The difference in Eastern’s 11-point win Saturday was up in the air, literally.

With the wind howling at O’Brien Stadium, Eastern used the conditions to its advantage in the 31-20 win over Tennessee Tech. It was even an x-factor before the opening kickoff.

The Panthers received the kickoff to begin both halves as the Panthers mistakenly chose to defer to the second half at the beginning of the game and got the ball again after they decided to take the wind.

“I instructed our captains if we won the toss to defend the south goal,” Eastern head coach Bob Spoo said. “Somehow, it got lost in translation. We would’ve been kicking off to them to start the game if I had my way.”

Tennessee Tech took its first position in the second half inside Eastern’s red zone but the Golden Eagles committed a costly interception.

“It almost worked out for us after halftime,” Tennessee Tech head coach Mike Hennigan said. “I was surprised they didn’t take the wind to start the game.”

The Panthers’ offense used a short passing game and consistent running game into the gusts that got as high as 35 mph.

In the first quarter Eastern quarterback Mike Donato found fullback Dave Campione for a 25-yard gain into Tennessee Tech territory. Coming into the game, Campione, the junior converted linebacker had one catch this season and only six his entire three-year career.

Campione ended Saturday with two catches (both for first downs) for 37 yards.

“It was a great play by (Campione),” Donato said. “We just (threw) when we had to do it – whether the wind was in our face or not,”

Donato had his biggest game of the season completing 16 of 24 for 327 yards and two touchdowns. Six of those completions were to backs and tight ends and they accounted for 121 yards.

“Mike has done an excellent job of going through his primary and secondary reads,” Eastern offensive coordinator Mark Hutson said. “(Quarterbacks coach) Steve Brickey has gotten him to look to those check downs.”

When the sophomore signal caller had the ball in the second and fourth quarter, he made the crucial big throws downfield. Donato found sophomore receiver Ryan Voss five times for 124 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

“When we came out and threw short passes, it was a factor, but we moved past it,” Voss said. “When we did have the wind, we took advantage of it.”

The running game was done with more of a two-man effort as Vincent Webb and Travorus Bess combined for 113 yards on 40 carries.

“They both did a great job of getting yards when both teams knew that a run was coming,” Hutson said. “When they put that extra guy in the box, it’s hard to get them.”

With Eastern up 7 in the final quarter, the Panthers were able to use the wind that was behind them to their advantage by winning the field position battle. In the final 15 minutes, Eastern’s average start position was midfield compared to the Golden Eagles being backed up to their own 17-yard line.

“I thought we were moving the ball really well but at the end we had a lot of ground to cover and we had to throw into (the wind),” Hennigan said.