It hasn’t been Jacksonville State’s running game beating the Eastern football team in the first half, but the Gamecocks’ passing game that has. Eli Jenkins has thrown for 266 yards and a touchdown, leading Jacksonville State to a 20-7 halftime lead over Eastern.

A duo of wide receivers have burned the Panthers, as Josh Barge and Ruben Gonzalez each have six catches, while the pair has 136 and 108 receiving yards, respectively.

After taking a 13-7 lead, with a pair of field goals, Jacksonville State extended its lead with an eight-yard touchdown run by DeMarcus James, with 2:30 left in the second quarter.

Eastern’s offense could not answer back, going three and out in the following possession. The Panthers’ only successful drive began with a good bounce, as the Gamecocks’ punt near the end of the first quarter took a bounce back and helped Eastern, as it started its drive at the Jacksonville State 19-yard line.

Jalen Whitlow then faked a handoff to Shepard Little and ran up the middle, cutting to his left to nothing but green grass, tying the game at seven, with his 12th rushing touchdown of the season, with 1:37 remaining in the opening quarter.

Other than that, Eastern’s offense has been contained, converting no third downs on eight attempts and failing on a fourth and three at the Jacksonville State 32-yard line in the second quarter, when both teams were still tied at seven.

Barge scored the first points of the game, catching a 59-yard pass from Jenkins on the Gamecocks second play of the game.

Jacksonville State has outgained Eastern, 319-109. The Panthers entered the game with the No. 1 offense in the Ohio Valley Conference. The Gamecocks will start the second half with the ball on offense.

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