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MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Pioneer Football League action kicks off this week for the Morehead State Eagles as MSU hosts Valparaiso at Jayne Stadium Saturday at 1 p.m. ET.
The game can be heard on the Eagle Sports Radio Network with WIVY-96.3 FM serving as flagship station. Jason Blanton and Tom Lewis 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+ with Jared Stacy and Mark Ledford teaming up as the voices this game.
Morehead State has dominated the success rate in the series with Valparaiso, leading 24-5. The Eagles have won 15 of the last 17 matchups, however the Beacons won the last time the teams played at Jayne Stadium (40-35 in 2022). Last season, MSU won on a 28-yard field goal on an untimed down on the final play to win at Valparaiso.
THE SERIES
Record vs. Valpo: 24-5
First Meeting: 9/21/96 MSU won 24-0 at Valpo
Last Meeting: 10/14/23 MSU won 24-21 at Valpo
Eagles' Record in Morehead: 10-3
Eagles' Record in Valparaiso, Ind.: 14-2
Neutral Record: 0-0
GAME NOTES
• Eight of the last 10 games in the series with Valpo has been decided by a winning margin of seven points or less.
• Valpo quarterback Michael Appel, Jr.'s father Mike (1993-97) and uncle James (1989-92) both played at MSU and both were Academic All-Americans.
• 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 - 3.75), fewest penalty yards/game (9th - 32.2), interceptions (5th - 6), passing yards allowed/game (8th - 137.3), punt returns (6th - 24.0) and passing efficiency defense (8th - 102.3).
• Defensive back
Richard Sweeney III picked off his career pass in the Montana game. As a program MSU had at least one interception in seven straight games dating back to 2023 until not garnering a pickoff at Eastern Kentucky. Five of those games have resulted in 2+ pickoffs. Safety
Matthew McClelland and defensive back
Jalen Henderson rank among the top 20 in the nation in pickoffs per game.
• Running backs
James Louis and
Chance Harris have combined for 1,989 rushing yards in their careers. Louis ranks among the MSU top 20 in career yards gained with 1,242.
•
Ryan Upp went over the 1,000-yard mark for his career in receiving yards at Montana, now with 1,027 in his four years. Upp's nine TDs last fall ranked as the fifth best single-season total in MSU program history.
• 11 has become a magic number for safety
Matthew McClelland. He has led the team in tackles in three of the first four games, totaling 11 tackles against Central State (Ohio), Montana and Eastern Kentucky.
•
Thomas Schwartz V is 5-of-8 so far in his first year as the primary kicker. He has successfully converted all nine PAT tries.
• Running back
Isaac Stopke scored his first career rushing touchdown at Eastern Kentucky. Although MSU had only played EKU five times since leaving the OVC in the 90s, the 3-0 lead MSU held in the first quarter was the first lead against EKU since 1995.
• Morehead State is 11 of 13 on red-zone trips in 2024, only failing once on downs and once on a missed field goal.
• In four games, MSU has only lost one fumble. On the flip side, the Eagles have forced at least one turnover in all four games this and now eight straight games since last season.
• 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 43 games in his Eagle career. He is in his fourth full season as the team's snapper
