As Eastern steps onto the field today at Tennessee-Martin, the Panthers have potential to walk away with their first Ohio Valley Conference championship.

“It’s a matter of attitude,” head coach Bob Spoo said. “We have to go down there and take it. There’s something to live up to if we’re No. 6.”

Eastern, 6-1 overall, will battle the bottom of the league as the Skyhawks have yet to win a conference game in five years. But that doesn’t give the Panthers reason not to play to their full potential.

“They’re not to be taken lightly,” junior quarterback Tony Romo said. “They haven’t been able to get over the hump, and we don’t want to be the team that lets them. This is what you play the game for.”

A win for Eastern would secure a bid to the NCAA I-AA playoffs which start Dec. 1. But the Skyhawks will do everything in their control to disrupt Eastern’s season with its first conference loss.

Tennessee-Martin’s (1-7, 0-3) offense is averaging 219 yards per game on the ground, ranking the team second in the OVC in rushing.

The Skyhawks will also show Eastern’s defense an option offense, something the Panthers haven’t seen much this season. And with a mid-week game kicking off today at 6:30 p.m., Eastern has had less time to prepare for the chance in offenses.

“It’s option-oriented, and our whole schedule has been thrown off because of a Thursday night game,” head coach Bob Spoo said. “It’s a matter of getting enough reps and looks at them running at you.

“We are fortunate to have an excellent scout quarterback to run that. The more looks we get, the better we’ll be. Option football is different from other forms. It’s very assignment-competent. When you don’t see it every week, it can pose some problems.”

On the other hand, Tennessee-Martin has struggled on the pass, completing just 9-of-51 passes over the last three games with seven interceptions.

On the defensive side, the Skyhawks have allowed 388 yards per game, second-worst in the league. This would allow the Panthers to run the ball, improving both their rushing and passing percentages, before the end of the season.

“The mental approach comes into play,” Spoo said. “If we think we’ve arrived and we don’t have to execute, we’re going to have problems. If we really have the resolve and intent to win, we have the potential to do a lot of those things.”

Eastern’s offense is led by senior J.R. Taylor, now 18th in the nation in rushing, averaging 115.6 yards per game. He is paired with teammate Andre Raymond, who gained 213 all-purpose yards last week against Tennessee-State.

Romo has completed 21-of-36 passes with senior wide receiver on the other end, setting a school record last week with 239 receiving yards.

Eastern’s defense has limited its opponents to 17 points per game, with the exception of Tennessee State and San Diego State. Nick Ricks and Fred Miller continue to lead the defensive end, ranking second and third respectively in tackles for the league.

“We still need to be cautious and just respect the teams for what they are,” Spoo said. “We understand that unless you’re mentally alert, we are vulnerable. The less alert we are and the less importance we put on this game, the more vulnerable we are.

“We’ve come too far to stub our tie by taking something for granted.”