Game Notes (MSU | Davidson) | Live Stats | Live Audio | Live Video
MOREHEAD, Ky. --Â Morehead State head football coach
Rob Tenyer will be the first to tell you that the 2016 has not panned out how he and his staff envisioned back in August, but there have been plenty of records set and bright spots along the way. The season concludes Saturday with a 1 p.m. ET Pioneer League tilt at Davidson.
The game will air live on the Eagle Sports Radio Network (WIVY-96.3 FM flagship) with Jason Blanton. It can be heard live on the Eagle Empire app as well. Live video and stats are provided through DavidsonWildcats.com.
"We have been in a lot of close games, especially early in the season, and I thought we would benefit from that as the year went along, but we just have not been able to play consistently enough to win more games," said Tenyer. "This week, we have to be better and make plays at key times. We have made a lot of growth too, and we have a lot of young guys playing. I am still very excited about what we are building."
Twenty seniors will suit up for the final time in an Eagle uniform Saturday, including key offensive cogs
Austin Gahafer (quarterback),
Jake Raymond (slot receiver/punt returner),
C.J. Phillips (offensive line) and many others. On defense,
Ryan Bennett (linebacker), who ranks in the top 10 in career tackles at MSU, will man the field for the Eagles for the final day as well as a host of other starters and key reserves. On special teams, both kickers -
Pat DiSalvio and
Matt Ward - are in their finale too.
Gahafer, who already owns virtually every passing record for MSU and the PFL, is shooting for 12,000 career passing yards. He needs 377 to get to that milestone. As it stands now, he'll wind up his prolific career ranked second in the Football Championship Subdivision level in career passing attempts with more than 1,800. He also will finish in the top five in FCS history in completions and in the top 15 in passing yards. Raymond, who owns the MSU and PFL records for career catches, needs just 145 yards to settle in at more than 3,000 yards for his career. Phillips will conclude his career starting ALL 46 games since his freshman campaign.
Bennett needs 11 total stops to reach 300 for his career.
"I think they (seniors) all realize the window is closing on their careers, but they have been a special group. I know they would all trade their awards for a few more wins, but this group has definitely left their legacy," said Tenyer.
The Eagles (3-7/2-5 PFL) will face a Davidson program that is 2-8 overall and 0-7 in the league. The Wildcats' two wins are against non-Division I teams, and Davidson has only one PFL victory in the last four seasons. MSU has won four straight in the series, including a 34-0 shutout in Morehead last year. But, historically, the Wildcats have been tougher at home against the Eagles, where they hold a 4-3 advantage in games in the series at Richardson Stadium.
"Davidson has a philosophy and they're sticking to it," said Tenyer. "They are well-coached, and they do some nice things on special teams. As always, every team presents problems we have to prepare for and deal with. We have to take away what they do well."
Following the final week of play, the league will present its all-conference teams, as well as Academic All-PFL honors, in the coming weeks.
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