling ability to break free of Eastern defenders when his offense broke down around him. Johnson was JSU’s offense as he ran for one touchdown and threw for two more. Eastern quarterback Bodie Reeder managed the game efficiently and played smart football. JSU double teamed wide receiver Micah Rucker on nearly every down, and – with a few exceptions – Reeder did not try to force passes to a covered Rucker. Instead, he found open receivers like wide receiver Alicus Nozinor and tight end Jordan Campanella.

Edge: JSU

Running Back

In what’s becoming almost a weekly occurrence, Eastern running back Ademola Adeniji rushed for more than 100 yards. Adeniji ran for 158 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries against the Gamecocks. The performance put him over 1,000 yards rushing for the season, and over 2,000 yards rushing for his career. Eastern full back Trent Steckel also found the end zone with a one-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. JSU running back Daniel Jackson was the top rusher for the Gamecocks not named Johnson, and he rushed for 35 yards on 15 carries.

Edge: Eastern

Wide Receiver

Rucker was a non-factor for the Panthers against JSU because the Gamecocks committed two defenders to him on nearly every play. Because Rucker was covered, Nozinor and Campanella had big games. Nozinor led Eastern with 64 receiving yards on five catches, and Campanella had 58 yards on four catches. JSU wide receiver Taurean Rhetta led the Gamecocks with 56 receiving yards on two catches including a 51-yard touchdown reception. Derrick Harris was the other JSU wide receiver to catch a touchdown pass on a four-yard first quarter strike from Johnson. In the end, Eastern’s receivers were a bigger factor in Eastern’s game plan, but JSU’s receivers found the end zone.

Edge: Draw

Offensive Line

Reeder had plenty of time to sit back in the pocket and find an open receiver thanks to the blocking of his offensive line. Eastern’s offensive line also opened up holes in the JSU defense for Adeniji and running back Travorus Bess to run through. JSU’s offensive line broke down on several occasions forcing Johnson to scramble out of the pocket, and Eastern’s defensive line was able to get pressure on Johnson on several occasions.

Edge: Eastern

Defensive Line

Eastern defensive end Michael Torres scored the first touchdown of his life after intercepting Johnson in the fourth quarter. Torres tipped the ball to himself, and then rumbled 40 yards for the score. Combine Torres interception with sacks by defensive end Pierre Walters, defensive tackle Andre Lima and defensive tackle Trevor Frericks, Eastern’s defensive line was a forced to be reckoned with. Nose tackle Brandt Thomas led the way for the JSU defensive line with five tackles including half a tackle for a loss. Defensive end Duane Tolbert and nose tackle John Scott had three tackles each.

Edge: Eastern

Linebacker

Eastern’s Donald Thomas and Matt Westrick led the Panthers with 10 and eight tackles, respectively. Thomas and Westrick each had tackles for loss, but it was Westrick who penetrated the JSU backfield the most on his way to two and a half tackles for seven yards total loss. Alexander Henderson’s 11 tackles led JSU, but he had only one tackle in the second half. Drew Robinson contributed seven tackles for the Gamecocks as well.

Edge: Eastern

Secondary

Safeties Kenny Walker, Jared Stewart and corner back Jarvis Smith combined for 23 tackles and were three of the top five Gamecock tacklers on the game. This statistic is misleading because they were allowing Eastern receivers to catch passes instead of denying the catch, and they had to make tackles JSU’s front seven missed. Eastern rover Ke’Andre Sams recorded his second interception of the season, and corner back Rashad Haynes was tied for third on the team in tackles with six. Eastern safety Adrian Arrington had four tackles and broke up one pass.

Edge: Eastern

Special Teams

Eastern kick returner Quinten Ponius had three returns for 133 yards, but it was his 97-yard return for a touchdown to start the second half that propelled him to OVC Special Teams Player of the Week. Ron Jordan had one kick return for 20 yards for the Panthers as well. JSU return specialist Maurice Dupree had just one punt return (13 yards) and one kick return (26 yards) as Eastern deliberately kicked away from him. Eastern kicker Tyler Wilke made a 25-yard field goal in the second quarter, and JSU kicker Gavin Hallford clanked a first-quarter PAT attempt off the goalpost.

Edge: Eastern

Coach

JSU coach Jack Crowe said it was his own fault in calling the pass play Torres intercepted and returned for a touchdown. The Gamecocks started the game with a fumble on their first play and never seemed to recover much balance to their game. Eastern did everything it had to do to win the game. The Panthers’ defense stepped up their game in the second half, and Eastern rode that change to victory.

Edge: Eastern