Illinois State wide receiver Lechein Neblett caught two touchdown passes, while the Redbirds’ defense forced five turnovers leading to a 34-15 win over Eastern at Hancock Stadium in Normal on Saturday.

The Panthers dropped to 0-3 for the first time since 2010, as the Redbirds improved to 2-0 this season.

Junior quarterback Jalen Whitlow played in all but one series of the second half, but struggled after leading the Panthers to a touchdown in their opening drive in the third quarter.

Trailing 21-6 at halftime, Whitlow capped off Eastern’s lone touchdown drive with a 14-yard run less than two minutes into the third quarter. Unfortunately, Whitlow proceeded to throw back-to-back interceptions in the third quarter leading to 10 points for Illinois State.

Whitlow’s second interception came with less than six minutes left in the third quarter, with Illinois State leading 24-13. On third down and seven, the Panthers called a middle screen for tight end Jeff LePak. As the Redbirds’ defensive line closed in on Whitlow, he throw it to the middle of the field, but Illinois State defensive lineman Teddy Crowin stepped in front of LePak for the interception.

Illinois State did not take long to capitalize. Tre Roberson connected with Neblett for a 39-yard touchdown along the Illinois State sideline two plays after the Whitlow interception, giving the Redbirds a 31-13 lead with 5:33 in the third quarter.

Neblett caught his first touchdown on the Redbirds’ first play of their drive, following a Panthers’ punt with less than nine minutes in the second quarter. Roberson faked a handoff to running back Marshaun Coprich and then rolled right, planted his feet and heaved a 61-yard pass to Neblett to give the Redbirds a 14-3 lead with 8:44 left in the first half.

Meanwhile, the Panthers’ offense was picking up yards but not finishing drives. For the third straight game, Eastern lost the turnover battle, as the Panthers also lost a fumble at the Illinois State one-yard line in the fourth quarter and Andrew Manley threw an interception in the first half.

Whitlow threw his third interception of the game in the fourth quarter, when his pass deflected off an Illinois State player, then bounced off of LePak and into the hands of Pat Meehan.

Taylor Duncan’s lost fumble at the one-yard line, was the Panthers’ third turnover inside the opposing team’s 10-yard line this season. Eastern had four of its five turnovers in the second half.

The Panthers’ defense made it 34-15 with 8:43 left, picking up a safety after the Duncan fumble. Eastern linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill picked off Roberson in the first half for Illinois State’s only turnover of the afternoon.

Illinois State began the game with an efficient running game, as Coprich rushed for 56 yards on six carries in the opening drive of the game. His last attempt ended in the end zone, as he took it in from a yard out, capping off a seven-play, 65-yard drive.

Coprich added a second rushing touchdown with five seconds left in the first half, running in for a two-yard touchdown that put the Redbirds ahead 21-6.

Eastern running back Shepard Little limped off the field after his rushing attempt and did not return until the middle of the second quarter. When Little did return, he carried the ball twice, but left again. He did not play for the rest of the game after his seven-yard carry in the second quarter.

The Panthers host Austin Peay at 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 20 in O’Brien Field to start Ohio Valley Conference play. Eastern is the two-time defending conference champion.

Aldo Soto can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].