Murray State University Athletics
Saturday, November 20
Nashville, Tenn.
TBA
Murray State
30
at
13
Tennessee State
Racers finish strong with 30-13 win at TSU in final regular-season game
11/20/2004 6:00:00 AM | Football
The finale to the 2004 football season for the Murray State Racers turned out to be one of their finest moments of the season with a convincing 30-13 win today at Tennessee State in Nashville in Ohio Valley Conference action.
Head coach Joe Pannunzio with misty eyes revealed again how much he loves this edition of the Racers.
"This is one of the best groups I've ever had the priviledge of coaching," he said. "I'm going to miss these 19 seniors."
The Racers (7-4, 6-2 OVC) played a smart, intense and business-like game against the Tigers (4-7, 2-5 OVC).
Leading 9-7 at the half after a Gary Crass 21-yard field goal and a Dan Rumley six-yard touchdown catch from Adam Fisher, the Racers continually dared Tennessee State to run on them.
Charles Anthony of Tennessee State, the OVC's leading rusher, got the best of the Racers in the first half, gaining 93 yards. However, the Racers stuffed the TSU running game in the second half, allowing Anthony only 11 yards.
"I knew that we had to play a very good game today to get this win," Pannunzio said, "and once we got the lead, I sensed the guys were not only holding on, but trying to extend the lead."
The Racers scored 30 unanswered points after falling behind 7-0 in the first quarter.
Murray State cornerback Onsha Whitaker came within one interception of tying the Racers' single-season record. He intercepted a pass in the third quarter to end the season with an OVC-leading seven.
The game ended a string of five straight meetings between the Racers and Tigers in which the home team had won. It marked the Racers' first win at the Coliseum in Nashville after losing there previously in 1999 and 2001.
With a four-game winning streak and much momentum, the Racers are the hottest team in the OVC, but are on the outside looking in at the I-AA playoffs, unless they receive an at-large bid.
"I'd love for us to get a chance at the post-season," Pannunzio said. "We would be a very dangerous team to have to face right now."
Head coach Joe Pannunzio with misty eyes revealed again how much he loves this edition of the Racers.
"This is one of the best groups I've ever had the priviledge of coaching," he said. "I'm going to miss these 19 seniors."
The Racers (7-4, 6-2 OVC) played a smart, intense and business-like game against the Tigers (4-7, 2-5 OVC).
Leading 9-7 at the half after a Gary Crass 21-yard field goal and a Dan Rumley six-yard touchdown catch from Adam Fisher, the Racers continually dared Tennessee State to run on them.
Charles Anthony of Tennessee State, the OVC's leading rusher, got the best of the Racers in the first half, gaining 93 yards. However, the Racers stuffed the TSU running game in the second half, allowing Anthony only 11 yards.
"I knew that we had to play a very good game today to get this win," Pannunzio said, "and once we got the lead, I sensed the guys were not only holding on, but trying to extend the lead."
The Racers scored 30 unanswered points after falling behind 7-0 in the first quarter.
Murray State cornerback Onsha Whitaker came within one interception of tying the Racers' single-season record. He intercepted a pass in the third quarter to end the season with an OVC-leading seven.
The game ended a string of five straight meetings between the Racers and Tigers in which the home team had won. It marked the Racers' first win at the Coliseum in Nashville after losing there previously in 1999 and 2001.
With a four-game winning streak and much momentum, the Racers are the hottest team in the OVC, but are on the outside looking in at the I-AA playoffs, unless they receive an at-large bid.
"I'd love for us to get a chance at the post-season," Pannunzio said. "We would be a very dangerous team to have to face right now."
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