Football Season Finale and Senior Day Sees Eagles Host Butler Saturday

By Matt Schabert, Morehead State Athletic Media Relations

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MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Morehead State football wraps up its seven-game spring schedule on Saturday when Butler visits. The kick-off is set 4 p.m. ET following the Eagle home baseball game at 11 a.m.

Morehead State (3-3/3-2 PFL) will look to secure its first winning season since 2015. The Eagles will also be looking to secure their first unblemished home record (3-0) since going 5-0 in 1949. The game will also be the first time since the 2004 season the Eagles have played the same team twice in a season. MSU and Drake played in the regular season and PFL title game that year. MSU knocked off thr Bulldogs 35-14 just two weeks ago in Indiana.

Saturday's contest will serve as senior day for seven Eagles - defensive back Kalen Carson, cornerback Jelani-Ray Garvin, offensive linemen Tanner Duncan and James Napolitano, defensive back Trent Johnson, quarterback Mark Pappas and tight end Jacob Peters.

The game will air live on ESPN+ and be carried on the Eagle Sports Radio Network on MSUEagles.com and WIVY-96.3 FM.

ROSTER | SCHEDULE

THE SERIES

Record vs. Butler: 16-8

First Meeting: 1963 (MOR won 31-13)

Last Meeting: 4/3/21 (MOR won 25-14)

Streak: MOR 2 games

Record in Morehead: 10-3

Record in Indianapolis: 6-5

NOTABLE

• The Morehead State defense ranks FIRST in the nation in the FCS in interceptions per game (2.1) and second in the entire FCS in total interceptions, trailing only Stephen F. Austin with 14.

• Cornerback Brandon Barbee ranks FIRST in the nation in the FCS in individual interceptions with five. Between he and senior linebacker Cameron Barrett, Morehead State has returned a pick-off for a touchdown in two straight week. Barrett's was a 75-scamper against Butler on April 3.

• Morehead State's defense also has broken out the turnover cane on a plethora of occasions this spring. The Eagles rank FOURTH in the FCS in turnover margin at plus-6.

• Jacksonville transfer BJ Byrd has given Morehead State a serious weapon in the passing game. Byrd has scored a touchdown in five straight games now and ranks FIRST in the PFL and FOURTH among the entire FCS in receiving touchdowns with six. That's also the sixth highest season in program history and tied for the best touchdown per game (1.0) average in program history currently.

• QB Mark Pappas threw for a career-high 382 yards on a career-best 29 completions at Butler. Pappas also has now thrown for 11 touchdowns in the past five games and has six career games with three touchdowns passing.

• Mark Pappas now has 3,322 career passing yards, as he is the 15th player in program history to eclipse 3,000 career passing yards.

• Senior linebacker Vincent Winey ranks second in the PFL in tackles with 61 total stops, including 52 in PFL games. He is averaging more than 10 tackles per game and also has seven behind the opponent's line of scrimmage.

• Vaughn Taylor, Jr., now has 35 career tackles for loss in 28 career games played. Taylor led the PFL with 18 TFLs in 2019 and ranks second in total TFLs this spring with eight.

• Senior kicker/punter Andrew Foster is up to 150 career points scored and has nailed 75 career PATs. In 2019, he set the program record for consecutive PATs made in a season.

• Foster is also now averaging 40.8 yards per punt and is seeking to become the first player in program history to average 40 or more yards for an entire season for three consecutive seasons.

• Morehead State now has a streak of 23 consecutive games with at least six different receivers catching at least one pass. That streak dates to Oct. 20, 2018 vs. Valparaiso.

• The wide receiver duo of BJ Byrd and Thomas Campbell-Clay have combined for 775 yards and nine touchdowns this spring. They account for 55 percent of the Eagles' yardage through the air.

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