The Eastern football team has been marred by turnovers in losses this year, but has used them to its advantage, which for Panthers’ coach Kim Dameron is a focal point heading into Saturday’s game against Tennessee State.

Coming off a plus-five turnover margin against Southeast Missouri on the road, Dameron said the Panthers must continue to force more turnovers to win.

“It is by far the No. 1 thing we have to do to win a football game,” he said.

At 2-1 in the Ohio Valley Conference, Eastern has the best turnover margin in the league at plus six. The Panthers have generated nine turnovers, including six interceptions in the past two games.

When Eastern has won the turnover battle this year it has come away with a win. The Panthers’ lone loss in conference play, a 36-33 overtime defeat against Eastern Kentucky on Oct. 11, saw the Panthers commit three fumbles leading to their loss. Those three turnovers against the Colonels are the only turnovers Eastern has committed in three OVC games.

“We have to not turnover the ball on offense and we have to make sure we’re continuing to get turnovers defensively,” Dameron said.

The turnover bug has hit Tennessee State in its current three-game losing streak. The Tigers have had seven interceptions thrown in their last three games.

Tennessee State quarterback Michael German is coming off a two-touchdown, 341-yard performance against Tennessee-Martin, but it was not enough, as he also threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown. Tigers’ coach Rod Reed said the senior quarterback is simply trying to do too much this season.

With a running game that is averaging a conference worst 82.8 yards per game in OVC play, Reed said German is succumbing to the added weight on his shoulders as the Tigers’ offense has become one-sided.

“I think our inability to run the ball up to this point has put a lot of pressure on Mike to force a lot of things and try to force the issue, which he shouldn’t,” Reed said. “He’s got to understand that he’s got a good defense. Protect the football and let the chips fall where they may.”

German has the most interceptions in the OVC, with 11, which includes six against league opponents. As a team, Tennessee State has nine turnovers in its three-game losing streak. The three losses have all come by a touchdown or less.

“That’s not winning football and we have to get back to playing winning football and in particular protecting the football,” Reed said.

Eastern quarterback Jalen Whitlow has not thrown an interception since throwing three against Illinois State on Sept. 13 in Normal. The Panthers lost that game 34-15. Since then he has only fumbled once at Eastern Kentucky.

“Turnovers is the most important statistic that we have,” Dameron said. “It’s talked about every day, every week to protect the football. Protect the football. Protect the football. And defensively attack the football.”

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