Murray State University Athletics
MSU Football Opens OVC Play At Tennessee Tech
9/18/2007 5:00:00 AM | Football
The Murray State Racers open play in the Ohio Valley Conference Thursday when they travel to Cookeville, Tenn. to face the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles at Tucker Stadium.
The game marks the 73rd meeting between the two teams, and the series that began in 1930 shows Tech leading 39-32-1. The Racers and Golden Eagles have played every season since 1945.
Recently, the home team has held the edge. In five of the last six games, the home team has been the winner. The Racers defeated TTU at home in 2002 and 2004, while they have lost at Tech in 2001, 2003 and 2005, and they lost last season's meeting in Murray. The Racers haven't won in Cookeville since 1999. In the last 10 meetings, Tech has won six. The meeting between the two in 2006 was a classic game that was decided in overtime at MSU's Roy Stewart Stadium with Tech winning 20-14.
Last Saturday the Racers won their 2007 home opener 48-13 over Lambuth when they reeled off five unanswered touchdowns in the second half to get their first win of the season after road losses to #5 Louisville and #17 Illinois State. Jeff Ehrhardt became the first Racer quarterback to throw for four touchdowns since Justin Fuente did it in 1999 against Kentucky Wesleyan.
The Racers 48 points were their most in the last 36 games since scoring 56 to open the season in 2004 against Glenville State.
Rod Harper has caught at least one pass in every one of the 19 games he has played at Murray State. He caught nine passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns against Lambuth, he now has two 100-yard receiving games at Murray State.
The Murray State defense came up with its first second half shut out in the Matt Griffin era and their first since blanking Austin Peay in
November of 2005. The best previous effort for the Racers' defense was against Tennessee State last season when they held The Tigers
to three points in the second half.
Derrick Parrott's interception in the first quarter was the first Racer pick of the season and it opened up the flood gates as MSU picked off four more passes before the night was finished, all five interceptions came from a different player.
The story line of the Racers' youth has been well documented. In many cases underclassmen are learning on the job. MSU has 72 underclassmen and only 14 juniors and seniors on the roster.
After the game with Tennessee Tech, MSU will host Jacksonville State at Stewart Stadium Sep. 29 at 3 p.m. The game is the highlight event of Murray State's Family Weekend.
