MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Morehead State continues Pioneer Football League play on Saturday at Drake. Kick-off from Drake Stadium is set for 2 p.m. ET. Both teams are just one game out of first place in the league standings.
The Eagles, 3-5 overall and 3-2 in the PFL, are coming off a 42-14 Homecoming setback to Dayton. The Bulldogs, 4-4 on the season and 3-2 in conference action, are coming off a 23-10 home victory over Valparaiso.
Drake has won three straight against Morehead State and owns a 6-2 edge in the all-time series. The Bulldogs used a 21-0 run in the fourth quarter last year to post a 28-25 win over the Eagles at Drake Stadium.
Ways to follow the game:
LIVE VIDEO | LIVE AUDIO (CPU) | LIVE AUDIO (mobile) | LIVE STATS | TWITTER
Chuck Mraz (play-by-play), Jason Blanton (analyst) and Mike Williams (sidelines) will call all the action on the Eagle Sports Network and MSUEagles.com. Radio affiliates include WIVY-96.3 FM (Morehead), WMST-1150 AM & 106.9 FM (Mt. Sterling) and WLGC-1520 AM (Ashland). The game will also be webcast via GoDrakeBulldogs.com.
Releases and pre-game information:
MOREHEAD STATE | DRAKE | PIONEER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Ten notes heading into the contest:
ALL STREAKS EVENTUALLY END
Morehead State won three consecutive Pioneer Football League games from Sept. 28 to Oct. 19. The Eagles had not previously won three straight conference affairs since 2007.
GOING .500 IN THE LEAGUE
The Eagles are off to a 3-2 start in Pioneer Football League action this year. Morehead State has not finished above .500 in the PFL since a 5-2 mark in 2007. MSU went 4-4 in 2008 and 2010.
TURNING THINGS AROUND
Morehead State has won three of its last four tilts after starting the year 0-4. The Eagles have scored 144 points over their past four games (36.0 ppg) after scoring just 66 in their first four (16.5 ppg).
THE HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE
Morehead State will finish the season with three straight affairs at Jayne Stadium. MSU owns a 10-10 record (.500) at home over the past four seasons, compared to a 5-16 mark (.238) on the road.
MOVING THE STICKS
Morehead State leads the Pioneer Football League with 23.6 first downs per game. The Eagles have moved the sticks 98 times via the pass, on 71 occasions rushing and 20 times via penalties.
PRESSURE? WHAT PRESSURE?
The Eagles place second in the Pioneer Football League in fourth-down conversions. Morehead State has moved the chains eight times in 12 tries this season for a 67 percent success rate.
THE IMPORTANT MEN UP FRONT
Morehead State's offensive line has only allowed eight sacks in eight games this season (1.00 average). The Eagles have only yielded two sacks in the past four contests (0.50 average).
TAKING THEM BACKWARDS
Sophomore defensive lineman Ronald Cooper is tied for fifth in the Pioneer Football League with 1.06 tackles for loss per game. He also ranks eighth in the circuit with 0.69 sacks per contest. He has registered 42 stops on the season.
MAKING PLAYS ALL DAY LONG
Jordan Hendrix was credited with a season-high 16 tackles last Saturday against Dayton. Hendrix's total was Morehead State's best effort in 2013 and just one stop short of equaling his career high. He also forced one fumble versus UD.
A BIG DAY FOR BORNHAUSER
Junior Brandon Bornhauser tallied kick returns of 64, 50 and 30 yards against Dayton en route to 169 all-purpose yards. His 144 kick-return yards were a team season high. His long of 64 yards was a career best and MSU's top effort this year.
