Shepard Little only needed one half to record his 10th career 100-yard rushing game, as he led the Eastern football team with 130 yards and a touchdown, earning him Ohio Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Week.

The red-shirt junior did not play in the first half, but carried the ball 12 times in the final two quarters, including a 50-yard touchdown run, with 4:04 left in the fourth quarter that put Eastern ahead 28-3 over Tennessee State.

Little has now rushed for at least 100 yards three times this season.

Eastern coach Kim Dameron did not disclose why Little was absent in the first half, but said the running back certainly provided to boost to the Panthers’ offense.

“He came back and I tell you this, he is a warrior,” Dameron said. “He runs hard, he’s got great eyes and has great vision. He gets his pads down and I couldn’t be more proud of him and the way he came out and competed in the second half.”

At halftime, Eastern led Tennessee State 7-0, but prior to Jalen Whitlow’s 28-yard touchdown pass to Adam Drake, the Panthers’ offense sputtered against the Tigers’ No. 3 ranked defense.

The Tigers were able to force six punts in the first half, including three outs following the Drake touchdown.

Little led the Panthers’ rushing attack that amassed 294 yards against Tennessee State. In the second half, when Little played, Eastern rushed for a total of 233 yards, outscoring the Tigers 21-3, securing the win and a 3-1 OVC record.

“To be honest, offensively Little was the difference in the game,” Dameron said.

Eastern’s second win in a row was also sparked by defensive back Anthony Goodman, who had a 46-yard interception return for a touchdown in the third quarter that expanded the Panthers lead to 14-3.

Goodman filled in for DJ Bland, who went down earlier in the game.

“I had to take all the reps and I was a little winded, but I stayed strong mentally and just kept telling myself to think about the basics and that got me through the game,” Goodman said.

The junior from Lancing, Mich., read the Tigers’ screen pass and immediately knew what to expect. He then picked off Ronald Butler and returned his third career touchdown, with 2:35 left in the third quarter.

“I’m thinking, get to the end zone, get to the end zone,” he said. “That’s every defensive back’s dream. Catch the ball and run it into the end zone.”

Goodman was named OVC Defensive Player of the Week, as he added four tackles and a pass break up.

Tennessee State’s offense scored its lowest point total of the season, while the Panthers forced three turnovers.

“I felt like we came into this game really prepared and we held them to three points, so that felt pretty good to do that and get the win on Homecoming,” Goodman said.

Eastern is currently third in the OVC standings, behind Eastern Kentucky, which is 4-1 and Jacksonville State, which is 4-0. The Panthers have already lost to the Colonels, but with a road matchup left against Jacksonville State, Eastern can win at least a share of the conference title if it wins out.

The Panthers are back on the road to play Tennessee Tech at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in Cookeville Tenn.

The Golden Eagles are coming off a 49-3 loss at Jacksonville State that dropped them to 2-3 in the OVC.

That road loss to the Gamecocks came a week after Tennessee Tech upset Eastern Kentucky 39-31 at home.

“They’re an improved football team, both offensively and defensively,” Dameron said. “For them to come back against Eastern Kentucky I know how good Eastern Kentucky is, Tennessee Tech can be an explosive football team.”

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