GAME NOTES (PDF) | ROSTER | SCHEDULE PAGE (LIVE STATS, LIVE VIDEO, AUDIO)
MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Another road trip is in the future for the Morehead State football team as this week they head north to face Western Illinois. The game at Hanson Stadium is Saturday at 7 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 provide the radio call. Fans can also hear it on MSUEagles.com, WGOH-100.9 FM/1370 AM, WMST-106.9 FM/1150 AM, WPKE 98.1 FM and WPRT 104.5 FM. The game will stream live on ESPN+.
Fellow Ohio Valley Conference institutions MSU and Western Illinois meet for just the second time in program histories, although the Eagles are not OVC members for football. The only other meeting came in Macomb, Ill., in the 2006 season opener where WIU prevailed 31-6.
The Leathernecks are 1-2 after a hard-fought 36-9 loss at Power 4 foe Wisconsin last weekend. They also hosted last year's FCS runner-up Illinois State. This will be the Necks' third home game of 2026.
MSU is also 1-2 following a setback at No. 15 Austin Peay last weekend.
THE SERIES
Record vs. WIU: 0-1
First Meeting: 8/31/06 WIU won 31-6 at WIU
Last Meeting: Same
Eagles' Record in Morehead: 0-0
Eagles' Record in Macomb, Ill.: 0-1
Neutral Record: 0-0
Streak: WIU, W1
GAME NOTES
• Morehead State's 115 points the first two games were the second most in the opening two games in program history, and the most in the modern era (1970-), trailing only the 1938 team which opened with 76-0 and 58-0 (134) victories.
• Head coach
Jason Woodman's 13 wins were the most by any MSU head coach in his first two seasons coaching the program.
• Morehead State ranks No. 2 in the FCS in passing offense (335.3) and 12th in total offense (466.3).
• QB
David Parsons ranks second among all FCS signal callers (only behind fellow PFL member Drake QB Riley Warzynski) in total passing yards (888) and third in yards per game (296.0). He also ranks fourth in points responsible for (66) and third in passing TDs (10).
• David Parson's 463 passing yards versus Ohio Dominican was the third highest single-game total in program history and the most ever yards by a QB in his Eagle starting debut.
• WR
Anthony Ice entered last weekend leading the FCS in receiving yards and yards per game and now still ranks third in the subdivision in both categories (341 yards and 113.7 yards per game).
• Newcomer wideout
Cross Watson earned PFL Freshman of the Week (just the second-ever official FOTW award) and is the Stats Perform FCS National Freshman of the Week after the KCU game. He had four catches for 132 yards and three TDs but has not caught a pass in the season opener or the APSU game. He would rank No. 1 in the FCS in yards per catch (33.0).
• Fourth-year punter
Ashton Adams had never punted in his Eagle career ... until last weekend, when he surprisingly handled the punting duties all game long at APSU and responded by being named the PFL Special Teams Player of the Week. He booted nine kicks for a 50.1 yard average, including four 50+ yard boomers, a 67-yard high point, and four downed inside the 10-yard line. Not bad for a local Maysville, Ky., product who bided his time.
• MSU's 68-point first half outburst against KCU was the program and PFL record for points in a half and came within five of tying the all-time FCS (I-AA) record of 73 set by Montana State in 1985. MSU also scored 75 points, which ranks third in program history for points in a game (104, 76 [twice], 75). The last time MSU scored 40+ points in consecutive games was 2018 (48 vs. Mt. St. Joseph and 40 vs. No. 23 Austin Peay). The 41 points in the second quarter also set a program standard for points in a quarter.
• Sophomore kicker
Jordan Price still carries a perfect PAT sheet into his second year now. He was a perfect 30-of-30 on PAT kicks in his first college season and drilled his first in week zero against ODU. He connected on all nine tries against KCU and one at APSU and is now 42-of-42 in his career.
• Morehead State's 11 touchdowns scored against KCU tied the program's modern-era record of 11 set in 2012 against Valparaiso. MSU's seven passing TDs also tied the all-time MSU record for TDs through the air in a game.
• When
Isaiah Watts and
Sidney Webb both returned interceptions for TDs vs. KCU, it marked the first time in program history the Eagle defense recorded two "pick 6s" in the same game.
• Morehead State is one of just seven FCS teams to have two defensive touchdowns this season.
• Morehead State ranks in the top 15 in the FCS in several stats categories, including first downs allowed (13th - 45), kickoff return defense (12th - 14.5), net punting (12th - 41.4), passing offense (2nd - 335.3), yards per completion (8th - 15.7), scoring offense (13th - 40.7) and total offense (12th - 466.3).
• The Eagles are only penalized 5.0 times per game, which ranks 21st among 116 teams ranked in the FCS.
•
Cross Watson,
Riley Purcell,
Sam Harkness and
Gabe Linkous have all caught their career touchdown passes this year.
