GAME NOTES (PDF) | SCHEDULE PAGE (LIVE STATS, LIVE VIDEO, AUDIO)
MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Rivalry week. Morehead State at Dayton. Enough said. The Morehead State football team heads to Dayton this Saturday for a Noon ET Pioneer League battle.
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 providing 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 Facebook live.
Morehead State and Dayton, MSU's closest Pioneer League opponent, have met 28 times since 1996 with Dayton leading 19-9. MSU won the latest matchup last season, 31-7 in Morehead - which marked the largest margin over Dayton in the series. MSU is just 3-10 against the Flyers in Dayton with the last win coming in 2008.
THE SERIES
Record vs. Dayton: 9-19
First Meeting: 9/7/96 UD won 52-6 at UD
Last Meeting: 10/7/23 MSU won 31-7 at MSU
Eagles' Record in Morehead: 6-9
Eagles' Record in Dayton, Ohio.: 3-10
Neutral Record: 0-0
GAME NOTES
• Morehead State won its first four home games in head coach Jason Woodman's first season. No other MSU football coach has ever won their first four games at home leading the Eagle program.
• Morehead State is 1-5 in the last six seasons after a bye week.
• Morehead State continues to rank among the nation's best teams in takeaways and turnover margin. The Eagles ranks third in the FCS in margin at +10 and seventh in total takeaways at 15.
• Morehead State's defense has 27 interceptions in the last two seasons. This year, the Eagles lead the PFL with 10 pickoffs, while safety
Matthew McClelland's four leads the circuit and ranks in the top 10 nationally.
• It's been a total tale of two (plus) cities for the Eagle defense. In the four home games, MSU has allowed just 7.2 points per game, but in the three road games, the Eagles have surrendered 47.0 points per game.
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Ryan Upp has piled up 1,167 career receiving yards, which ranks in the top 15 all-time for program history. He has all but 11 of those yards in the last two seasons and all 12 of his TDs in the last two seasons.
• Morehead State boasts two of the last three PFL Defensive Player of the Week honorees. Defensive end
Noah Benza was honored after his 4.5 tackle for loss effort against Valparaiso, while linebacker
Branden Stearman won two weeks ago with his 12-tackle, two turnovers forced performance in the win over Presbyterian.
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Carter Cravens went above the 3,000-yard mark for his career against Presbyterian. The Eagle QB now has 3,195 career yards.
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Nate Garnett ranks second in the entire FCS in yards per catch. His big-play ability has him at 21.5 yards per catch. He has seven catches of 30+ yards.
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Matthew McClelland ranks second in the PFL in total tackles with 59 and ranks fifth in the conference in tackles per game at 8.4.
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Noah Benza and linebacker
Luke Bauer have combined for 14 tackles for loss this season.
• Defensive lineman
Kylyn Macklin leads the team with six quarterback hurries.
• MSU ranks third in the PFL in kickoff return net yards, averaging 42.0.
• Offensive lineman and center
Jaxsen Spears is slated for his 29th consecutive start this week.
• Kicker Thomas Schwartz has made six field goals, all from 39 yards or in.
