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MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Senior fullback Desmond Cox ran for a career-high 218 yards and junior quarterback Zach Lewis passed for 387 yards to help Morehead State register a 55-35 victory over Pioneer Football League foe Butler on Saturday afternoon at Jayne Stadium.
Cox broke loose for a school-record 92-yard touchdown run less than three minutes into the contest. He then capped MSU’s scoring with a four-yard burst to the end zone in the fourth quarter.
Cox also managed five receptions for 58 yards en route to 276 total yards for the afternoon. Lewis completed 31-of-46 attempts and added three touchdown passes in the Senior Day win.
The Eagles finish the season 3-8 overall and 2-6 in the PFL, while the Bulldogs wrap up the campaign with records of 5-6 and 3-5. MSU also improves to 12-3 all-time against BU, including an 8-1 edge at home.
Junior wide receiver Donte Sawyer set Morehead State records for single-season (12) and career (16) touchdown catches in the win. His first touchdown reception came from 30 yards away in the first quarter, while his second TD grab came from 61 yards out in the third period.
The Eagles tallied 669 total yards -- their most against a Division I opponent this year -- with 387 coming through the air and 282 via the rushing attack. MSU also converted 9-of-17 third downs.
Lewis completed passes to 11 different Eagles. He also ran four times for 20 yards and one TD.
Morehead State’s signal caller finishes the year with single-season school records in completions (324), attempts (513) and passing yards (3,585). His 28 TD passes end up just one shy of the all-time MSU standard.
Sawyer finished with 134 yards on seven catches, while junior halfback Blake Stanley collected five catches for 68 yards.
Senior linebacker Keaton May led the Eagles on defense with a career-best 14 tackles, while senior defensive end Jerome Raymond tallied 10 stops.
Junior defensive back Kameron Scott contributed two interceptions -- his first two of the season.
Butler senior quarterback Andrew Huck completed 19-of-27 passes for 273 yards and three touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Zach Watkins added game highs of 14 catches and 180 receiving yards for the Bulldogs.
Butler was led on defense by junior linebacker Jordan Ridley, who came up with eight solo stops and seven assisted tackles.
The Eagles opened up a 21-7 lead with a minute left in the first quarter and never looked back. MSU maintained a double-figure advantage throughout the second half.
Junior kicker Rainer Duzan drilled a career-long 49-yard field goal as time expired in the first half. He finishes the campaign 12-of-17 on FG attempts and 49-of-51 on PAT tries for a team-best 85 points.
Check MSUEagles.com throughout the off-season for updates on the MSU football program.
