Murray State University Athletics
Racers to open at home with ISU
9/15/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
The Murray State Racers will take the field for the first time in two weeks on Saturday, when they play host to the Indiana State Sycamores of the Gateway Conference on Family Weekend at Roy Stewart Stadium at 6 p.m. in the season home-opener.
With a win against the Sycamores, Murray State will surpass its all-time best win streak in season openers, currently set at eight straight (1997-2004). The Racers will also look to extend another impressive streak, consecutive wins at home. MSU currently holds a five-game winning streak at home, dating back to last season. The last Racer home loss was on Nov. 22, 2003, in the last game of the season against Tennessee State.
"I'm glad to get back to playing at the I-AA level," Racer head coach Joe Pannunzio said at his weekly press conference, "but that being said, we've got a tough opponent in Indiana State. They are much better than their record shows (0-2). (Indiana State first-year head coach) Lou West and I coached together at Kansas, and he's an outstanding coach. His team will be ready to go."
Murray State (0-1) enjoyed an off week last week after the 38-6 loss to Mississippi State on Sept. 3. In that game, junior running back Chad Cook broke free for a 13-yard touchdown that gave the Racers the 6-3 lead in the second quarter, but the defense allowed several big plays at the end of the first half and in the second half to seal the deal for Mississippi State.
In order to win Saturday, Pannunzio knows his secondary must play significantly better against an Indiana State team that runs a pass first/no-huddle offense.
"We can't give away three big plays like we did at Mississippi State," Pannunzio said. "Hopefully, our technique has improved and we'll be solid back there. Our track record with no-huddle teams isn't good. Last week, we worked extensively on no-huddle. Indiana State threw it 54 times in their opener (a 24-13 loss against Ohio Valley Conference member Eastern Illinois), so we better get ready to defend the pass."
The Sycamores have a knack for big plays on offense, already amassing seven total offensive plays of 20 or more yards. However, big plays hasn't meant victories for ISU, who last week lost to last year's NAIA national runner-up St. Francis (Ind.) by a score of 42-10. In that game, the Sycamores trailed 14-10 at halftime, but allowed 28 uncontested points in the second half. The St. Francis game provided the program's first-ever loss to an NAIA school.
With that said, the Sycamores lead the all-time series 5-2, including winning each of the last three seasons against the Racers. The last time Murray State defeated Indiana State was Pannunzio's second game as Racer head coach, a 41-24 home win on Sept. 23, 2000.
In the last two meetings with the Sycamores, the Racers have had the chance to tie late in the game and marched deep into the red zone, but have fumbled each time to an Indiana State recovery. Perhaps the toughest loss was in 2002, when the Sycamores kicked two field goals of more than 50 yards to beat the Racers in overtime 34-31.
"All of the last three losses to Indiana State, we have had a lead on them and couldn't hold it," Pannunzio said, "but what has happened with Indiana State in the past is just that, in the past. We've got to concentrate on the task at hand Saturday."
The Racers' passing game is led by Ken Topps, who threw for 144 yards at Mississippi State. Cook rushed for 57 yards against Mississippi State, while Rumley led the team in receptions with five for 28 yards. On the defensive side of the ball, cornerbacks Derrick Parrott and Paul Walker led the team with 11 tackles against Mississippi State.
For the Sycamores, their offense is led by senior quarterback Blayne Baggett, a transfer from Western Michigan who completed 63 percent of his passes and amassed a passing rating of 141.0 (which ranked in the nation's top ten) for Western Michigan last season. Baggett tied a school record by completing 32 passes in the season-opening loss to Eastern Illinois, and has completed 57 of 94 passes (60.6 percent) for 503 yards this season. Baggett has found trouble getting points for the Sycamores, throwing five interceptions compared to just one touchdown. Andre Forte is the Sycamores' leading rusher with 141 yards on 24 carries, while Sam Logan (13 catches, 94 yards) and Carl Berman (11 catches, 114 yards) are Baggett's favorite targets. Senior linebacker Doc Gooden is the team's leading returning tackler, an All-Gateway Football Conference Second Team selection last season.
Pannunzio expects a good, hard game featuring two teams hungry for their first victory in the 2005 campaign.
"We've been very fortunate to play well at home," Pannunzio said. "It's Family Weekend, so we should have a great crowd. It's a great time to get our fans fired up about our team. I want our fans to know how much they mean to us and how much they help us."
