GAME NOTES
The Morehead State football team will travel to Davidson, N.C. Saturday to battle Pioneer League foe Davidson. This will mark the second of three trips to the Tar Heel State this season for the Eagles.
The game, which kicks off at 1 p.m., is a homecoming for Morehead State head coach Matt Ballard, a Davidson, N.C. native.
MSU is coming off a loss last week against the Dayton Flyers 30-15. The Eagles scored the game’s first touchdown, but let the Flyers score thirty points to take control of the game. Last week Davidson lost a close game to PFL opponent Jacksonville. The Wildcats mounted a late rally to erase a 27-7 deficit in the third quarter but could not finish the comeback and were defeated 27-21.
Morehead State enters the game 2-3 overall and 0-2 in PFL play, while Davidson is 1-3 overall and 1-1 in PFL play. MSU leads the series 7-3 all-time, and has won three out of the last four games against the Wildcats which includes last year’s victory at home 26-13.
Offensively, the Eagles remain a first strike team having scored first in four out of their five games. Jerrod Pendleton and Desmond Cox lead the Eagles in rushing having gained 152 yards on 36 carries and 119 yards on 23 carries respectively. Each has rushed for one touchdown. MSU is lead in receiving by Ronnie McDermott and Jerrod Pendleton who have 137 yards and 112 yards on 14 and nine catches. Donte Sawyer leads the team in touchdown receptions with two. The Eagles are still juggling quarterbacks, giving each of the three primary signal callers a chance to shine. Evan Sawyer has taken most of the snaps, but due to an injury last week, Jared Phillips and Zach Lewis shared time. Thus far this season the Eagle QBs have combined to complete 63 passes on 138 attempts for 732 yards and six touchdowns.
Defensively, the Eagles continue to remain strong, ranking first in the nation in rushing defense and tackles for loss and eighth in total defense. Wes McDermott led the Eagles in tackles last week with 11 and now has 41 total tackles on the year, eight of those coming from behind the line of scrimmage. Andrew Doan now leads the team in sacks having recorded one and half last week for a total of five this year. Last week safety J.D. Cecil recorded one sack and also returned a fumble 90 yards for a touchdown that set an MSU record.
Davidson offensively is led by running back Kenny Mantuo who has rushed for 298 yards and three touchdowns. The Wildcats leading receiver is Mark Hanabury who has 14 catches for 171 yards and a touchdown this season. Davidson had also used multiple quarterbacks this year with Michael Blanchard getting most of the snaps, but Matt Heavner has also played.
Defensively, Davidson is led by junior linebacker Daniel Astrop who has 26 total tackles and one sack. Defensive tackle Alex Griswold has five tackles-for-loss and two and half sacks which leads the Wildcats in both categories.
Morehead State is 9-8 all-time verses North Carolina teams. In their first trip to North Carolina this year the Eagles defeated North Carolina Central in two overtimes 13-10. MSU’s final trip to North Carolina will be to face Campbell on Halloween weekend.
