The Eastern football team lost its third game in a row last Saturday when it fell to Jacksonville State 28-21. The loss puts the Panthers at 1-3 overall on the season, with a winless 0-2 record in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Panthers out-passing opposition

The Panthers have thrown for a total of 1,028 yards through the air under sophomore quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo so far this season.

Opponents have a total of 718 passing yards against the Panthers in four games. Garoppolo threw for 214 yards against Jacksonville State, completing 20 of 32 passes.

Gamecock quarterback Coty Blanchard threw for a total of 121 yards, completing 13 of 19 passes. Blanchard is starting in place of injured quarterback Marques Ivory.

Whittaker steps up in Ricks’ absence

With red-shirt senior wide receiver Lorence Ricks out for the game with an injury, junior wide receiver Kenny Whittaker led the Panthers in receptions.

Whittaker caught nine passes, more than any other Panther receiver, while also racking up 53 yards.

Despite leading the team in receptions, the team’s leader in receiving yards was junior wide receiver Chris Wright, who had 71 yards on just three catches. Wright had one touchdown in the game.

Walker returns from injury

Red-shirt junior running back Jake Walker returned from an ankle injury he sustained in the team’s season opener to start against Jacksonville State. Walker rushed for 88 yards in the game, averaging 4.6 yards per carry.

Walker had one touchdown in the game. Walker had a total of 19 rushes.

Backup running backs AJ Woodson and Jimmy Lera did not see any action in the game.

Woodson, who started for Walker in his absence, is the team’s leading rusher with 117 total yards.

Berra misses first field goal of season

Sophomore kicker Cameron Berra missed his first field goal of the season in the team’s fourth game.

Berra missed a kick from 27 yards out against the Gamecocks. Berra has made one out of two field goals attempted this season.

Berra’s only field goal of the season was in the season opener against Illinois State from 33 yards out.

The Panthers will continue their OVC schedule against Southeast Missouri this Saturday at 6 p.m. In Cape Girardeau, Mo.

Around the OVC

Senior running back Dontey Gay was the Adidas OVC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance against Southeast Missouri. Gay ran for 146 yards and two touchdowns in the win, becoming the first player in Tennessee Tech history to have over 100 rushing and receiving yards.

Antwaun Majors of Austin Peay was the Adidas OVC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against Eastern Kentucky. Majors had seven solo tackles and an interception in the game.

Dominic Renzetti can be reached at 581-7944 or dcrenzetti@eiu.edu.