GAME NOTES (PDF) | SCHEDULE PAGE (LIVE STATS, LIVE VIDEO, AUDIO)
MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Morehead State football gets into the heart of the Pioneer Football League schedule this weekend as the Eagles make the four-hour trek to Indianapolis, Ind., to face long-time rival Butler. Kick-off at the Sellick Bowl is set for 1 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 are the voices on 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 FloSports with Joey Lindstrom and Jan Boser on the call.
While MSU owns an eight-game advantage (18-10) in the series history, the last two matchups have gone to the Bulldogs fairly handily. However, MSU's two biggest wins in the series have come in Indianapolis (54-28 in 2015 and 58-10 in 2005). MSU owns a 7-6 mark against Butler in games at Butler's home field.
THE SERIES
Record vs. Butler: 18-10
First Meeting: 9/14/63 MSU won 31-13 at Ashland, Ky.
Last Meeting: 11/4/23 Butler won 49-7 at MSU
Eagles' Record in Morehead: 10-4
Eagles' Record in Indianapolis, Ind.: 7-6
Neutral Record: 0-0
GAME NOTES
• The matchup pits two of the top three pass defenses in the nation against each other. Butler leads all FCS teams allowing just 79 yards per game, while MSU ranks third with just 128 yards through the air against its 11. The two teams naturally also have identical national rankings in passing efficiency defense.
• In Morehead State's games against non FCS full scholarship programs (Montana and Eastern Kentucky), the Eagles have only allowed 22 total points (7.3/game) and only two offensive touchdowns surrendered.
• Morehead State has played at least one opponent ranked in the FCS top 25 in 12 consecutive seasons.
• MSU ranks among the FCS's top 10 teams in fewest penalties/game (8th - 4.20), interceptions (4th - 8), passing yards allowed/game (3rd - 128.0), punt returns (6th - 18.8), turnover margin (9th - +6) and passing efficiency defense (3rd - 95.9).
• Running backs
James Louis and
Chance Harris have combined for 2,068 rushing yards in their careers. Louis ranks among the MSU top 20 in career yards gained with 1,302.
•
Ryan Upp went over the 1,000-yard mark for his career in receiving yards at Montana, now with 1,033 in his four years. Upp's nine TDs last fall ranked as the fifth best single-season total in MSU program history.
• Defensive end
Noah Benza earned his first PFL Defensive Player of the Week honor this week after his 4.5 tackle-for-loss and 3.5 sack effort in the win over Valparaiso. His award was the first conference Defensive Player of the Week accolade for the program since current WWE rising star Vincent Winey (AKA Harlem Lewis) earned an honor in 2021.
• Benza's 3.5 sacks in the Valparaiso game is the second highest single-game total in an FCS contest this fall.
• Quarterback
Carter Cravens returned to action last week after missing the previous three (and nearly all of a fourth) games. Cravens completed just five passes but two were for touchdowns. Cravens first pass (and first offensive play of the game) went for a 50-yard connection to wideout Nathan Garnett. Cravens was second in the PFL last year with 2,074 yards passing. He led the PFL with 230.4 passing yards per game and also 2,317 total yards.
•
Carter Cravens needs just 156 passing yards to reach 3,000 for his career.
• Even though 12 different players have caught at least one pass this season, Nathan Garnett and
Ryan Upp have combined for 443 of the total 709 receiving yards, or 63 percent of the yards. Garnett has only 11 catches but is averaging a big-time 23.0 yards per catch.
• With four interceptions this season, safety
Matthew McClelland ranks FIRST in the nation in pickoffs. He is also the team's leading tackler with 43, or more than 8.0 tackles per outing.
• Long snapper
Brady McKnight has appeared in all 44 games in his Eagle career. He is in his fourth full season as the team's snapper.
• The Eagle defense has forced at least one turnover in nine consecutive games since last fall.
• MSU's last two opponents (EKU and Valpraiso) were just 5-of-20 on third-down opportunities.
