GAME NOTES (PDF) | SCHEDULE PAGE (LIVE STATS, LIVE VIDEO, AUDIO)
MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Morehead State Football is set for its Pioneer League debut Saturday as the Eagles fly up north to face St. Thomas. Kick-off on St. Paul, Minnesota's far west side is set for 2 p.m. ET
The game can be heard on the Eagle Sports Radio Network with WIVY-96.3 FM serving as flagship station. Chuck Mraz and Jason Blanton provide the radio call. Fans can also hear it on MSUEagles.com, WGOH-100.9 FM/1370 AM and WMST-106.9 FM/1150 AM. The game will stream live on Midco Sports Plus (subscription required).
The Eagles venture to the Land of 10,000 (likely closer to 100,000) lakes for a first-ever meeting with newest Pioneer League foe St. Thomas. The Tommies joined the league last season but were not on the Eagles' schedule for 2022.
THE SERIES
Record vs. St. Thomas: 0-0
First Meeting: 9/23/23
Last Meeting: Same
Eagles' Record vs. UST in Morehead: 0-0
Eagles' Record vs. UST in St. Paul, Minn.: 0-0
Streak: N/A
GAME NOTES
• After two games (and three weeks into the season), MSU ranks 10th in the nation in FCS in fewest penalties. The Eagles have only been caught with nine penalties so far.
• Quarterback
Carter Cravens earned the PFL's first Offensive Player of the Week honor for 2023. Cravens completed 21 passes for 236 yards and three touchdowns in his first career start and also rushed for a team-high 82 yards against West Virginia State.
• Junior kicker
Nathan Hazlett is on the Fred Mitchell Award preseason watch list for the second consecutive season. The Award is presented annually to the nation's top place-kicker in FCS, Division II, Division III, NAIA and NJCAA for excellence on the football field and in the community. Hazlett is a perfect 4-of-4 on field goals with five PATs. He was 3-of-3 on field goals at Mercer.
• Morehead State leads the PFL and ranks fifth among all FCS teams in time of possession, at 35:43 per game. The first quarter has been particularly fruitful, where the Eagles held the possession for more than 11 minutes against WVSU and 12 minutes at Mercer.
• With 266.0 yards per game, quarterback
Carter Cravens ranks 21st nationally in total offense. While averaging 211 passing per outing, Cravens also leads the rushing attack with 54.5 yards per game.
• Receivers
Kyle Daly and
Ryan Upp both caught TD passes at Mercer. Both co-lead the offense with eight catches, with two of Upp's in the end zone.
Isaiah Davis leads the receivers in yards per catch. He has just three catches but averages 19.3 on those balls.
• Defensive back
Cooper Krezek comes into the game with 13 solo stops in 2023 among his 14 tackles. Kezek has done just about everything well on defense in his career, with 229 career tackles, 15.5 TFLs, 16 pass break ups and three blocked kicks.
• Running back
Caleb Ramseur leads the PFL in kickoff returns. The junior college transfer averages 24.1 per return, which ranks 19th among all FCS return men.
• Linebacker
Jahleel Holmes is the Eagles' leading tackler, with 17 stops on the season. In his four seasons, Holmes now has 128 career tackles.
• MSU's season captains are
Nathan Hazlett,
James Louis and
Cooper Krezek.
• Morehead State has 50+ new players on the roster for 2023.
• Junior running back
James Louis and junior defensive back
Cooper Krezek were honored on the official preseason All-Pioneer Football League team.
