The Panther football team will be without a key member of its secondary for at least Saturday’s game at SEMO.

Junior cornerback Ben Brown suffered a knee injury during the Panthers’ 43-14 win against Samford in Eastern’s Ohio Valley Conference opener. The injury could keep Brown out for a month.

Defensive coordinator Roc Bellantoni said it didn’t take long for the Panthers’ defense to look differently.

“It had an effect last week,” Bellantoni said. “(Samford) had 86 yards passing before he got hurt and 207 after he got hurt.

“He makes a big a difference out there.”

In 2004, Brown led the Panthers with five interceptions, and his 16 pass break-ups ranked fifth nationally. Through four games this season for Eastern (2-2, 1-0 OVC), Brown has 11 tackles, one interception and three pass break-ups.

Bellantoni said the decline in Brown’s numbers don’t indicate poor play. He said it indicates the opposite.

“Everyone thought he was such a good player last year because he made all these plays,” Bellantoni said. “He’s even a better player this year because he hasn’t made any of those plays – nobody wants to throw the ball to his side.”

In Brown’s absence, senior cornerback Terrance Sanders will start alongside junior B.J. Brown. Bellantoni said the pair is talented enough to keep the Panthers from altering their gameplan.

Bellantoni said freshman Quinten Ponius will become the third cornerback. Senior free safety Chad Cleveland might also play cornerback in some situations.

Eastern head coach Bob Spoo said with the exception of Brown, the Panthers are healthy heading into Saturday’s game with SEMO.

While the exact date of Brown’s return is unclear, Bellantoni has been impressed with Brown’s rehabbing.

“He seems to be working in rehab like he wants to get back out there more than he did in the preseason,” Bellantoni said. “So, we think he’s responding pretty well.

“It’s just a matter of when it heals up and he’ll be ready to go.”