SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 1, 2013
Eastern Illinois 40, San Diego State 19: Jimmy Garoppolo threw three touchdown passes - all in the first half - and the Panthers of the FCS took advantage of five turnovers to stun the host Aztecs.
Taylor Duncan rushed for 92 yards on 20 carries, including two back-breaking touchdowns in the second half as the defending Ohio Valley Conference champions – who entered the season ranked 23rd in the FCS coaches' poll – erased an early deficit and pulled away.
San Diego State, which returned most of its starters from last year's Mountain West title team, managed little offense after the first quarter. Adam Dingwell finished 27-for-63 for 318 yards, but was intercepted four times and also lost a fumble.
Eastern Illinois rallied from a six-point deficit to take a 19-16 lead into the break as Garoppolo passed for 246 of his 361 yards in the first half. The senior threw scoring passes of 37 and 4 yards to Erik Lora and an electrifying 62-yard catch-and-run to Keiondre Gober. San Diego State managed a 48-yard touchdown run by Colin Lockett, but had to settle for three Wes Feer field goals in the first half.
Feer tied the game at 19 on a 38-yard field goal early in the third quarter but Duncan capped a 12-play, 75-yard drive with a 2-yard plunge to give the Panthers the lead for good. Shephard Little returned a punt 60 yards for a score before Duncan put the game away with a 45-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter.