BOX SCORE
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- Junior quarterback
Mark Pappas threw for a career-high 382 yards and two scores and rushed for a third, while the Morehead State defense intercepted four passes and returned one 75 yards for a TD as the Eagles claimed a 35-14 road victory at Butler Saturday afternoon.
The Eagles improved to 2-3 overall and evened their Pioneer League mark at 2-2, while the Bulldogs fell to 0-4 with the same PFL scorecard.
Although he was picked off twice himself, Pappas engineered the MSU offense to a season-high 480 yards, completing a season (and career) best 29 passes to 10 different receivers for his 382 yards. He also scored on a 10-yard scamper.
Morehead State's defense picked off Butler QB Sam Brown four times as senior
Jelani Ray Garvin nabbed his first of the season, junior
Brandon Barbee collected his PFL-high third pick, senior
Tyler Noble garnered his second of 2021 (denying a Butler TD as he picked it off in the end zone) and senior Cam Barrett denied an opponent QB for the second time this year. Barrett returned his 75 yards to account for the Eagles' final score in the fourth quarter when Butler was driving deep in the Eagles' territory.
The Eagle defense also denied Butler more possession time by stopping the Bulldogs three times on fourth down conversion plays in MSU territory.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Junior wideout
Thomas Campbell-Clay hauled in his third score of the spring on a 26-yard connection with Pappas at the 10:34 mark of the opening quarter. Following an Eagle fumble, the defense forced Butler to miss a 38-yard field goal. Pappas was then 4-of-5 on a 79-yard drive to get MSU on top early.
- Senior running back
Issiah Aguero finished off a seven-play, 75 yard scoring march with a one-yard TD at 14:25 of the second quarter. Pappas connected with senior WR
BJ Byrd on a 28-yard pass to get the Eagles to the Bulldog one-yard line.
- Six minutes later, Byrd was true on his team-best fifth touchdown catch of the season on a 24-yard strike from Pappas. The score ended a seven-play, 80-yard drive this time.
- Butler finally did get on the board right before halftime as Austin Schantz caught an 11-yard TD from Nick Orlando to make it 21-7 at the break.
- Pappas rushed it in from 10 yards away with 8L26 left in the third quarter. After Butler pinned the Eagles back at their own one-yard line, Pappas picked apart the Bulldogs' defense and led MSU on a 12-play, 99-yard drive - MSU's longest drive of the year - including 76 yards passing himself.
- Orlando ran in from a yard away with just five ticks left in the third period as it was 28-14 at that point.
- Butler started on its own 10-yard line midway through the final quarter and used 10 plays to drive to the Eagles' 30. But on the 11th play - a fourth down attempt - Brown tossed it right to Barrett who raced the other way for the 75-yard pick six.
NOTABLE
- With 10 players catching at least one pass, MSU now has 22 consecutive games with at least six players catching a pass.
- Barrett tied for the team lead with Garvin with seven tackles. Both had interceptions and one tackle for loss.
- Morehead State's 480 total yards was the highest in a game since gaining 505 versus Dayton on Nov. 2, 2019.
- The defense now has recorded 10 interceptions in the last four games
- His yardage total being a career-high, Pappas now has four career 300-yard games.
- Byrd has caught a touchdown in four straight games and led the Eagles with 78 yards today.
- Senior kicker/punter
Andrew Foster was a perfect 5-of-5 on extra point kicks and averaged 41.0 yards on punts.
- Morehead State is now 16-8 all-time against Butler, including two straight wins in the series.
UP NEXT
Morehead State is back at home for its final two spring PFL games. Valparaiso visits next Saturday at Noon ET.
