Photo by Tab Brockman
Date (Time): Nov. 15 (1 p.m. EST)
Opponent: #18 Eastern Kentucky
Site (Venue): Richmond, Ky. (Roy Kidd Stadium)
Audio: Froggy 103.7 FM (PxP: Neal Bradley; Commentary: Dave Winder)
Web Stream: OVCDigitalNetwork.com
Live Stats: GoRacers.com
MSU Record (Streak): 3-7, 1-5 OVC (L2)
EKU Record (Streak): 8-2, 5-2 OVC (L1)
All-Time Series vs. EKU (Streak): MSU trails 26-43-4 (W1)
Last Meeting: MSU 34, EKU 27 OT (Nov. 23, 2013 – Murray, Ky.)
MSU Last Game: L 26-48 at Eastern Ill. (Nov. 8)
EKU Last Game: L 6-20 vs. #4 Jacksonville St. (Nov. 8)
MSU Next Game: Nov. 22 vs. Tennessee St.
MSU Next Home: Nov. 22 vs. Tennessee St.
The Game
Murray State will play its final road game of the season this week at Eastern Kentucky. Kick-off from Roy Kidd Stadium in Richmond is set for 1p.m. EST and can be seen on OVCDigitalNetwork.com and heard locally on Froggy 103.7 with Neal Bradley and Dave Winder.
Saturday Weather
Temperatures during the day will reach a high of 39° F with mostly sunny skies and just a 0% chance of rain. The wind will be minimal out of the northwest at six miles per hour.
vs. Eastern Kentucky
The Racers 26-43-4 all-time against the Colonels and are 11-23-2 in Richmond. MSU snapped an eight-game skid to the Colonels in overtime in Murray last season, but haven’t won at Roy Kidd since 2004.
MSU’s Last Time Out
Even the first 100-yard kickoff return in MSU history was not enough to propel the Racers past EIU in 48-26 loss. After fumbling near the goal line in its opening possession, the Racers quickly found themselves in an early 21-0 hole that proved impossible to climb out of.
However, down 21-0, Pokey Harris finally put MSU on the board with a bit of history becoming the first Racer and 11th OVC player to go 100 yards on a kickoff return for a touchdown. Harris finished the game with 204 all-purpose yards with 149 on returns, 47 rushing and eight receiving. For his efforts he was named as OVC Specialist of the Week.
KD Humphries had another solid effort as her went for 300-plus yards for the third time this season. He ended the day at 29-for-38 for 311 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
For the second time this season, MSU had two 100-plus hard receivers in Jeremy Harness and Janawski Davis. Harness had 112 yards on nine catches, while Davis had four receptions for 108 yards and a touchdown.
Jonathan Jackson racked up 17 tackles in the game to lead Murray State, while Travis Taylor followed with 11. Anthony Hayes had a team-high 2.0 tackles for loss for a total of nine yards, while Tyler Stepney had the team’s lone sack for minus-four yards.
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Scouting Eastern Kentucky
The 18th-ranked Colonels took a tough a 20-6 loss to No. 4 Jacksonville State last week at home. EKU is now 8-2 overall on the season and 5-2 in the OVC.
Dean Hood is in his seventh season at the helm of the Colonels and is 48-31 over that span. Just one more win this season, would give Hood his most-ever single-season wins at Eastern Kentucky.
The Colonels are currently averaging 34.3 points on 418.7 yards per game, while allowing opponents to score 21.2 points on 404.9 yards. The EKU offense is run heavy with 234.6 yards per game on the ground, compared to just 184.1 yards in the air.
Jared McClain has racked up 1,027 yards and five touchdowns as QB1 for the Colonels this season. In addition, he has rushed for 1,595 and eight scores.
Leading the EKU receivers this season has been Jeff Glover with 481 yards on 30 carries with three touchdowns for 16.0 yards per catch. Devin Borders follows at 471 total yards on 32 catches for 14.7 yards a reception.
Dy’Shawn Mobley is the 10th ranked rusher in FCS with 1,148 yards and 14 touchdowns. He currently averages 114.8 yard per game and 6.1 yards per carry.
Brandon Stanley leads the colonel defense with 94 total tackles and a team-high 48 solo. Trey Thomas is the team leader in tackles-for-loss with 8.0 for a total loss of 30 yards, while Marquis Piston leads in sack at 3.0 for a loss of 26.
The defense is currently one of the best in the nation at takeaways at 28. It ranks 2nd in the country in turnovers gained, third in fumbles recovered with 14 and eighth in passes intercepted with 14.
The First Centurion
Pokey Harris made MSU history last week when he became the first Racer to return a kickoff the full 100 yards. He is now the 11th player in OVC history to accomplish the feat and second this season.
Hatcher vs. Hood
Chris Hatcher is 1-3 all-time against Dean Hood. The only win against the EKU skipper came last season with a 34-27 overtime win at The Track.
Poked
Pokey Harris was honored by the OVC last week in part for his 100-yard kickoff return by being named Specialist of the Week. In addition, he finished the game with 204 all-purpose yards; 149 in returns, 47 rushing and eight receiving.
Returns Encouraged
Apart from his 100-yard kickoff return, Pokey Harris has proved his more than a one trick pony. The touchdown was Harris’ second of the season on a kickoff and is now tied with Dre Nelson of Princeton for the national lead. He is currently ranked second in the OVC and 11th in all of FCS with 26.7 yards per kickoff return. He also leads the conference in all-purpose yards and is ranked 15th nationally in the category with 149.2 per game.
Up Next
Murray State will play its final game of the season on Saturday when it hosts Tennessee State. Kick-off against the Tigers at The Track is set for 1 p.m.
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