The Eastern football team’s bye week has come and gone and it couldn’t have happened at a better time.

While the Panthers are sitting pretty in first place in the Ohio Valley Conference, their bye week happened at the best possible time as a plethora of injuries needed rest for the stretch run.

Among others, the Panthers have been without senior safety Adrian Arrington, sophomore linebackers Corey Leman and Gordy Kickels, junior defensive end Nathan Galan, and sophomore offensive lineman Eric Zink in previous weeks.

The weekend off should do wonders in getting those key members and others ready for the final two weeks of the season and playoffs.

And while an outright OVC Title is within sight, there is still much work to do. Tennessee Martin and Tennessee State are no slouches, and the same type of preparation will be needed in these final two weeks as was needed in victories over the likes of Jacksonville State and Murray State.

A circle effect has been created within the OVC and the Panthers need to be careful not to fall victim to it.

Tennessee Martin, Eastern’s opponent Saturday, dismantled Tennessee State 28-7. Tennessee State pulled off a 20-17 victory over defending OVC Champion Eastern Kentucky, and Eastern Kentucky held off the Panthers 36-31 earlier this season.

If the Panthers beat Tennessee Martin, it will complete that circle of OVC teams defeating one another.

But the Skyhawks are red-hot right now. Tennessee State was arguably the hottest team in the OVC coming into its home contest against UT Martin Saturday, and the Skyhawks rolled over the Tigers without looking back.

They’re currently in the middle-of-the-pack in the OVC and are fighting for a playoff berth.

Yes, it’s definitely clear the Sykhawks will be chomping at the bit for an upset victory.

But the Panthers are fresh, arguably fresher than they’ve been since week one.

They’ve got two weeks of preparation behind them and it’s safe to say head coach Bob Spoo, defensive coordinator Roc Bellantoni and offensive coordinator Roy Wittke didn’t spent that week off enjoying the nice weather.

They spent it sitting in their dark offices watching hour after hour of game film on the Skyhawks, getting ready for what will be the Panthers’ biggest game to date.

But then again, every game is big at this point.

So the Panthers are back to the grind this weekend, looking to take the second-to-last step toward an OVC Title.

Collin Whitchurch can be reached at 581-7944 or cfwhitchurch@eiu.edu.