Going up against the best statistical defense in the Ohio Valley Conference, the Eastern football team made a statement in its 28-3 Homecoming win over Tennessee State.

The game plan was simple for Eastern coach Kim Dameron. As long as the offense held in there long enough to score in the second half, the Panthers’ defense would cage in the Tigers.

“We talked about it going in, if we didn’t allow them to run the ball, they were going to make some passing yards, but we felt like if we didn’t turn it over on offense and kind of it gave the game to our defense and let them go out and play that we’d have a good chance and that’s what happened,” Dameron said.

A Lane Clark 42-yard field goal, with 11:40 left in the third quarter was the only score the Tigers scratched out against Eastern on Saturday. While the Panthers offense wore down Tennessee State’s defense in the second half, rushing for 233 yards and two long touchdowns, Eastern’s defense only got stronger, putting points up as well.

Anthony Goodman’s 46-yard interception return, with less than three minutes remaining in the third quarter extended Eastern’s lead to 14-3.

“There’s no question that had to be the play of the game,” Dameron said.

It was Goodman’s second interception of the season and Eastern’s first of two in the second half against the Tigers. Overall, Eastern’s defense forced three turnovers Saturday, adding a fumble recovery at its own 14-yard line in the fourth quarter, when Tennessee State was on the verge of scoring.

Dameron had praise for the Tigers’ defense after the game, as they had entered as the No. 3 ranked defense in the FCS, but his defense proved to be better.

“Their defense, I can’t say enough about their defense, they play hard and they play well, they’re athletic, they’re good, but I’m more proud of ours,” Dameron said.

The Panthers improved to 3-1 in the Ohio Valley Conference and in the last two games against Southeast Missouri and Tennessee State, their defense has forced eight turnovers. During those two games, Eastern’s offense has had zero turnovers, as the Panthers have outscored the Redhawks and Tigers 80-16.

In their four OVC games this season, Eastern has a plus-nine turnover margin, which is No. 1 in the conference. Jacksonville State has the second best margin at plus four.

No question, Dameron said, turnovers have led to success.

“I know we were coaching the heck out of it and I know the things that we were saying and doing and how we were practicing and everything else did not change from week to week,” Dameron said.

But it wasn’t always this good for Eastern. Starting the season with a Big Ten opponent in Minnesota, followed by two games against teams with a combined record of 12-4, in Illinois State and Southern Illinois-Carbondale, the Panthers then played their second FBS team in Ohio.

A 63-0 thrashing of Austin Peay prior to their Sept. 27, game at Ohio was the Panthers’ only win in their first five games. During that stretch, Eastern was outscored 148-75, not including the win at home against the Governors.

Then came a second-half debacle at Eastern Kentucky, where the Panthers had three turnovers starting near the end of the third quarter and into overtime, when they lost 36-33. The defeat dropped Eastern to 1-5 overall.

Yet, no one was rattled on Eastern.

“I’m just very proud of the fact that not only our players, but also our coaches that we stuck on our message,” Dameron said. “We didn’t panic, we just kept talking about it.”

The turnovers. In the first six games the Panthers were at a minus-four turnover margin.

But against Tennessee State, it wasn’t only getting interceptions and fumbles, it was stopping the Tigers at the goal line that brought even more confidence to the Panthers.

Tennessee State was 1-of-2 in fourth-down conversions, but the one it failed came on fourth and goal from the one-yard line, as the Tigers were ready to tie the game at seven in the second quarter. Defensive lineman Dino Fanti made the tackle for a loss of two yards, keeping the Tigers out of the end zone.

Going back to the Southeast Missouri game in the previous week, the Eastern defense did not allow a single point for four straight quarters. Now, the Panthers have the No. 1 scoring defense in the OVC, surrendering 14.8 points per game, the No. 2 rushing and passing defense and a shot at the league title.

It took time, but the defense is getting into a rhythm and more importantly it is starting to believe that it can be great.

“Our defense, with more and more games we get a little more swagger to us,” Fanti said. “We’re a little more confident out on the field and that helps going into the next game because we know how we have to play to win.”

Aldo Soto (@AldoSoto_21) can be reached at 581-2812 or asoto2@eiu.edu.