GAME NOTES (PDF) | SCHEDULE PAGE (LIVE STATS, LIVE VIDEO, AUDIO)
MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Morehead State football heads back on the road this weekend as the Eagles venture to Clinton, S.C., to face Presbyterian in the PFL opener. The Blue Hose entered the Stats Perform national rankings this week at No. 25. Kick-off time is 1 p.m. ET Saturday.
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+.
Morehead State and Presbyterian kick off Pioneer League play this weekend. This series started in the spring season of 2021, during the COVID-forced move to the spring. MSU leads 3-2, including a 14-7 win at home last year. The last three games in this series have been decided by one score or less (MSU 14-7, PC 31-27, MSU 14-10).
THE SERIES
Record vs. Presbyterian: 3-2
First Meeting: 3/13/21 PC won 31-16 at PC
Last Meeting: 10/12/24 MSU won 14-7 at MSU
Eagles' Record in Morehead: 2-0
Eagles' Record in Clinton, S.C.: 1-2
Neutral Record: 0-0
GAME NOTES
• With Presbyterian earning a No. 25 ranking in the Stats Perform Top 25 poll this week, it will signify the first season in program history MSU will face three top 25 FCS teams in the same season. The Eagles already faced off against No. 7 Illinois State and No. 22 Austin Peay prior to PFL play beginning.
• Morehead State's offense is coming off a 600-yard effort against Kentucky Christian last weekend. It marked the program's first 600-yard total offensive performance since chalking up 625 vs. KCU in the opening game of the 2017 season.
• The Eagles' 289 rushing yards last weekend also marked the most for the program since gaining 323 against Butler during the 2021 season.
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Ryan Upp now has 123 career receptions for 1,737 career yards, including a career-best 138 yards last weekend against KCU. He now ranks fifth in career receptions at Morehead State with his 123, passing former PFL Offensive Player of the Year BJ Byrd (121 in 2020 and 2021). He also now ranks seventh in career receiving yards at MSU, moving past current MSU Athletics Hall of Famer Nick Feldman (1,728 from 2005-08). Only three players in program history have ever eclipsed 2,000 career yards receiving (Jake Raymond - 2,907; Donte Sawyer - 2,555; Jarin Higginbotham - 2,107).
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Ryan Upp ranks fourth on the current FCS active leaders list for career receiving touchdowns with 16. He is the PFL's active career leader in touchdowns caught as well. He ranks 13th on that all-encompassing FCS list for receiving yards with 1,737. He trails only Presbyterian's Dominic Kibby (2,358) among current PFL receivers.
• Quarterback
Carter Cravens has 4,694 career passing yards and 30 touchdowns. He's reached the end zone nine more times on the ground, including twice in the season opener. He is only 228 yards shy of Lawson Page's 4,922 career passing yards for ninth place in program history.
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Carter Cravens' four passing touchdowns last weekend marked a single-game career high for him. He also added a rushing TD for a career-high five total scores. Previously he had thrown three TD passes in a game three times.
• Morehead State's 195 rushing yards in the season opener was the most in head coach
Jason Woodman's tenure at MSU and the most for the program since a 226-yard effort at Dayton (in the snow) on Nov. 12, 2022. But the Eagles eclipsed that by a wide margin last weekend with 289 rushing yards vs. KCU.
• Both
Craig Cunningham (138) and
Isaac Stopke (102) rushed for 100+ yards against KCU. That marked the first Eagle contest with multiple 100-yard gainers since Oct. 16, 2021 when Issiah Aguero and Earl Stoudemire each gained 100+ in a 31-8 win over Butler.
• Transfer linebacker
John Purdy ranks third in the PFL with his 8.0 tackles per game. He also leads the Eagle with 3.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.
• Freshman kicker
Jordan Price is a perfect 13-of-13 on PAT kicks in his first college season.
• The 2025 roster features nearly 75 new players to the program, including close to 50 true freshmen.
• A trio of returning Eagles garnered preseason recognition as part of the Pioneer Football League All-Conference team.
Carter Cravens,
Ryan Upp and
Luke Bauer were honored on the team.
• Morehead State's punt defense ranks second in the nation in yardage allowed. In fact, the Eagles are one of just two FCS teams (McNeese State being the national leader) allowing negative return yards on average per game. Opponents have only actively returned three of the 16 punts booted by
Kip Warren for negative five yards total.
