The Eastern football team has established an identity and it begins with its starting quarterback Jalen Whitlow.

Heading into their game against Ohio at 1 p.m. Saturday in Athens, Ohio, Panthers’ head coach Kim Dameron is no longer keeping his starter a secret.

“We’re going with Jalen and we’re going to stay with the way we were a week ago,” Dameron said. “We’re really starting to gain somewhat of an identity and I want it to be an identity that we can run from the tail back spot, quarterback spot, throw and have a balanced, well-rounded offense.”

The Panthers tied a program record rushing for 413 yards against Austin Peay. Eastern did it without a running back surpassing the 100-yard mark, as Whitlow led the team with 137 yards on the ground, breaking a record of his own.

Red-shirt junior Shepard Little missed his first game with an ankle injury and his status for Saturday’s game is still unknown.

“Well, we really don’t know yet,” Dameron said.

During Tuesday’s practice, Dameron said he expected Little to be more active, but he was not.

Eastern offensive coordinator Greg Stevens said it would be a game-time decision for Little to play or not following Thursday’s practice.

Without Little, the Panthers still showed versatility against Austin Peay, as four other running backs had carries. Dameron wants Eastern’s offense to establish the run early and having backs that can fill in as Little still recovers from his injury is a nice commodity to have for the first-year coach.

“You have to have depth and it’s important that we not only have depth, but we’re building more depth in our running back position,” Dameron said.

Eastern is pitted against Ohio for the first time in school history. The Bobcats, under head coach Frank Solich, have had their own dual-quarterback system this season, but after Derrius Vick injured his right knee against Idaho, Ohio named JD Sprague as the starter for Saturday.

Because Sprague has experience this season, coming into three games, including the entire second half against Idaho, which Ohio beat 36-24, Dameron said the only disadvantage the Bobcats have is not running the ball more out of the quarterback position.

“With just having the one quarterback it might cause them to not have as much quarterback-run play, but who knows,” he said. “It just gives them one less option.”

That does not mean Sprague is not a viable option. He finished 8-of-13 for 165 yards and rushed for 30 yards and scoring a rushing touchdown against the Vandals. Dameron said both quarterbacks have been running the same offense when they are in the game, so having Vick out does not change the game plan against Sprague.

Solich also changed his starting running back this week, as freshman A.J. Ouellette will make his first start of his career.

“He’s a complete back,” Solich said. “He’s a good receiver, a very good receiver actually out of the backfield, with his size and strength he has the ability to protect the passer when called upon.”

Ouellette leads the Bobcats with 202 rushing yards, averaging 5.3 yards per attempt and has two rushing touchdowns, while recording five receptions for 47 yards.

Against Idaho, Ouellette rushed for 132 yards and two touchdowns. Another Bobcat who had a breakout game against Idaho was linebacker Quentin Poling.

The red-shirt freshman led Ohio with 14 tackles and intercepted three passes, returning them for a combined 77 yards to set up scoring opportunities for the Bobcats’ offense.

“That’s one heck of a day,” Dameron said. “I don’t care who you are playing. That’s a heck of game there and obviously he’s a good player.”

Both teams enter Saturday’s matchup looking to win consecutive games for the first time this season. At 1-3, Eastern makes its second trip to an FBS school this season. The Panthers lost their season opener 42-20 to Minnesota.

Dameron said his team has head into Peden Stadium with one goal in mind.

“One thing is, we have to understand that we’re going over there to win a football game,” he said. “We’re not going over there to play. We’re not going over there to pick up a check. We’re going over there to win.”

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