From OVCSports.com...
Eastern Kentucky Colonels (2-5, 2-3 OVC)
at Murray State Racers (2-5, 1-2 OVC)
Saturday, October 28 • 3:00 p.m. CT
Roy Stewart Stadium (16,800) • Murray, Ky.
TV:.................................................. OVC Digital Network
Live Stats: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=184254
Series Record:................. Eastern Kentucky leads 45-27-4
Last Meeting:................. Murray State won 41-28 (11/5/16)
Mark Elder at Eastern Kentucky:.................... 5-13 (2 yrs.)
Mark Elder Overall:.................................................. same
Mitch Stewart at Murray State:....................... 9-20 (3 yrs.)
Mitch Stewart Overall:.............................................. same
Eastern Kentucky Last Week:........ W, 31-21 vs. UT Martin
Murray State Last Week:............................................ Idle
GAME NOTES: Eastern Kentucky and Murray State will play for 77th time on
Saturday, this time for the Racers annual Homecoming contest. EKU leads the
all-time series 45-27-4, although Murray State has won two of the last four in
the series, including 41-28 a year ago. In that game KD Humphries threw for 338
yards and three touchdowns for the Racers. MSU wideout Jordon Gandy hauled in
two of those touchdowns and finished with 218 yards of receiving in the victory.
Tyler Swafford passed for 289 yards for EKU in the loss. Two of the last four
games in the series have gone into overtime.
SCOUTING EASTERN KENTUCKY: Eastern Kentucky snapped a three-game losing streak
with a 31-21 home victory over UT Martin last week. The Colonels had 331 yards
of total offense and were able to limit the Skyhawks to just 254 yards,
including just 38 yards on the ground (after coming into the game averaging 161
rushing yards/game). EKU rushed for a season-best 229 yards on the ground,
including 137 from Daryl McCleskey. McCleskey, Jason Lewis and Ethan Thomas each
had touchdown runs. Senior punter Keith Wrzuszczak broke a 51-year old school
record with an 84-yard punt; the punt was the second-longest in the FCS this
season and tied for second-longest in the OVC since 2004. The senior, who
currently ranks first nationally in punting (46.2 yards/punt), averaged 49.9
yards on nine punts against the Skyhawks and was named OVC Co-Specialist of the
Week. Junior linebacker Corey Glass was named OVC Defensive Player of the Week
after recording five tackles, a sack and forcing a fumble. Kobie Grace recovered
a fumble and is now tied for first nationally in that category for the year (3).
SCOUTING MURRAY STATE: Coming off a win over nationally-ranked UT Martin, the
Racers nearly made it two OVC wins in a row, before falling to Eastern Illinois
27-24 in double overtime two weeks ago. MSU fell behind 21-7 after three
quarters, but scored 14 fourth quarter points to tie the game and force
overtime. The teams exchanged field goals in the first overtime period before
MSU’s attempt in the second extra period was blocked. The game saw MSU and EIU
combine for 933 yards of total offense. Shuler Bentley threw for a career-high
322 yards and accounted for three touchdowns in the game. He engineered
back-to-back scoring drives of 72 and 80 yards in the final 10 minutes of the
game. Jordan Gandy finished the game with 10 catches for a season-high 193 yards
and a touchdown (a 48-yard reception that tied the game). For the season Gandy
has caught 36 passes for 504 yards and five touchdowns. As a team, Murray State
is fourth nationally in passes intercepted (12) and red zone offense (93.8%),
eighth in fewest penalties/game (4.29), ninth in turnovers gained (18) and 10th
in fewest yards penalized/game (37.86).
