Murray State
Southeast Missouri State
Rainy day rushers lead Racers past SEMO
10/23/2004 5:00:00 AM | Football
For the third time this season, the Murray State Racers used a pair of 100-yard rushers to their advantage to defeat Southeast Missouri State 28-13 at Roy Stewart Stadium this afternoon.
In a game that saw rain most of the time, the Racers (4-4, 3-2 OVC) never trailed in defeating the Indians (1-6, 1-3 OVC) for the 12th consecutive time.
The day dawned with rain, lots of it, as the Racers prepared to face the Indians. That was perfect as far as the Racers were concerned, as the excellent SEMO passing attack was sure to slow on such a wet day.
After the Indians were forced to punt to open the game, the Racers moved the ball 91 yards in six plays and scored on a four-yard touchdown run by junior running back Nick Turner.
The Racers had a hot start, out-gaining SEMO 131 yards to 41 in the opening quarter. Junior quarterback Adam Fisher completed a pair of 51-yard passes to junior wide receiver Dan Rumley and junior wide receiver DeSean Hammons. Although the Racers failed to score off of those plays, the passing game opened up the running game.
Still leading 7-0 with 5:33 left before halftime, the Racers kept the ball and nearly ran out the clock. Sophomore running back Chad Cook scored with 10 seconds left from three yards out to put the Racers up 14-0 at halftime.
With 7:59 left in the third quarter, junior safety Tony Ryan forced a fumble by Southeast quarterback Andy Goodenough that was recovered by Ryan at the Indian 36-yard line.
The Racers used 10 plays, all rushes by Turner, Cook and junior running back Ron Lane to score. Cook punched it in from the 4-yard line to give the Racers a 21-0 lead.
Turner finished the day with 167 yards rushing on 25 carries and two touchdowns. Cook rushed for 101 yards on 22 carries and scored twice. Lane added 31 yards on the ground on 10 carries. It marked the third time this season that the Racers have enjoyed two 100-yard rushers in a single game.
Turner had not played pain-free since injuring his ribs on Sept. 25 against Tennessee Tech.
"Normally, I don't like to play in the rain, but today it didn't bother me," Turner said. "It's taken a bunch of work to get back to the point where I could play at the top of my game. I'm still a little sore, but today I didn't have to a take a direct shot."
The Racers' running game turned out 295 yards. According to MSU head coach Joe Pannunzo, the credit goes to the offensive line and junior fullback Matt Webber.
"We've got a fullback that is just killing people, and today our offensive line played great from the start." Pannunzio said. "Getting a healthy Nick Turner back on the field did us wonders today."
Cook had his own praise for the blocking up front.
"We knew it would be tough to run on SEMO," he said. "They were putting a bunch people in the box, but our offensive line made some running lanes just the same."
Defensively, the Racers held SEMO quarterback Andy Goodenough at bay. The Indians' passer came in with three consecutive 300-yard passing games. The Racers didn't shut him down completely, but did hold him to 263 yards and intercepted him once.
The Racers' winning streak against the Indians moves to 12 straight. The Indians' last win against Murray State was in 1992, and SEMO hasn't won in Murray since 1978.
Murray State hits the road for a game next Saturday, Oct 30, at Eastern Kentucky.
