Murray State
Eastern Kentucky
Colonels Use Strong Third Quarter to Overshadow Ehrhardt?s Career Day
10/27/2007 5:00:00 AM | Football
Eastern Kentucky used a dominating third quarter to overshadow a career effort from Murray State quarterback Jeff Ehrhardt as the #16 Colonels handed the Racers a 46-35 defeat Saturday afternoon at Roy Stewart Stadium.
Ehrhardt, making just his eighth start of his career, finished the game by going 29-for-43 for 344 yards and five touchdowns. The five scoring strikes were the most by a Racer quarterback since Michael Proctor threw for school record six touchdowns against Austin Peay in 1989. The 344-yard effort is also the 18th-best single-game passing mark in school history. It is also the third best single-game effort by a freshman behind only Stewart Childress' 367 yards against Tennessee State and 425 yards against Western Kentucky during the 2000 season.
"This was a tough one. I thought we executed well in the first half, it just wasn't enough today," said head coach Matt Griffin. "Field position came into play today and we didn't execute well in the kickoff game. All of our kids played hard and physical and I loved their effort. There was a point at the end of third quarter where the kids could have packed it up, but they didn't."
The third quarter was dominated from start to finish by the Colonels amassed 130 yards to only 28 for the Racers, despite MSU holding the ball for 10:22 of the quarter.
EKU (7-2, 6-0 OVC) opened the quarter by marching right down the field on the legs of Bobby Washington before Allan Holland and Quinton Williams connected on their second scoring strike of the game, this time from seven-yards out.
After an O'Connor 48-yard field goal pushed the advantage to 34-21, the EKU defense got into the act by sacking Ehrhardt in the endzone for a safety. Backup tailback Mark Dunn would close out the third-quarter scoring with a 57-yard touchdown right over right end as the third quarter expired.
The Racers (2-6, 1-4 OVC) did not go down without a fight as Ehrhardt led MSU on a scoring drive to start the fourth quarter that was capped off on a 30yard catch and run to DeAngelo Nelson.
The momentum continued to move over to the Navy and Gold as the Racers defense forced a Colonels punt that was returned 59 yards by Antoinne Lightfoot to the EKU 26. OVC interception leader, Huff, put a temporary halt to the momentum with his third interception of the game at his own three-yard line on the first play of the MSU drive.
Following a missed field goal on the Colonels' ensuing possession, Ehrhardt picked apart the Colonels defense with his arm and legs as he rushed for 25 yards on a pair of runs and hit tight end Daniel Ard on two-straight completions that totalled 36 yards. Ehrhardt capped off the drive by hitting Lee McGinnis running across the middle in the end zone.
The Racers' defense looked to make one last stop as they forced a missed field goal, but were called for running into the kicker. Taylor Long redeemed himself and hit from 34-yards out push the advantage to 11 points. MSU's last ditch effort was stopped short as the Colonels forced and recovered a fumble on their ninth sack of Ehrhardt.
The two teams went to-to-toe in the first half as each offense matched the other before Long kicked a 21-yard field goal as the first half expired to give the Colonels the 24-21 lead at intermission.
The Racers looked to get a break on their opening drive as Ehrhardt's fourth-down pass was intercepted by Huff at his own one-yard line. That break turned into history as Washington took the second play from scrimmage for a 99-yard touchdown over right tackle for a quick 7-0 lead.
MSU had the answer as Ehrhardt led a nine-play, 76-yard drive that was capped off with a nine-yard strike Josh Jones. Tyler Weiss added the point after and the game was tied with 6:56 left in the first quarter.
The Racers would strike again on the second play of the quarter as Ehrhardt hit Marcus Harris for a 36-yard strike. For Harris, it was the first touchdown reception of his young career.
The Colonels would respond with a nine-play drive on their next possession that was capped off with Washington's 15-yard scamper. After the next three possession resulted in punts, EKU delivered their second big play score of the day as Holland connected with Williams on a72-yard scoring strike with 3:32 showing on the first-half clock.
The Racers offense had one more first-half in them as they drove to the EKU 25-yard line before they were staring at a fourth-and-two with just over a minute remaining in the half. After a timeout, the Racers did not convert the fourth-down run, but were aided by an offside penalty on the Colonels. On the next play, Ehrhardt hit Rod Harper with a 20-yard strike over the middle for his third scoring strike of the half.
"This one was tough to lose. I made a few mistakes I have to correct and I still have some things to work on" said Ehrhardt. "Eastern Kentucky is definitely a good team and just like we have done all season, we were just a few plays away. We just have to keep getting better and find a way to get it done."
The Racers return to the field on Nov. 3 as they travel to take on Tennessee State. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. at LP Field in Nashville.
NOTES
? Charlie Jordan finished the game with 75 yards rushing after rushing for over 100 yards in each of the last two games.
? Marcus Harris caught 6 balls for 82 yards and a touchdown, all career highs. He also carried the ball one time for 23 yards.
? Marvin Robinson's interception in the third quarter stopped EKU quarterback Allan Holland's school-record at 201 passes without being intercepted.
? The MSU offense as has scored 66 points in the last six quarters dating back to the second half against SEMO.
? Ehrhardt's 344 yards passing was the first 300-yard passing effort since Stephen Hatchell threw for 327 yards against EKU on Nov. 1, 2003.
