Murray State University built a 10-0 halftime lead over 17th ranked Eastern Illinois University but the Panthers (5-3, 4-0 OVC) scored 20 unanswered second half points to pull out the 20-10 win today in Charleston, Ill. Charlie Jordan's first collegiate touchdown gave the Racers (1-7, 0-5 OVC) an early lead but the EIU ground game churned out 226 yards in the second half to foster the comeback.
Jordan finished with 90 yards on 24 carries to go along with his touchdown and caught 10 passes for 58 yards. Zach Barnard completed 29-of-39 passes for 210 yards and did not throw an interception.
Vincent Webb led an Eastern Illinois rushing attack that saw two running backs eclipse the 150-yard mark. Webb finished with 182 yards on 28 carries. Norris Smith ran 22 times for 155 yards and scored two touchdowns.
The Racers took the opening kick and drove 80 yards in 6:09 to grab the early lead. The score was the first on its opening possession since Murray State scored on the first drive against Indiana State on Sept. 16.
Jordan, a freshman, turned the first play of the game into a 10-yard gainer. Two plays later Jordan broke away for 26 yards to the EIU 45 yard line. Barnard completed back-to-back passes to move the Racers to the 26 yard line. The first pass went to freshman Derrick Townsel for 14 yards.
Barnard was 4-for-4 on the drive for 23 yards.
On third down and four yards to go, Jordan picked up 10 yards to reach the red zone and pick up the first down. Jordan finished off the drive with three straight carries from the five yard line. He scored his first collegiate touchdown from one yard out.
The freshman carried the ball eight times and accounted for 57 yards on the drive.
Eastern Illinois moved the ball on its first drive. After a Smith 4-yard run carried the Panthers to the Murray State 18 yard line, Koji Farrington broke up, and nearly intercepted, a pass in the end zone. After another incompletion, EIU was forced to attempt a 35-yard field goal. Zach Yates kick was wide left and MSU held onto a 7-0 lead.
Barnard completed his first eight passes of the game and finished the first quarter 8-of-10 for 57 yards.
Murray State out-gained Eastern Illinois 121-52 in the first quarter and held a 64-23 advantage on the ground. Jordan finished the first 15 minutes of play with 64 yards on 10 carries.
The Racers put together another strong drive in the second quarter. After taking the ball at its own eight yard line, Murray State moved 57 yards, on 11 plays, to the EIU 35 yard line. Barnard's 8-yard completion to Jordan put MSU at the 29 yard line, but a holding penalty on the next play backed the Racers up to the 38 and after an incomplete pass on third and eight the Racers were forced to punt.
Webb put the Panthers on their own 46 yard line with an 11-yard run. Two penalties put Eastern Illinois in a second and 26 situation. On the next play, MSU freshman Taylor Lanigan picked off quarterback Cole Stinson to end the EIU drive.
The interception was the second of the season for Lanigan.
The Racers had the ball back at their own 42 yard line with 3:39 left in the first half.
Barnard completed a 14-yard pass to Shane McCleskey to move Murray State across midfield. The catch was the first of the season for McCleskey who was making his first game appearance of 2006.
Barnard found Jordan for 11 yards over the middle and then connected with McCleskey again, this time for seven yards, to move to the EIU 22 yard line.
On third and three, Jordan was able to pick up just two yards and MSU was forced to attempt a 37-yard field goal. The kick was blocked, but EIU was called for offsides and Murray State had a first down with the ball at the 22 yard line and 19 seconds remaining in the half. Barnard attempted one pass before Gary Crass and the kicking unit came back out on the field.
A 32-yard field goal by Crass gave the Racers a 10-0 advantage at halftime.
The Murray State offense totaled 225 yards in the first half, including 91 yards on the ground. Jordan had 91 yards on 19 carries in the first 30 minutes of action. Barnard went 16-of-21 for 134 yards in the first half.
EIU's Webb had 86 yards on eight carries in the first half.
Eastern Illinois came out strong in the first half and scored 10 points in the third quarter to tie the game. The Panthers only had two possessions in the third quarter, but they capitalized on both.
EIU gave the ball to Webb six straight times on its opening drive of the second half and he carried the team down to the MSU 12 yard line. On third and three Murray State stopped Webb for no gain and Yates finished off the drive with a 29-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 10-3.
The Racers couldn't muster a first down on their first possession of the second half and gave the ball back to the Panthers after a 46-yard punt by Tim Wright.
Eastern Illinois kept the ball on the ground every play of an 11-play, 65 yard drive, that concluded with a 4-yard touchdown run by Smith. Smith picked up 23 yards on the first three plays of the drive, including two 11-yard gains. Webb carried the ball on the next six plays to move to the MSU 14 yard line. Smith gained 10 yards before he finished off the drive with his touchdown run.
The Racers drove into EIU territory on their next drive with the assist of two personal foul penalties on the Panthers. The drive stalled at the 38 yard line and MSU punted as the third quarter ended.
Eastern Illinois did not attempt a single pass in the third quarter, but did gain 117 yards on 20 carries.
With 8:43 left in the game Yates capped a 71-yard drive with a 26-yard field goal that put the home team in front 13-10.
Murray State couldn't convert a fourth down on its own 40 yard line and Smith shot up the middle for 24 yards on the Panthers first play. Three runs later Smith finished it off with a 4-yard touchdown run to give EIU a 20-10 lead with 4:25 remaining in the game.
Eastern Illinois finished the game with 335 yards on the ground, while holding MSU to 86 net yards. Panther quarterbacks completed 6-of-11 passes for just 53 yards. EIU finished with 388 yards of total offense. Murray State totaled 296 yards of offensive production.
Junior Nathan Williams led all defenders with 15 tackles. Farrington finished with a pair of pass break-ups. Tristan Burge had a team-high 11 tackles for Eastern Illinois.
The Racers entertain Southeast Missouri State University next Saturday (Oct. 28) in Murray. Kickoff at Stewart Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m.
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