GAME NOTES (PDF) | SCHEDULE PAGE (LIVE STATS, LIVE VIDEO, AUDIO)
MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Morehead State Football faces a big challenge this week as the Eagles make the 2,000-mile trek up to play at No. 8/9 Montana. The perennial FCS power was in the championship game last season.
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 ESPN+.
Morehead State makes its second trip to Big Sky Country. MSU's only ever foray up to the Treasure State resulted in a 63-13 setback at Montana State in 2022. Montana State is the only other program from the current Big Sky Conference that MSU has ever faced.
The Grizzlies are 1-1 in 2024, falling last week at nationally-ranked North Dakota.
GAME NOTES
• MSU has started 2-0 for the first time since 2007. The Eagles won head coach Jason Woodman's Division I and Eagle debut on Aug. 29, 17-10, over Central State. Woodman is the first MSU head coach to win his debut game since Bill Baldridge in 1984. He is also the first MSU coach since Tom Lichtenberg in 1979, to start his MSU coaching career 2-0.
• QB
Connor Genal made his first career MSU start last week against Kentucky Christian and threw for 221 yards on 15 completions with three TDs. Although it was his first start here, it was not his first starting assignment in college. In 2020, at New Mexico, Genal made his first career start - and the first by a Lobo walk-on quarterback in 19 years - against Wyoming.
• Morehead State ranks FIRST among all FCS teams in interceptions (5), turnover margin (+6), fewest penalties committed (5) and punt return defense (-6.0). Last season, MSU finished second in the nation in interceptions with 17.
• Safety
Matthew McClelland and defensive back
Jalen Henderson have combined for the five Eagle pickoffs. Henderson has recorded an interception in both games so far, while McClelland tied a program single-game record with three interceptions against KCU.
• Morehead State's defense, especially against the pass, has been incredibly efficient this year. In fact, the Eagles rank second among all FCS teams in pass efficiency defense (67.6). The Eagles rank sixth nationally in passing yards allowed per game (110.5).
•
Ryan Upp needs just 12 receiving yards to reach 1,000 for his career. He also has 11 career TDs in the aerial game. Upp ranks in the top 15 in MSU history in career receiving yards. And speaking of the number 12, that's how many different receivers have caught a pass so far from MSU QBs in 2024.
• Defensive linemen
Noah Benza and
Luke Bauer lead the defense with 2.5 tackles for loss each. Benza has more tackles for loss in his career than any other Eagle, with 16.5.
• Wideouts Nathan Garnett, Jr. and
Anthony Ice each recorded their first career TD catches against KCU. Ice caught a 10-yard score from his high school teammate, QB
David Parsons.
• For the first time in more than 20 seasons, four different quarterbacks saw action in an MSU game when that feat occurred last weekend vs. KCU.
• With the Eagles averaging more than 140 rushing yards per game, the offense has featured 10 different ball carriers, including seven different running backs.
• With Jason Woodman coming on board to lead the Eagles, that meant a whole new coaching staff as well. Here are the new faces mentoring the Eagle program: Travis Everhart, associate head coach/offensive line/run game coordinator; Wil Truelove, defensive coordinator; Roland Brady, defensive line; Laurence Treadaway, defensive backs/special teams; Kyle Weiss, wide receivers/recruiting coordinator; Austin Schmidt, running backs; Joey Kiernan, outside linebackers; Tom Keane, tight ends; and Donald Dice, field coordinator/equipment
• Long snapper
Brady McKnight has appeared in all 41 games in his Eagle career. He is in his fourth full season as the team's snapper.
• Punter Kip Warrren has eight career punts of 50+ yards.
