The Eastern football team took a 21-14 lead into halftime Saturday, but less than three minutes into the half, Murray State swung the game in its favor with 14 more points.

On the third offensive play of the half, Murray State running back Mike Harris broke through the middle of the field for a 68-yard touchdown run.

Eastern defensive coordinator Roc Bellantoni said one of the Panther defenders missed a tackle and nobody else was able to get close to Harris, as he tied the game 21 seconds into the half.

On the ensuing kickoff, Murray State kicked the ball high into the air against the wind. The ball went 35 yards and Murray State raced down the field and hopped on the ball, giving them possession of the ball and completing an unorthodox onside kick.

Lorence Ricks, Eastern red-shirt junior wide receiver, who was the kick returner on the play said the team miscommunicated on the play and nobody jumped on the ball from Eastern. The ball was not kicked long enough for him to return it .

Harris and the Racers finished off the drive with a two-yard touchdown run. The game swung to give Murray State a 28-21 lead, and the Racers never gave it back. The Racers won 38-28.

As Eastern trailed 31-28 early in the fourth quarter, the Panthers dialed up some trickery, trying a fake punt at their own 27-yard line.

After Murray State had converted on a fake punt earlier in the game, Eastern tried a direct snap to senior linebacker Nick Nasti; however, Nasti only got two yards on the fourth down with three yards to go play and Eastern turned the ball over.

The fourth down play was a key point in the game, as Murray State marched down the field and passed for a touchdown to make the game 38-28.

“You’re hoping that in the hands of a leader like Nick Nasti you are going to convert,” head coach Bob Spoo said. “We didn’t make all the plays we certainly needed to make.”

Eastern rebounded quickly and looked like it was going in to score a touchdown with over 3:30 to go in the game, but with a first and goal play from the seven-yard line, Eastern lost yards.

Senior running back Jimmy Potempa lost three yards on the first down play, and then freshman quarterback was sacked for a 12-yard loss.

After an incomplete pass, Eastern was forced to kick a field goal to try and get some points, but freshman kicker Cameron Berra missed it wide left from 39 yards away.

Eastern’s defense forced a three-and-out on Murray State’s next drive, giving Eastern’s offense another chance; however, a sack on third down crippled the Panthers’ drive. Murray State only recorded two sacks Saturday, both stalling Eastern drives.

With the loss, Eastern fell to 0-8 this season. The Panthers had won 10 consecutive Homecoming games prior to Saturday.

Spoo said he was happy that the offense didn’t turn the ball over at all Saturday; however red-shirt junior linebacker Cory Leman said there isn’t much to take from the game.

“We’re getting to the point where if we aren’t winning there is not much to hang your hat on,” Leman said.

Eastern will play at home for the last time this season Saturday against Austin Peay. The game is slated to start at 1:30 p.m. at O’Brien Field.

Alex McNamee can be reached at 581-7944 or admcnamee@eiu.edu.

Artavious Dowdell, a sophomore defensive lineman, tackles a Murray State player Saturday afternoon at O’Brien Field during the Homecoming game. (Audrey Sawyer

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