Murray State University Athletics
Racers anticipate nail-biter vs. SEMO
10/21/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
When the Murray State Racers take the field against Ohio Valley Conference rival Southeast Missouri State at Roy Stewart Stadium on Saturday, they will know exactly what to expect. After all, in all four games played against the Indians in head coach Joe Pannunzio's tenure, every game has been decided by 10 points or less, all Racer victories.
The closest game in Pannunzio's tenure came last season, when Murray State edged the Indians with 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, 27-24, in Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Now the Indians come to Murray, and Pannunzio expects the same type of intense game these teams have shared since 2000.
"With SEMO, the last four years have come down to the wire," Pannunzio said in his weekly Monday press conference. "I don't expect anything different. This is a game SEMO looks forward to every year."
The Racers' momentum might be a little low following last week's 24-9 loss at Eastern Illinois, but Pannunzio thinks that the team will be focused and ready for SEMO.
"Obviously, we are disappointed with the way we played," Pannunzio said. "We have to be able to make plays throwing the ball downfield. We have to stop this backslide- we've been beating ourselves."
With such a close game being anticipated, the Racers will be looking for a little bit of a home-field advantage.
"It's like we're two different teams: one here at Roy Stewart Stadium and one on the road," Pannunzio said. "I don't know if it's a mindset or what, but we're going to figure it out."
Pannunzio brings up a good point. Since he has been head coach, his teams have gone 16-7 (a win percentage of .696) at home, while going 8-21 (.276) on the road. This season has been no different, with the team going 3-0 at home and 0-4 on the road.
In Saturday's match-up, depth will play a main factor. Although senior tight end and offensive threat Jimmy St. Louis will likely be out for a couple more weeks, Pannunzio expects seniors Rohan Godson and Brandon Dixson and juniors Ronny Delusme, Erin Milton, and Nick Turner to all return this week from nagging injuries.
"Right now, every football team in America is going through injuries," Pannunzio said. "You can't practice as hard as you would like, but you just have to go week-to-week."
Pannunzio says that SEMO's 1-5 record is not indicative of the team's true talent.
"SEMO is going into this game just like us (with two OVC losses)," Pannunzio said. "We both probably lost our hopes of a conference championship. SEMO moves the ball good at times, and this year played a Division I-A team real well (a 44-27 loss to Central Michigan). This is a big game for us. It's a game we have to win."
Kickoff for Murray State vs. SEMO is set for 1:30 p.m. on Saturday at Roy Stewart Stadium.
