BOX SCORE (HTML)
BOX SCORE (PDF)
VALPRAISO, Ind.--Morehead State football's finale couldn’t have gone any better.
The Eagles defeated the Valparaiso 29-6 and won their first Pioneer League football game of the season snapping a seven-game losing streak to finish with an overall record of 3-8. The Eagles scored three fourth-quarter touchdowns to help extend a three-point third quarter lead and turn it into a dominating 29-6 victory.
“It’s about as sweet as you can get,” said coach Matt Ballard. “There is not a group more deserving of this win than this group of seniors.”
Valpo scored the first touchdown of the game on its second possession when quarterback Nate Goergen threw a fade pass to the back right corner of the endzone and wide out Sean McCarty made the 11-yard touchdown grab. The extra point was blocked by MSU defensive tackle Andrew Wilhoite and Valpo took the lead 6-0 with 7:54 to go in the first quarter.
Morehead State answered on their next possession with a nine play, 46-yard drive that was capped by a 43-yard field goal by Rainer Duzan with 3:13 to play in the first quarter. Morehead State tied the game at six when kicker Rainer Duzan made a 29-yard field goal with 12:08 remaining in the second quarter. The scoring drive was set up when MSU took over at the Valpo 34 after a shanked punt by Valpo punter Mitch Secrest. The drive was then kept alive when the Eagles faced a fourth down and MSU quarterback Zach Lewis avoided a sure sack by three different Crusader defenders, when he pulled a Brett Favre-like play and flipped the ball into the flat as he was being pulled down. Fullback Mike Kearns, who caught the ball, was able to pick up the first down and help set up the field goal.
Morehead State took over with 5:05 remaining in the second quarter at it’s own 10 yard line. The Eagles then drove to the Valpo 35 yard line to attempt a 42-yard field goal with three seconds remaining in the half to take the lead, however Rainer Duzan’s kick sailed wide left and the Eagles and Crusaders went into the half tied at six.
Morehead State had the first scoring chance in the third quarter after cornerback DJ Smith intercepted a Nate Goergen pass at the MSU 20-yard line and returned it 42 yards to the Valpo 38. MSU kicker Rainer Duzan made his third field goal of the day, which was a 28-yard field goal with 4:00 minutes remaining in the third quarter to give the Eagles the lead 9-6.
The Eagles scored again, their first touchdown of the day, with 13:59 remaining in the fourth quarter when Valpo quarterback Nate Goergen went back to pass in his own end zone and threw an interception to MSU safety JD Cecil at the Valpo 23 yard line. Cecil took the pick to the house and extended the Eagle lead 15-6, where it stayed after the Crusaders blocked the point after.
Valpo had its first scoring chance of the second half in the fourth quarter with 9:44 remaining when Valpo kicker Andrzej Skiba missed a 40-yard field goal wide right.
The Eagles scored again when senior running back Jerrod Pendleton ran off left tackle for a three-yard touchdown with 2:52 remaining in the game. The scoring play was set up by MSU safety JD Cecil when he picked off his second pass of the season at the Valpo 48-yard line and nearly returned it to pay dirt, but was tackled down at the Valpo six yard line.
“JD Cecil had a career day, he should have scored his second touchdown of the day, but he was too tired and basically just fell into the arms of the defender near the goaline," joked Ballard.
MSU scored its final touchdown after a Valpo fumble that was recovered by cornerback Kameron Scott at the Valpo 25-yard line. On the next play Zach Lewis used a beautiful play action fake to hit wide out Kevin Thomas in the end zone for a 25-yard touchdown pass, Thomas' first of his career, with 2:31 remaining in the game.
“It’s always neat when a guy scores his first colligate touchdown of his career, he’s going to be a very special player in the years to come," Ballard said.
Morehead State quarterback Zach Lewis was 17-of-33 passing on the day for 164 yards and a touchdown. MSU was led in receiving by fullback Mike Kearns who had three catches for 38 yards and wide receiver Thomas who had two catches for 30 yards and a touchdown. The Eagles had seven different players rush the ball and had nine different players catch a pass. MSU had 76 yards rushing as a team on 41 attempts and had 246 total yards. Morehead State dominated in time of possession 36:36 to Valpo’s 23:24.
The Crusaders were led by quaterback Nate Goergen who was 10-of-21 for 53 yards and one touchdown. The Crusaders were led in receiving by Sean McCarty who had five catches for 52 yards and a score and Ryan Meyers who had four catches for 46 yards.
The Eagle defense was especially stout today only giving up a total of 137 yards. MSU’s defense held the Crusaders to only 15 yards rushing and forced three Valpo turnovers to win the turnover battle 3-0. Wes McDermott led the defense with nine total tackles and Derik Steiner led the team with three and half tackles for loss. JD Cecil had two interceptions and DJ Smith had one.
“That’s huge, we took care of the ball today and responded and turned it into points,” said Ballard.
