After a 43-14 win over Samford, the Eastern football team is chock full of confidence.

The Panthers put together a complete game where all the separate units played a big part in the blowout, but every victory does have some small defeats.

But unfortunately, Eastern’s loss in that game was huge. Junior cornerback Ben Brown left the game in the second half with a knee injury. Although the official timetable on Brown’s return is not in, Panthers head coach Bob Spoo said after the Samford game that Brown will be out at least a month.

After last season, when Brown was among the tops in the nation in pass breakups and interceptions, he was put into the spotlight of the Eastern defense. In 2005, he was voted a pre-season All Ohio Valley Conference cornerback as well as a I-AA All-American honorable mention.

Brown, who has 3 pass breakups and an interception this season, was the shutdown corner that was going to lead a talented corps of defensive backs that is already leading the conference in opponents’ pass efficiency (110.1), 12 points better than any other team. As Brown put it last season, “I want it to get to the point where teams won’t even look to my side to pass.”

And that’s exactly the point Brown was approaching before his injury.

Fortunately for Spoo and the rest of the Eastern coaching staff, they have a defensive backfield that is always up for a challenge.

Already the Panther backfield has made their presence felt. Junior strong safety Tristan Burge (3 pass breakups, 2 interceptions) and senior corner Terrance Sanders (4 pass breakups, 1 interception) are tied for second in the Ohio Valley Conference in pass breakups and each have scored on a defensive takeaway.

Senior safety Chad Cleveland and junior cornerback B.J. Brown each have at least a season of experience under their belt for the Panthers and should hold up well in Ben’s absence.

But one thing is for certain about Eastern’s defense and Sanders said it after Saturday’s win.

“Everyone on our defense doesn’t care who gets the credit. We just get it done.”

And with or without Ben Brown, the Panthers will get it done.

Dan Renick is a senior journalism major. Unlike the Panther defense, Dan loves to take the credit and you can give it to him at [email protected]