The Eastern football team is currently on a five-game losing streak and still seeking its first Ohio Valley Conference win of the season.

The Panthers will travel to Murray, Ky. to take on the Murray State Racers for their homecoming game.

Eastern Head Coach Bob Spoo said that his team did not have a competitive edge in last week’s loss against Eastern Kentucky.

“Eastern Kentucky came in well prepared, well coached, and we were shellacking,” Spoo said.

Spoo said the team is in the process of regrouping to be ready for the remainder of the season.

“We’re trying to regroup and get ready for the next five games,” he said.

The all-time series between the Panthers and Racers stands with Eastern leading 14-12.

Murray State won the last meeting between the two, topping the Panthers 38-28.

The win ended a seven-game losing streak for the Racers.

“They came in here last year and took us a part,” Spoo said. “They’re better defensively than they have been in a long time.”

The Panthers will again be without red-shirt senior wide receiver Lorence Ricks, who is still recovering from an injury he suffered against Tennessee Tech.

In last week’s game against Eastern Kentucky, Ricks was seen on the sidelines on crutches and in a walking boot.

Sophomore quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has thrown a total of four touchdowns this season, two of which were caught by Ricks. Spoo said there is no timetable for Ricks’ return.

The Panthers will be facing an offensive passing game that averages 337 yards per game in the air and ranks fourth overall in the Football Conference Subdivision.

Murray State’s no-huddle offense averages close to 80 plays a game while averaging 35 points a game.

Murray State quarterback Casey Brockman is one of the nation’s best, currently ranked fourth in total offense and averaging 332.83 yards per game.

He is also ranked third in the nation for passing yards and is averaging 328 yards per game.

Brockman’s best performance came against Tennessee State, where he threw for 600 yards and seven touchdowns.

He also caught a touchdown pass in that game.

The Racers have 10 different players who have recorded receiving touchdowns so far this season.

Head coach Chris Hatcher said the team does not have a solid No. 1 receiver and that his quarterback likes to spread the ball around.

“We’ve had a lot of bad luck at receiver from the stand point of not having a lot of continuity because guys are hurt,” he said.

The game between the Racers and Panthers is set to kickoff at 3 p.m. Saturday at Stewart Stadium.

The Racers have a record of 3-3 overall this season and have an OVC record of 1-2.

Dominic Renzetti can be reached at 581-7942 or dcrenzetti@eiu.edu.