SEASON OPENER PROMO VIDEO | PRESEASON UPDATE VIDEO
MOREHEAD, Ky. -- The Morehead State football program opens the 2013 season and Rob Tenyer Era on Thursday when NAIA opponent Pikeville (Ky.) visits Jayne Stadium at 7 p.m. ET. It will be the first meeting between the two schools in football.
Tickets are just $10 for adults and $3 for children 12-and-under. Morehead State students are admitted free with a valid student ID. All seating is general admission. Tickets can be purchased by clicking here. Parking is just $5 per vehicle.
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. Radio affiliates include WIVY-96.3 FM (Morehead) and WMST-1150 AM/106.9 FM (Mt. Sterling). The contest will also be webcast on the Ohio Valley Conference Digital Network.
Releases and pre-game information:
MOREHEAD STATE | PIKEVILLE | PIONEER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Ten notes heading into the contest:
MOREHEAD STATE'S 84TH SEASON
The 2013 season marks Morehead State's 84th with a varsity football team. The program began in 1927, and the Eagles have fielded a team every year with the exception of 1943-45.
THE NEW MAN IN CHARGE
Rob Tenyer was introduced as the 14th head football coach in Morehead State history on Dec. 13, 2012. He had previously served as an assistant coach at MSU for 12 seasons, including the past two as offensive coordinator.
TALKING HOME ATTENDANCE
Morehead State led the Pioneer Football League in attendance last season with 4,379 fans per game. The Eagles have now led the conference in that category five straight years.
BRING ON THE POSTSEASON
For the first time ever, the Pioneer Football League's 2013 champion will gain access to the NCAA Division I Football Championship through an automatic bid. The spot came about when the NCAA Board of Directors approved a budget that allowed expansion of the national tournament to 24 teams.
ROLLING IN THE OPENERS
Morehead State is opening the season with an NAIA opponent for the third consecutive year. The Eagles drilled Kentucky Christian (67-0) in 2011 and blanked Southern Virginia (55-0) in 2012.
WHO'S BACK ON OFFENSE?
Seven of Morehead State's 11 probable starters on offense have collegiate game experience. Junior running back Rees Macshara, a First-Team All-Pioneer Football League selection in 2012, is the group's top returnee. Senior offensive lineman Kalvin Harrington was an Honorable Mention All-PFL choice last year.
LEADING THE LEAGUE
Morehead State led the Pioneer Football League in six major offensive categories a season ago, including points (38.4), total yards (471.5), passing yards (305.4) and fewest sacks allowed (1.00) per game. The Eagles also paced the conference in third-down (51.0 percent) and red-zone (88.4 percent) conversions.
THESE GUYS WERE PRETTY GOOD
Morehead State is looking to fill holes left by quarterback Zach Lewis and wide receiver Donte Sawyer, who combined on 12 school records a season ago. Lewis, who is now a student assistant coach, completed 936-of-1,499 attempts for 10,251 yards and 72 touchdowns (all career records). Sawyer pulled in 199 catches for 2,555 yards and 24 scores (all career records).
WHO'S BACK ON DEFENSE?
Ten of Morehead State's 11 probable starters on defense have collegiate game experience. Junior linebacker Jordan Hendrix and senior defensive lineman Aaron Meadows, who both earned Second-Team All-Pioneer Football League honors in 2012, represent the group's top returnees. Sophomore defensive lineman Ronald Cooper, sophomore defensive lineman Rob Lewis and junior defensive back Michael Jackson were Honorable Mention All-PFL choices last year.
MSU'S BEST KICKER EVER
Morehead State is also looking to fill the hole left by kicker/punter Rainer Duzan, who tallied seven school records a year ago. Duzan established MSU career marks for points (258), field goals (36), field-goal attempts (53), extra points (150) and extra-point tries (156). He also notched single-season standards by connecting on 54-of-57 PAT attempts as a senior.
