Eastern got everything they asked for Saturday except for a win.

The Panthers received an at large berth, a rematch with Illinois State, a playoff game at O’Brien Stadium and still couldn’t avoid their seventh straight playoff loss in a 24-13 defeat in the first round of the Division I Football Championships.

Illinois State earned its fifth straight win against Eastern, and third in a row in Charleston, by forcing three Panther interceptions, returning two of them for touchdowns.

Eastern quarterback Cole Stinson struggled all day, as the Panther offense managed only 138 total yards against the 53rd ranked defense in the country.

“(The offense) couldn’t get any rhythm,” Eastern acting head coach Mark Hutson said. “I’m just so disappointed in the outcome.”

The junior transfer from Ball State was 15 of 30 for 79 yards and three interceptions. Stinson failed to find his pair of primary targets, as wide receivers Ryan Voss and Micah Rucker both went without a catch.

In a game where 21 total points were scored by the defense, Illinois State’s high-powered offense was held in check as well. Junior quarterback Luke Drone came into his first playoff game with only five interceptions this season and ended the afternoon with a career-high four.

“I think we pressured him more than the first game this season,” Eastern defensive coordinator Roc Bellantoni said. “It was a game plan that I think will give them fits later in the playoffs.”

With 6 minutes, 28 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Eastern’s offense was coming on to the field with a three-point lead and the momentum of ISU’s fourth turnover. Eastern managed only three yards on three plays including two false start penalties and only took 2:43 off the clock.

Redbirds tailback Pierre Rembert ran for 122 yards (80 in the second half) on 27 carries with one game-winning touchdown.

The finalist for the 2006 Walter Payton Award, given the nation’s best I-AA player, broke the ISU school record for rushing yards in a single season Saturday with 1,622 eclipsing the 14-year-old mark. The Michigan transfer also broke the game wide open, with 42 yards rushing in a scoring drive that only lasted 2:07 and culminated in a 18-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter to put ISU ahead 17-13.

“(Eastern) thought the game was over,” Rembert said.

Eastern had drives of three plays or less in four of its six first half drives but still went into the locker room with only a 10-6 deficit. The only Illinois State touchdown came when Stinson attempted to find receiver Jermaine Mobley when Mobley was covered by two ISU defenders.

Redbirds freshman cornerback Jason Tate picked off the pass and used five blockers in front to lead him to the end zone.

Eastern’s defense scored the Panthers only touchdown early in the final quarter as senior cornerback Terrance Sanders returned a Drone pass 87 yards for a touchdown to put Eastern ahead 13-10. On third-and-one, Drone threw a play action pass into double coverage intended for fullback Kendric Meredith but the ball was wrestled away by sophomore safety Seymour Loftman and Sanders grabbed it in the air.

“I didn’t expect that to happen,” said Illinois State head coach Denver Johnson. “I think the film will prove out that the flat was open and we should have taken the lay up for the first down.”

Eastern senior tailback Vincent Webb ran for only 54 yards (a career-low as a starter at O’Brien Stadium) on 14 carries in his final game in a Panther uniform. The three-year starter finished with 4,233 yards in his career, surpassing Wille High’s 4,231 yards and earning him second-place on Eastern’s all-time rush list.

“I’ve said it before and if you want to stop somebody’s running game you can,” Johnson said.

The loss marks the fourth straight playoff loss at home for Eastern, which makes their I-AA playoff record at 3-11, with its last win coming in the 1989 playoffs. The Panthers have never gotten past the second round in school history.

“Our expectations were higher than the OVC (championship),” Hutson said.