So it all comes down to this.

Which isn’t much of a shocker for those who had the Panther magnet schedule stuck to their refrigerators. Panther head coach Bob Spoo certainly saw it coming when he saw Murray State listed as the final game of the season.

But Spoo has to have some Deja vu when the Panthers play at Murray State Saturday at 1:30 p.m. The Panther faithful brought down the goal posts after Eastern’s season-ending, Ohio Valley Conference championship-clinching victory at O’Brien Stadium last year.

But there are plenty of reasons why this year’s game will be tougher than last year’s 37-6 cakewalk past the Racers.

The Panthers have won only once in their last six tries at Stewart Stadium.

Here is how the teams match up:

Offense

The Racers own the OVC’s strongest running attack that is powered by senior Billy Blanchard. The 5-foot-11, 234-pound tailback averages 6.8 yards per carry and rushed for over 100 yards in four games this season. He is 54 yards away from cracking the 1,000-yard barrier.

Murray State averages 256.3 rushing yards per game this season – sixth in the nation.

Spoo classifies racer quarterback Stewart Childress as dangerous. The 6-foot-2, 201-pound junior averages 157.6 yards per game, and has thrown only five interceptions all season while throwing 11 touchdowns.

“(Childress) doesn’t do anything to hurt the team; he’s a smart quarterback,” Spoo said. “And their running game is one of the best in the nation, so we really have to respect that.”

Junior college transfer split end Deandre Green has five touchdown catches and averages 80.2 receiving yards per game.

Panther senior quarterback and Walter Payton Award Candidate Tony Romo is now third in the nation in pass efficiency rating (159.1) and has thrown for 2,641 yards and 31 touchdowns. Will Bumphus has been on the other end of Romo’s touchdown passes 13 times, only 11 of his catches didn’t add points to the scoreboard. J.R. Taylor leads the Panthers in rushing (209 carries for 1,260 yards) and was named the Sports Network’s national co-offensive Player of the Week.

Edge: Panthers

Defense

Like Eastern, Murray State has struggled defensively, but has been strong at takeaways. Murray State is +10 in giveaway/takeaways. Eastern is -1. The Racers are No. 69 in the nation in defense. The Panthers weigh in at No. 107.

Murray State has allowed an average of 16 points per game in its last four contests.

Senior strong safety Bobby Sanders leads Murray State in total tackles with 76. He has five tackles for a loss and two sacks. Sophomore reserve right end Brian Moss leads the team with 3.5 sacks.

Junior linebacker Nick Ricks leads Eastern with 127 total tackles and 18 for losses. Sophomore Jacob Mauer continued his breakout season with four tackles last week against Florida Atlantic, he has 57 this season.

“We know we won’t be able to stop them,” Spoo said. “But we hope we’ll be able to curtail them.”

Edge: Racers

Special teams

Freshman place kicker Steve Kuehn has made three of nine field goals and 37 of 49 extra point kicks. Murray State junior kicker Shane Andrus made 8 of 11 field goals including one from 52 yards.

Racer punter Brian Bivens averages a league-leading 42-yards-per punt and set a league record Oct. 26 against SEMO with an average of 73.5 yards per punt on two attempts. Bivens’ boots could be an advantage for Eastern return specialist junior Andre Raymond. Raymond hasn’t had many returns in recent games because kickers kick away from him — a practice Bivens doesn’t partake in.

Edge: Racers

Final Score: Panthers 41,

Racers 31