It looked as if the final game of Eastern head coach Bob Spoo’s career might end in a shootout after the Panthers and the University of Southern Illinois Salukis combined for a total of 49 first half points.

The Panthers went into halftime with a 28-21 lead, but were unable to hang on, falling 45-28.

Winds blew up to 24 mph last Saturday, making the passing and kicking game exceptionally challenging for both teams.

The Panthers elected to give Southern Illinois the advantage of having the wind at its back in the beginning of the second half in order to have the same advantage come the fourth quarter.

The Salukis exploded for 24 points in the third quarter, building a sizable lead, which the Panthers were unable to bounce back from.

Junior running back Jewel Hampton led the Salukis on the ground, rushing for 110 yards and scoring twice. Hampton, a transfer student from the University of Iowa, averaged 5.5 yards per carry, and received 20 total touches on the day.

It wasn’t just Hampton the Panther defense had trouble defending.

Sophomore quarterback Kory Faulkner had just under 100 yards rushing, finishing with 97 yards on the ground and two touchdowns.

Through the air, Faulkner completed 16 of 22 passes, throwing for 234 yards and one touchdown.

Faulkner hooked up with Hampton four times, as Hampton was the Salukis’ leading receiver with four catches for 59 yards.

Southern Illinois offensive coordinator Kalen DeBour said before the game his offense works best after building a large lead.

“Our offense is going to thrive when we’re playing with a lead where you can run the ball and then the play-action opens up as the game goes along,” he said.

For the Panthers, sophomore quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo completed 22 of 34 passes for 276 yards while also throwing three interceptions. Garoppolo’s only touchdown came when he connected with junior wide receiver Chris Wright. Wright led the Panthers with six catches for 120 yards and the lone score.

It was on the ground, a place the Eastern team has lacked success over the course of the year that carried the offense. Red-shirt junior running back Jake Walker scored three touchdowns in the first half, totaling 67 yards. Despite finishing with under 100 yards, Walker became the first Eastern running back to score three touchdowns in a game since the 2008 season.

Spoo had previously said that the rushing game was one facet the Panthers needed to improve on in order to be successful.

Walker, who was hampered by an injury early in the season, has since rebounded, scoring ten touchdowns this season.

The Panthers finished their season with a record of 2-9 and 1-7 in the Ohio Valley Conference.

The Panthers and Salukis will meet again next season for the Panthers’ season opener on Aug. 30 at home. Next season will be the first time in 25 years that someone other than Bob Spoo will be head coach of the Panthers.

Dominic Renzetti can be reached at 581-7942 or [email protected].