Eastern running back Shepard Little left the game in the first quarter, but Taylor Duncan filled in rushing for 104 yards and two rushing touchdowns, leading the Panthers to a 35-20 halftime lead over Murray State.

The Panthers offense moved the ball down the field relentlessly, scoring on their first four possessions at O’Brien Field. Shepard Little capped off Eastern’s first drive with a 24-yard touchdown run, with 12:35 left in the first quarter.

In the Panthers’ third possession, Little broke free off left tackle to open space, but went down to the turf untouched. The red-shirt junior was helped off the field and did not return.

Charleston native Adam Drake finished off the drive that Little left with a 46-yard touchdown catch, which put Eastern ahead 21-0, with 2:49 left in the first quarter.

Drake led all players with eight catches for 144 yards and his touchdown.

Duncan scored the Panthers’ fourth straight touchdown, breaking free for a 19-yard run into the end zone that extended Eastern’s lead to 28-6.

The Panthers’ defense allowed a five-play, 64-yard touchdown drive at the end of the first quarter, but was able to stop the Racers’ early, when Eastern recovered a fumble inside its own 10-yard line.

Murray State was able to score two consecutive touchdowns, first on a 100-yard kick return by Pokey Harris and then quarterback KD Humphries connected with Nevar Griffin for a nine-yard touchdown. That was Humphries’ second touchdown pass of the half that brought Murray State within eight points of Eastern at 28-20.

Taking over with less than four minutes left before halftime, Eastern quarterback Jalen Whitlow led the Panthers down the field once again. With less than a minute, Duncan ran in for a seven-yard touchdown, giving the Panthers a 35-20 lead.

Whitlow and Humphries both threw two touchdown passes, as the Eastern quarterback ended the half 19-of-27 for 230 yards and his hometown counterpart was 17-of-21 for 210 yards.

Eastern put up 439 yards of offense in the first half.

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