Eastern’s domination at O’Brien ended with a thud Saturday as the Panthers fell to an inspired Illinois State squad 21-14.

“We’re just simply not an effective offensive football team right now,” Eastern head coach Bob Spoo said. “We didn’t make the plays and they did.”

The Panthers fell in a home regular season contest for the first time since a 1999 loss to Tennessee Tech.

“It’s good to win this game because Eastern is always a tough place to come to and get a victory,” Illinois State head coach Denver Johnson said.

Eastern’s defense got the Panthers on the board first when Redbirds quarterback Mike Souza’s first pass ended up as his first interception after 49 completions. Souza’s screen pass was sniffed out by inside linebacker Fred Miller and Eastern’s All-American had clear sailing into the end zone to put the Panthers up 7-0.

“I thought it was going to be a great day,” Miller said. “(Defensive coordinator) Roc Bellantoni told me he had a dream that we’d score today and I had a vision that I would get in the end zone.”

Eastern’s offense got off to its third consecutive slow start this weekend and it apparently began with a controversy over the starting quarterback position. According to Spoo, the offensive coaches were debating on starting junior college transfer Andrew Harris but left the decision with the head coach who selected Vincent.

“I wanted to go with Andy but we gave Andrew Harris an opportunity with a couple of series,” Spoo said.

However, the Panthers rode the momentum after the defensive touchdown by going on a six play, 80-yard drive that ended with freshman receiver Ryan Voss bobbling and catching his first collegiate touchdown on a 35-yard play-action pass from Andy Vincent.

“We worked on it all day in practice and I was a little nervous,” Voss said.

The Panthers then went the remaining 54 minutes scoreless. During that period, Illinois State outscored the Panthers 15-0 throughout the rest of the game.

“This loss goes straight to the loss of our offensive opportunities,” Vincent said. “Our defense put on another wonderful performance and we again didn’t.”

The Redbirds used the leg of kicker Stephen Carroll to build momentum after the junior kicker converted a 44 and 47-yard attempt in the first quarter to keep ISU in the game at 14-6.

The Redbirds crossed the goal line for the first time when Souza hit receiver Avery Massengale in the corner of the end zone on a 24-yard pass to end a 10-play, 89 yard drive to end the half down only a pair.

“I kept thinking in the locker room at halftime that if we kept playing this way, they were going to win,” Miller said.

The Illinois State spirits went sky high after another Panthers special teams breakdown in the third quarter. Sophomore punter Tom Schofield had his third punt in two days blocked after Redbirds freshman Camero Siskowic went unblocked and deflected his kick. The ball landed and was recovered in the end zone for a safety to tie the game at 14.

“We weren’t even going for the block so it was surprising,” Johnson said.

The Panthers were forced to punt on their next two possessions and Illinois State drove the ball into Eastern territory once again to attempt a 42-yard field goal to take a late three-point lead.

However, holder Brian Busser placed the laces in and Carroll’s kick ended up short of the uprights.

On the next Redbirds possession, the Eastern defense finally broke down as Souza handed the ball off to Demetrus Johnson who went up the middle 49 yards to pay dirt.

“It was an all-out blitz and they hit that spot they needed to,” Miller said.

Eastern quarterback Andy Vincent led the Panthers on a possible game-tying drive but the Panthers first turnover came when Vincent’s short pass to the right sidelines was intercepted by cornerback Antawn Oliver. Oliver is an transfer from Eastern and, in his O’Brien Stadium return, was able to kill the Panthers chance for victory.

“It had to be him didn’t it,” Miller said. “He’s a great athlete and my phone’s probably still ringing ’cause his school beat my school.”

Eastern now takes a two-game losing streak on the road to Terra Haute, Ind. to challenge the Indiana State Sycamores, but the team still has incredibly high hopes for the 2003 season.

“Coach Spoo keeps pointing out all the time that Western Kentucky went 2-3 and ended the year as national champions,” Vincent said. “This is a shock to us because we expect ourselves to win.”