Eastern (8-1, 5-0) will travel to Murray, Ky., Saturday to play against the Racers, but Panthers’ coach Dino Babers will not find out which quarterback he will face until he steps onto the field of Roy Stewart Stadium at noon.

On Tuesday, Murray State coach Chris Hatcher said freshman Maikhail Miller and junior Parks Frazier would compete during the week to determine who would start at quarterback against Eastern.

“We’ll let (Frazier) and Maikhail battle it out this week and make a decision at the end of the week,” Hatcher said. “It’s really no difference from what we always do. Whoever practices the best plays, or gets the first chance to play on Saturday.”

Frazier, who is the backup to Miller, has appeared in five games this season, which included Saturday’s appearance against Tennessee-Martin.

Heading out of the locker room, following halftime, Hatcher stuck with Miller, but not for long.

The game was tied at 17 when both teams entered halftime, but Miller struggled, Hatcher said, throwing two interceptions and completing less than half of his attempts (9-of-20) before being pulled from the game.

Frazier replaced Miller at the end of the third quarter, but did not fare well against the Skyhawks either, throwing an interception and completing 3-of-9 pass attempts for 96 yards without a touchdown as the Racers lost 45-17.

For Babers, the Saturday matchup will be his first in Roy Stewart Stadium. He said the Eastern defense will be prepared for both quarterbacks no matter what.

“The defensive coaches are doing a gameplan for all of the quarterbacks,” Babers said. “We’re at a stage in the season when there can be no mistakes. Everything has to be carefully studied and prepared for.”

Miller transferred to Murray State from Mississippi and began this season throwing nine touchdown passes in his first three games as a Racer.

In his last six games, Miller has thrown seven touchdowns and tossed seven interceptions as well.

Hatcher said Frazier is a more efficient passer than Miller, but that Miller has more of a play-making ability than Frazier. Frazier has also been learning the Murray State’s offensive system longer than Miller.

“Maikhail is more of a scramble and make things happen type of guy that’s still learning our offense and Parks has been in the system for a year now,” Hatcher said. “(Frazier) knows the system a little but better, limited mobility-wise, but can throw the ball better.”

If it is Miller or Frazier on Saturday, Babers said the Panthers will be ready regardless.

“We’re not going to prepare for one quarterback and not the other,” he said. “We will be ready for whichever quarterback they play and we will make no excuses about the outcome.”

This season the Eastern defense has held Ohio Valley teams to 155 passing yards per game, which is second in the conference to Jacksonville State (153.8).

With Miller taking the majority of the snaps this season, Eastern defensive lineman Pat Wertz said the Racers have been running the option, which the Panthers will need to stop if they want to stay undefeated in the OVC, Wertz said.

“We need to make sure we do our job, which is to fill our gaps and stick in there,” Wertz said. “I need to shuffle down and make sure the quarterback doesn’t get outside of me.”

Miller has 104 carries this season for 401 yards. He has also scored three rushing touchdowns.

Frazier has done little to no running at all, running the ball five times all season for negative three yards.

Wertz and the rest of the Eastern defense have the No. 1 pass efficiency defense against OVC teams this year, which stands at 105.8.

The Panthers have allowed seven passing touchdowns in five conference games, tied for second fewest with Tennessee-Martin and Murray State.

The opening kickoff is scheduled for noon on Saturday at Roy Stewart Stadium in Murray, Ky.

The game will be available online through the OVC Digital Network.

Aldo Soto can be reached at 581-2812 or asoto2@eiu.edu