As Eastern looks to get its record-setting 13th straight conference victory, the Panthers have spent most of this week dealing with distractions.

The Panthers understand they will take the field against a Murray State team that is winless in conference, has one of the worst statistical defenses in I-AA football and that a seventh straight Homecoming win would set up a crucial game with Tennessee-Martin.

Add on the mounting injuries to key players on both sides of the ball and a near 28-point collapse last week, and the coaches have reason to be concerned.

“I think we haven’t played a complete game to this point,” Eastern acting head coach Mark Hutson said.

Eastern wide receivers Ryan Voss and Jermaine Mobley will suit up and play after missing severe time.

Voss suited up last week at Eastern Kentucky but did not catch a pass, and Mobley was not medically cleared for the 28-21 win over the Colonels.

On the other side of the ball, Eastern might be missing defensive end Pierre Walters, linebacker Lucious Seymour, defensive lineman Michael Torres and safety Seymour Loftman.

“(We are) going in with the assumption they won’t play. (We’re) expecting the worse and hoping for the best,” Eastern defensive coordinator Roc Bellantoni said.

Eastern tailback Vincent Webb Jr. could make more history this Saturday, as the senior needs only 13 yards rushing to pass J.R. Taylor for third all-time in school history.

And if the St. Louis native can get in the end zone one time, he will be third in that record as well.

Webb is coming off a 124-yard performance at EKU in only 14 carriers and is the last player to break a run over 75 yards on the Racers defense taking an 83-yarder for a touchdown.

“I really like the (Vincent) Webb kid. I think he’s a very good running back,” Murray State head coach Matt Griffin said in his weekly press conference.

Taking away the pair of I-A games, Eastern is allowing 238 yards of total offense, which would rank them sixth in the nation among I-AA teams. However, that’s not the numbers they value most.

“We go into every game wanting to win the turnover battle,” Bellantoni said. “The yards and all that don’t mean anything. Scoring defense and turnover ratio are the two most important stats in football.”

Murray State comes into Charleston not only dead last in the Ohio Valley Conference in nearly every defensive category, but also near the bottom nationally.

Racers defensive coordinator Rich Nagy has five freshman starters, and the Racers are giving up more than 426 yards per game.

“We have our hands full defensively, that’s for sure,” Griffin said.

After three straight losses, the Racers have gone back to a two-quarterback system as Panther fans will see both freshman Zac Bernard and junior Ryne Salyer behind center Saturday.

In the 33-7 loss to Samford last week, the Racers opened the game with Bernard but after four turnovers and no points, Salyer came in relief and ended the game 10 of 20 for 101 yards but also two interceptions.

“Zach wasn’t sharp, there’s no doubt about that,” Griffin said. “When you’re not playing well, you try to do something to get a spark. We have to find a way to get some continuity offensively.”

The Panthers have won every Homecoming game since 1999, with the last loss coming against Tennessee Tech, a 14-7 heartbreaker.