The Murray State football team might only be 3-6 overall, with a 1-4 Ohio Valley Conference record, but if the Racers are known for one thing this season it is scoring.

Chris Hatcher’s offense has the highest point total in the OVC, averaging 38.2 points per game overall, as the coach is in the middle of his fifth season with Murray State.

The Racers have scored at least 21 points in seven of their nine games, while red-shirt sophomore quarterback KD Humphries leads the conference with 19 passing touchdowns overall and 14 in OVC play.

Despite a loss on Saturday at home against Tennessee-Martin, Murray State was still able to score 38 points in the defeat, with Humphries throwing five touchdown passes.

Eastern linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill said the Racers’ offense would present a good challenge for the Panthers’ No. 2 ranked defense in the OVC, with kickoff against Murray State starting at noon Saturday at O’Brien Field.

“They have a really good offense,” Grugier-Hill said. “This will be a good test for us.”

The Panthers’ defensive unit has only allowed two touchdowns in Eastern’s current three-game winning streak that has it at 4-1 in the OVC.

Murray State has the No. 1 passing offense in conference play, averaging 331.8 yards per game. Unlike Eastern’s offense, which is run-oriented, averaging 322.6 rushing yards per game in the OVC, the Racers rank No. 7, with 123.6 rushing yards against OVC teams.

Although the Panthers have the No. 3 pass defense in the conference, Grugier-Hill said it could get better.

“Our run defense is great and our pass defense we need to tighten it up a little bit,” he said. “In the beginning of the year we got some bombs on us, but this will be a good test. They’re going to throw the ball a lot.”

Murray State has run the ball 157 times in its five conference games, the fewest rushing attempts in the OVC. Humphries has the most pass attempts in OVC play with 243, and he is only one of two quarterbacks with more than 200 passes, as Tennessee State has the second most with 213.

The Murray State quarterback has thrown six interceptions this season. He will be facing Eastern’s defense that has 13 interceptions this year that is second most behind Eastern Kentucky’s 14 in the OVC.

“The takeaways, the turnovers and interceptions should be a high number this game that’s our goal,” Grugier-Hill said.

The junior linebacker is coming off a 19-tackle performance at Tennessee Tech, where he also forced a fumble and recorded his third interception this year.

Although Humphries does not present the running threat that other quarterbacks have against Eastern, he has shown the ability to run, scoring five rushing touchdowns, while running for 180 yards on 64 carries this season.

The Panthers’ defense is allowing 139.8 rushing yards per game in the OVC this season that is the second fewest in the conference. Against Tennessee Tech, Darian Stone was only able to rush for 34 yards on 24 carries, as the quarterback had his second lowest average per carry this season.

Although Humphries has done most of his damage through the air in conference play, Eastern’s defense is still ready for the quarterback to run.

“A dual-threat quarterback is going to make plays, they’re going to scramble out and the biggest thing is you can’t come out of coverage because if they scramble out and you think they’re going to run they’ll dump a 20-yard pass right over you,” Grugier-Hill said. “Let them get the five yards running and we just have to rally up to the short stuff.”

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