Murray State
Tennessee Tech
Racers have better numbers, but Tech outscores MSU 42-21
10/1/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
The Murray State Racers opened their 58th season of football in the Ohio Valley Conference with a 42-21 loss at Tennessee Tech. The Racers had a 14-7 lead in the second quarter, but gave up 35 unanswered points in dropping their 2005 record to 1-3, 0-1 in OVC play.
It was an extremely long week for the Racers, as they waited for a chance to gain redemption after suffering their first shutout in 14 years last Saturday at Illinois State.
In the first half, the Racers responded with a remarkable effort.
Looking at the final statistics, it's hard to imagine that the Racers lost the game when they outgained Tech in many facets of the game, including total yards, passing yards, first downs and plays attempted. However, the telling stat came when the Racers made four visits inside the Eagles' 20-yard line and scored a touchdown only once.
"We moved the ball most of the day, but that's not where the game is won and lost; it's decided on the scoreboard," said MSU head coach Joe Pannunzio. "We've got two choices: we can either quit or come back next week and get better. I know what myself and my staff and the players are going to do. We're going to keep on trying."
Quarterback Ken Topps, who missed most of the Illinois State game with a shoulder injury, was brilliant, completing 10 of 17 passes for 107 yards. He also rushed for a 21-yard touchdown and had 40 yards rushing in the opening half. However, Topps re-injured his shoulder late in the second quarter and did not return.
With 8:12 before half, MSU began its fourth drive of the day at their own 37. Topps hit Jonathan Eiland for 13 yards to the TTU 44. Topps scrambled for 11 yards and picked up another first down at the TTU 33. On 2nd-and-5, Cook picked up another first down at the TTU 21. On the next play, Topps dropped back to pass, but tucked the ball and ran with it. He eluded two tacklers at the 12, then ran clear to the endzone for his first touchdown as a Racer. The game was tied 7-7 with 6:05 left in the half.
On the ensuing kickoff, Chris Fountain hit TTU's Larry Shipp and caused a fumble at the 21-yard line. Freshman Dominic Spinks scooped up the ball and raced into the endzone for a touchdown and a 14-7 Murray State lead with still 6:05 in the half.
"When we made that touchdown on the kick, I thought we were ready to roll," said Pannunzio, "but from that point on, we could not stop them from the big play."
Tech quickly struck for two touchdown passes of 27 and 63 yards to take a 21-14 lead at the half.
The Racers played well in the first half, but it was costly. MSU was hit with injuries to Topps, tailback Nick Turner and tackle Jon Harper. Like Topps, Turner and Harper did not return after suffering ankle injuries.
Pannunzio said he was hopeful that Topps can recover in time to play Saturday.
"Ken is an incredible athlete, and I hope we can get him back by next week," Pannunzio said, "but if he's not ready, I have all the confidence in the world in what Ryne can do."
Pannunzio was speaking of MSU sophomore Ryne Salyer, who played the entire second half and completed 16 of 31 passes for 218 yards., but he lamented the fact that he was picked off three times.
"That's amazing to throw that many times in a half, but I can't throw the ball away three times and expect good things to happen," Salyer said.
The Racers could not stop the Eagles in the second half. Tech scored twice in the third quarter and won the game 42-21.
MSU has dropped three straight games in Cookeville and have not won there since 1999. MSU is now 27-31 in OVC openers.
The Racers return home Saturday with a 6 p.m. game at Stewart Stadium, hosting Jacksonville State.
MURRAY STATE NOTES
Ryne Salyer's 300-yard passing game marked the first 300-yard aerial assault by the Racers since Stephen Hatchell threw for 327 yards against Eastern Kentucky on Nov. 1, 2003.
Murray State's two-game OVC road winning streak ends. That streak dated back to 2004, when MSU ended the season with road wins at Eastern Kentucky and Tennessee State.
Joe Pannunzio drops to 29-31 in six seasons with the Racers and 2-5 against Tennessee Tech.
Dominic Spinks made his first start as a Racer at left cornerback and responded with a good game. The freshman from Meridian, Miss., made the fumble recovery for a Murray State touchdown that gave the Racers a 14-7 lead in the second quarter. Spinks also added two tackles on the day.
The Racers' fumble recovery for a touchdown was their first in six years. The last came against Kentucky Wesleyan in the final game of the 1999 season. Today's fumble recovery was the first of the season for MSU.
The Racers tried to convert on fourth down five times today and were successful twice.
For the season, MSU is 3-of-7 on fourth down.
After Tech's win today, the home team has won each of the last five games in the series. Murray State beat the Eagles at home in 2002 and 2004, while TTU has won at home in 2001, 2003 and 2005.
Through four games, the Racers have not attempted a field goal.
MSU entered the day averaging only 11 points per game and scored 21. Their average after four games is now 13.5. The Racers came into the TTU game ranked last in the OVC in scoring.
The Racers have had trouble creating points in the second half this season. After being outscored at a Tennessee Tech 14-0 in the third quarter, MSU has been outscored 49-7 in games with Mississippi State, Indiana State, Illinois State and Tennessee Tech.
The Racers outgained Tech in total offense 475 yards to 406, and ran 91 plays compared to the Eagles' 52. Their total yards were the Racers' best showing of 2005 and their best since running up 505 yards against Tennessee-Martin last Nov. 13, 2004.
