Eastern wide receiver Adam Drake caught a three-yard touchdown pass, with 39 seconds left in the second quarter to give the Panthers a 23-5 halftime lead over Eastern Kentucky in Richmond, Ky.

The Panthers responded with their second touchdown drive of the half, after the Colonels scored their first points on offense, coming from a 24-yard field goal. Drake’s game-high ninth catch came on a third down and goal from the three-yard line, where Jalen Whitlow threw his first touchdown of the half.

Drake finished the first half with nine catches, 110 yards and the touchdown.

The Panthers were able to drive down the field in the first quarter, but were only able to score three field goals by Nick Bruno. Entering the second quarter, Eastern led 9-2, with the Colonels’ only points coming off a safety, which occurred when the Panthers had a bad snap go out of the end zone on a punt attempt.

Whitlow scored a 12-yard rushing touchdown, with 8:52 left in the second quarter that gave Eastern a 16-2 lead. Whitlow leads the Panthers with eight carries and 48 yards, while throwing for 156 yards on 13-of-21 passing.

Shepard Little rushed for 44 yards in the first half, after missing the Panthers’ last two games. He helped set-up Eastern’s final scoring drive, with a 36-yard run that led to Drake’s touchdown catch.

Eastern Kentucky has split time at quarterback between Bennie Coney and Jared McClain, but neither has been able to get into the end zone.

Coney threw an interception to Panthers’ safety Jourdan Wickliffe in the first quarter, which gave Eastern a short field. Bruno made his second field goal to make it 6-2, following the interception.

Coney is 3-of-7 for 22 yards, while McClain finished the half 5-of-8 for 63 yards and also rushed for 23 yards.

Eastern Kentucky will receive the second-half kickoff, as the Panthers’ defense has only allowed one scoring drive in the first half.

Aldo Soto can be reached at 581-2812 or asoto2@eiu.edu.