The Panthers lost their first Ohio Valley Conference road game of the season.

The team fell short to the Jacksonville State Gamecocks by a score of 28-21.

The Gamecock’s Jason Horton picked off sophomore quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo’s third down pass with just over two minutes to play in the fourth quarter, leaving the Panthers down by seven.

The Panthers would get the ball back once more after a stalled Gamecock drive.

After a 39-yard punt from Coty Blanchard, they started at the one yard line.

The first play of the drive was a pass to junior wide receiver Kenny Whittaker, who fumbled the ball.

Jacksonville recovered, and ended the game at the Panthers’ 10-yard line.

Garoppolo completed 20 of 42 passes and threw two touchdowns and two interceptions. He threw for 214 total yards in the game.

Garoppolo has a thrown total of 23 touchdowns in his Eastern career, moving him into the No. 10 spot on the all-time passing touchdowns list.

Junior wide receiver Chris Wright, who finished the game with three catches for 71 yards and one touchdown, also found himself in the Eastern record books.

After the game, Wright moved into the No. 10 spot for all-time career touchdown receptions.

Defensive coordinator Roc Bellantoni said the team played well, but didn’t execute when needed.

“I think we played well enough to win at times, but our execution was (also) lacking at times,” he said.

Bellantoni’s defensive unit gave up a total of 415 yards of total offense by the Gamecocks, 294 of which came on the ground.

Jacksonville State’s quarterback and punter Coty Blanchard completed 13 for 19 of his passes, totaling 121 yards and two touchdowns.

On six punts, Blanchard totaled 207 yards, averaging 34.5 yards per punt.

Running backs Washaun Ealey and Calvin Middleton combined for 251 yards on the ground against the Panthers.

Bellantoni described their competition in simple words.

“I think Jacksonville State is pretty damn good,” he said.

Red-shirt junior running back Jake Walker returned to the starting lineup for the Panthers after being injured in the team’s first game of the season, missing the second game and appearing in just one play in the team’s third game.

Walker ended the game with 19 rushes for 88 yards and one touchdown.

The loss brings the Panthers to a record of 1-3 overall, as well as an 0-2 record in the OVC.

Jacksonville State improves to 3-1 overall with an undefeated 2-0 OVC record.

Jacksonville State is currently tied for first place in the OVC with Tennessee Tech, while Eastern sits in last place.

“I’ve said it before, the OVC has been the way it is now,” Bellantoni said.

The Panthers will be on the road again next week, as they travel to Southeast Missouri.

The game will be at 6 p.m. on Oct. 1 in Cape Girardeau, Mo.

Dominic Renzetti can be reached at 5817944 or [email protected].