GAME NOTES | LISTEN LIVE | LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.--The Eagle football team will travel north to Indianapolis, Ind., to face Pioneer Football League foe Butler Saturday. Kickoff in the newly refurbished Butler Bowl is slated for 1 p.m. The Eagles have lost two in a row to the Bulldogs, after surrendering multiple touchdown leads the past two seasons; however MSU is up in the all-time series 10-3.
The Eagles are 1-3 on the road this season, while Butler is 1-2 at home, and it will be hostile territory as it is Butler’s homecoming game.
The Series: Morehead State leads 10-3
The Coaches: Matt Ballard (MSU) is 2-2 all-time versus Jeff Voris (BU)
Media Coverage
Live Video: OVCSports.TV
Radio: Eagle Sports Network (Flagship 96.3 FM WIVY or MSUEagles.com)
Play-by-play: Chuck Mraz; Color: Jason Blanton; Sidelines: Tanner Hesterberg
Morehead State (2-4, 1-2) comes into the game off a disappointing fourth-quarter 17-10 loss to Davidson. The Eagles held a one-point lead until, with just 2:15 remaining, the Wildcats scored the game-winning touchdown on a 71-yard pass play.
MSU is averaging 21.8 points per game and 328 total yards per game thus far, and is scoring on 81 percent of their red zone opportunities. Sophomore quarterback Zach Lewis was held in check last week, but still ranks 12th in the country in total passing yards with 1,604 and has thrown 13 touchdowns. Junior running back Ronnie McDermott leads MSU in receiving with 315 yards on 24 catches.
Defensively MSU is led by junior linebacker Tony Bachman and junior defensive end Jerome Raymond. Bachman leads the team in tackles with 56, 21 of those solo, while also compiling one sack and one interception. In last week’s game Raymond nearly scored a defensive touchdown when he scooped up a fumble and rumbled all the way to the Davidson one-yard line. Raymond leads the team in sacks and is second in tackles for loss with 4.5 and nine respectively.
The Bulldogs (3-4, 1-3) enter the contest coming off a 33-13 loss at home to Dayton. Butler opened the game with a field goal to lead early 3-0, but Dayton scored 19 unanswered points to roll to the victory. Butler is led by quarterback Andrew Huck who has thrown for 1,102 yards and seven touchdowns and leads the team in rushing with 266 yards. Jordan Ridley leads the defense with 78 total tackles and Jack McKenna leads the secondary with six pass break-ups and two interceptions.
The Eagles will return home next weekend to the friendly confines of Jayne Stadium to host PFL foe Jacksonville. It will be MSU’s homecoming game and kickoff is slated for 2 p.m.
Quick Hits
Butler has beaten Morehead State just three times in the teams’ history, but two of those have come in the past two years in comeback effrots on Butler’s part.
Last year’s game was a rain-soaked overtime affair.
Kicker Rainer Duzan’s only miss this season (field goal or extra point) is a block in last weeks game.
Mark Hall is tied for 10th in the nation in tackles for loss.
Morehead State has been dominant against Indiana-based PFL teams with a 22-6 all-time record.
