Eastern goes on the road this week to face Tennessee Tech on its homecoming as they each hope to stay in the hunt for the Ohio Valley Conference title.

The Panthers (4-4, 3-2) are 1-3 on the road this season, 0-2 in the OVC, while the Golden Eagles (5-3, 2-2) are a perfect 4-0 at home this season and are hoping to rebound from a 20-17 loss to Samford.

“Any time a team can win on the road it’s important,” Tennessee Tech Head Coach Matt Hennigan said. “But no matter where you play it’s still the same 60-minute game.”

Both teams are in a must win situation for their three remaining games as they hope to catch Jacksonville State (6-1, 4-1) for the OVC championship. And the Panthers need to reverse their road luck if they want their share of the conference crown.

“Our back is against the wall right now,” Eastern Head Coach Bob Spoo said. “We have two of our last three games on the road, so we can’t let down.”

This week’s match up will feature the top two defenses in the league. Tennessee Tech is allowing just 307 yards per game to lead the OVC with Eastern right behind them allowing 322 yards. The Panthers gave up just 22 rushing yards last week to Tennessee State and are second in the conference with 103 yards allowed per game, but Tennessee Tech trails right behind them with 115 rushing yards allowed per game. One advantage Tennessee Tech has on defense is points allowed per game, 22, while Eastern is giving up 30 points per game.

“If you look at the OVC stats we are pretty similar teams,” Hennigan said.

The similarities continue when looking at the offenses. Eastern is third in rushing in the OVC (177 yards per game) and Tennessee Tech is fourth in the conference (155). The Tigers are third in the conference in passing yards per game with 232 yards. Eastern is fourth with 209. Each of the teams are averaging 386 yards per game.

“This is about an even game and it’s going to come down to who makes the least mistakes,” Eastern defensive coordinator Roc Bellantoni said.

With the ground games on each side of the ball matched up so evenly, Hennigan believes that this game could come down to who can supplement their run game with a passing attack.

“They have a little size advantage at quarterback,” Spoo said. “And we’re a little dinged up at receiver.”

Tennessee Tech’s 6-foot-4 quarterback, Robert Craft, has thrown for 1767 yards this season, averaging out to 212 yards per game, and what do you know Eastern’s senior quarterback Matt Schabert has thrown for 1366 or about 210 yards per game.