Issue date: 11/13/09 Section: Sports

Junior running back Mon Williams takes off downfield during the game against Tennessee Tech on Oct. 17 at O'Brien Field. (Audrey Sawyer/The Daily Eastern News)

The Eastern football team looks to clinch at least a share of the Ohio Valley Conference Title when it hosts Tennessee Martin at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at O'Brien Field.

The Skyhawks are one of the hottest teams in the OVC right now and have played their way back into contention with back-to-back victories against Tennessee State and Murray State.

They feature the reigning OVC Offensive Player of the Week in running back Brandyn Young. Young rushed for 135 yards and two scores in last week's 28-7 victory over Tennessee State in Nashville, Tenn.

Young is just one of a number of Skyhawks who put together a potent offense that averages 26.6 points per game.

They rank second in the conference in scoring offense, total offense, rushing offense and passing offense.

But Eastern defensive coordinator Roc Bellantoni thinks they're better than second.

"I think they have the best offense in the conference," Bellantoni said. "I really do. I think they're better than Jacksonville State (whose offense is ranked No. 1 in the conference)."

Bellantoni pointed to last year's game as a cautionary tale for the Panthers.

In last season's meeting - which also was directly after a bye week for Eastern - the Skyhawks raked up 300 yards rushing and scored four touchdowns on the ground en route to a 29-26 victory in Martin, Tenn.

This time around, Bellantoni thinks his team will be better prepared.

"We just need to make sure to be gap-sound," he said. "We need to be better tacklers and go with the flow of the game. We'll make adjustments depending on what happens."

Bellantoni said he hoped the team's bye week would help with some of the injuries to his unit, but there are still some concerns entering Saturday's game.

Sophomore linebacker Cory Leman, who has been out since suffering a leg injury Oct. 10 against Penn State, remains out. As does sophomore free safety Carlos Reyna, who suffered broken ribs during the Oct. 24 victory against Jacksonville State. Senior safety Adrian Arrington is also out, and Bellantoni said Arrington is out for the rest of season for undisclosed medical reasons.

Senior safety Seymour Loftman and junior defensive end Nathan Galan, who have both played but been limited the past two weeks, are closer to 100 percent and will play Saturday.
Saturday's game is the start of a season-ending two-game home stand for the Panthers. Their final home game of the season is Thursday for Senior Day, a 5:30 p.m. kickoff against Tennessee State. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU.

Collin Whitchurch can be reached at 581-7944 or cfwhitchurch@eiu.edu.

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