Just four games remain in the regular season as Eastern’s football team finds itself in the middle of a playoff race as it enters the stretch run of the season.

With games against Ohio Valley Conference foes Eastern Kentucky, Tennessee Tech and Southeast Missouri, the Panthers will need to win at least two of those three games to be in a good position to secure a playoff bid come late November.

If they slip up, the Panthers could be faced with a win-or-go-home scenario in a hostile road environment against a very unfamiliar Central Arkansas team in the season finale, or they could have their playoff hopes dashed prior to their trip to Arkansas.

To begin the stretch run, the Panthers will be traveling to Richmond, Ky., to take on the Eastern Kentucky Colonels on Saturday in a game that could decide the Panthers fate as a front-runner in the OVC.

This game will feature three Walter Payton Award candidates as Eastern quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and the Panthers will be going up against quarterback T.J.

Pryor, running back Matt Denham and the Colonels.

Outside of the three players of the year candidates, this game will have Eastern’s prolific offense that ranks third in the nation in total offense going against a defense that ranks as the best in the OVC in Eastern Kentucky.

A win could have the Panthers holding a share of first place while a loss would move Eastern to 3-2 in the OVC, and would put them in a must win situation against Tennessee Tech and Southeast Missouri.

Fortunately, even if the Panthers do lose to Eastern Kentucky, they will round out the OVC portion of their schedule against teams with losing records as both Tennessee Tech and Southeast Missouri are in the basement of the OVC.

The games against Tennessee Tech and Southeast Missouri provide Eastern with a formidable chance at making a run at a conference championship, but both opponents could crash the Panthers playoff run prematurely.

Tennessee Tech ranks third in the OVC in scoring, averaging 32.3 points per game, but its defense has been its breaking point as opponents average 42.6 points per game.

Individually, quarterback Tre Lamb and wide receiver Da’Rick Rogers lead Tennessee Tech. Lamb ranks third in the conference in total offense and touchdowns thrown, while Rogers ranks third in receiving yards per game and second in touchdowns.

As for Southeast Missouri, it has struggled offensively, averaging just 24.7 points per game. The Redhawks also find themselves near the bottom of the conference in touchdowns, total yards and pass offense.

Despite its deficiency in the passing game, Southeast Missouri boasts the best rushing attack in the OVC, averaging 234.4 rushing yards per game. Levi Terrell leads the Redhawks rushing attack, recording 120.6 yards per game. Duel-threat quarterback Scott Lathrop also contributes in the rushing game, totaling 56.3 yards on the ground per game.

Following games against Tennessee Tech and Southeast Missouri, Eastern will round out the regular season against a nationally ranked opponent in Central Arkansas. The No. 14 ranked Bears are 6-2 this season, and are led by a quartet of running backs and a duel-threat quarterback in Wynrick Smothers.

The upcoming opponents will undoubtedly provide the Panthers with their fair share of troubles, but the road to the playoffs is open and the Panthers may be taking their first trip to the postseason since 2009.

Jordan Pottorff can be reached at 581-2812 or jbpottorff@eiu.edu.