GAME NOTES | LIVE STATS | LISTEN LIVE | LIVE VIDEO
The second game of a three-game road swing for Morehead State football is a stop at the newest Pioneer Football League member Marist. The Eagles make their first-ever trip to the Empire State to face the Red Foxes. Kickoff for MSU’s inaugural trip to Poughkeepsie, N.Y. is Saturday at noon.
MOREHEAD STATE EAGLES (1-2; 0-1 PFL) at MARIST RED FOXES (1-1; 0-0 PFL)
The Series: Marist leads the series 1-0
The Coaches: Jim Parady (MC) leads Matt Ballard (MSU) 1-0 in head-to-head meetings
Media Coverage
Video: Marist Live Video Streaming
Radio: Eagle Sports Network (Flagship 96.3 FM WIVY or MSUEagles.com)
Play-by-play: Chuck Mraz; Color: Tanner Hesterberg
Morehead State enters the game following a heartbreaking loss to Dayton in both teams’ PFL opener. The Dayton game answered some questions for MSU coach Matt Ballard and his staff, most notably that the offense’s prolific passing attack against St. Francis wasn’t a fluke. Quarterback Zach Lewis racked up 349 yards of passing offense at Dayton to bring his season total to 892 yards. He has five pass catchers with over 100 yards of receiving in just three games. The game also highlighted MSU’s need to step up its rushing attack. Dayton held the Eagles to two yards rushing, and while a lot of that can be blamed on the need to make up a 24-point deficit, it was not the balanced attack Ballard was looking for early in the season.
Oddly enough, Marist, who enters Saturday fresh off a bye week has a similar problem, but in the Red Foxes’ case its more severe. Marist has run the ball just 65 yards this season, an average of 32.5 yards per game. They are averaging 289 yards of total offense per game, 257 of which comes through the air. While Marist has a new QB from last season, they return James LaMachia, who had six catches for 144 yards in Jayne Stadium last year. He leads Marist with 21 catches for 155 yards. Defensively the Red Foxes’ pass defense has been stingy, allowing 166 yards per game, but their run defense permits 141.5 yards per game.
Marist was off last week after opening the season 1-1. A loss in the opener to Sacred Heart was replaced by a 14-3 win over Bucknell. The Red Foxes’ first three games have been at home, with Saturday’s game being the last of that homestand. Saturday will also mark Marist’s PFL opener, their second season in the league.
Morehead State has a non-conference game at Georgia State next Saturday before the Eagles’ off week. A win Saturday at Marist would even MSU’s overall and league records heading into that two-week stretch.
Quick Hits
--Saturday’s game is the second in a three-game road swing.
--Morehead State lost its only previous meeting with Marist, last year in Jayne Stadium.
--MSU has never played a game in the state of New York.
--Zach Lewis had the best performance in passing yardage in Division I this year.
--Lewis is on pace to break the MSU single-season passing yardage record.
--The Eagles are 0-6 in games they’ve flown too since 2004.
