VALPARAISO, Ind. -- Running back
Craig Cunningham scored a pair of touchdowns - one on the ground and one through the air - and fellow back
Isaac Stopke rushed for 118 yards as the Morehead State football team outlasted host Valparaiso 17-13 at Brown Field Saturday.
The Eagles (4-5/2-3 PFL) won their second straight game and the 15th all-time program win at Valparaiso's Brown Field. The Beacons slipped to 1-7 overall.
It was a slow start for the Eagles as Valpo scored on its first drive first on a three-yard run to lead 7-0 just three minutes in. But, Cunningham finished off an eight-play, 73 yard march with a 22-yard reception out of the backfield from quarterback
Carter Cravens.
Jordan Price's PAT tied the game 7-7 with 2:58 left in the first quarter.
The home squad went on top 13-7 with 8:40 left before halftime after an 85-yard drive ended with a Rowan Keefe one-yard plunge. The PAT was wide right. The Eagles' kicking game came into play on the final play of the first half as Thomas Schwartz banged home a 41-yard field goal - his second straight 41-yard successful try after winning the game last week versus Marist on a similar kick.
Cunningham scored the eventual game-winning TD with 13:26 left in the third period on a four-yard push to lift MSU on top 17-13.Â
While the Beacons out-gained MSU 339-331, it was defense that ultimately preserved the win. The Eagles forced Valpo into four turnovers on downs, and
Jackson Benjamin came up with MSU's second interception of the season. MSU also had eight tackles for loss and two sacks.
Mateo Reyes totaled a team-high 10 stops, including 2.5 for losses.
KJ Hardesty also had 2.5 TFLs, including a sack on Valpo's final offensive effort.
Luke Popovich had a sack-and-a-half on the Beacons' last possession too.
Cravens finished at 16-for-25 for 158 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
Ryan Upp caught seven passes for 78 yards and upped his career yardage total to 2,111.
The Eagles return home to host Davidson next Saturday at 1 p.m. ET.
