MSU Battles In 48-24 Loss To Tech In OVC Opener

Thursday, September 20

Cookeville, Tenn.

7 p.m.

Murray State

Tennessee Tech

9/20/2007 5:00:00 AM | Football

The Murray State Racers showed signs of a break out game, but in the end it wasn't enough in their Ohio Valley Conference opener Saturday in Cookeville, Tenn. against the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles at Tucker Stadium.

The 48-24 loss dropped the Racers to 1-3 in 2007 and 0-1 in the OVC.

There were several bright spots including: Another 11-tackle performance from linebacker Tamar Butler, a career first interception from Josh Marshall, and a career high receiving night by DeAngelo Nelson.

With 3:57 remaining in the first quarter, the Racers found themselves trailing 7-0 when quarterback Jeff Ehrhardt and company went to work.

Ehrhardt hit four straight completions to Rod Harper, Josh Jones and two to DeAngelo Nelson to move the ball from the Tech 43 to the 17.

After a running play that was stopped for no gain, Ehrhardt found Nelson in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown pass. Tyler Weiss tacked on the conversion kick and the game was tied 7-7 with 10 seconds left in the opening period.

Tech scored on their next possession when Lee Sweeney hit Larry Shipp on a nine yard TD pass to put the Golden Eagles ahead 14-7.

The Racers were on the move again with 12:26 to go before half.

Antoinne Lightfoot returned the kick off 34 yards to the MSU 45 to get things going.

Ehrhardt hit Nelson on a long pass to the TTU seven, but two plays later Tech's Maurice Smith picked off a pass to stop the MSU drive. It was Ehrhardt's first interception in 38 attempts in the 2007 season.

The Racers were down 28-7 when Weiss kicked a 29 field goal to cut the Tech lead to 28-10, but the score was 31-10 at the break.

MSU had the ball first in the third quarter and scored in 44 seconds when Derrick Townsel got open and caught a 25 yard TD strike from Ehrhardt. MSU trailed 31-17.

However on the kick off, Henry Sailes went 76 yards for a touchdown to put the Golden Eagles ahead 38-17 with 13:57 left in the third quarter.

As the clock moved inside the five-minute mark, the Racers moved inside the TTU 20.

Ehrhardt scored from two yards out to cut the TTU lead to 48-24 with 2:56 remaining.

The Racers ended with 283 yards passing and 66 rushing, while Tech had 279 yards on the ground and 182 through the air.

DeAngelo Nelson's 135 receiving led the Racers, Rod Harper had 73 yards in catches.

Ehrhardt had 283 yards passing on 24 of 40 attempts.

Paul McKinnis led the Racers on the ground with 72 yards on six carries.

On defense, Tamar Butler led the way with 13 tackles.

GAME NOTES

DeAngelo Nelson ended the game with a career high seven receptions for 135 yards, all coming in the first half. Nelson's game is the 27th best receiving game in yards in Murray State history.

Josh Marshall picked off his first career interception as a MSU player in the third quarter.

Taylor Lanigan picked off his second pass of 2007 as the Racers moved their interception total for the season to seven and all have come in the last two games.

Tamar Butler has 24 tackles in the last two games.

The Racers have now scored in nine straight quarters.

The next game for MSU is Sep. 29 at Roy Stewart Stadium against Jacksonville State. The game begins at 3 p.m. and is one of the big events of MSU's Family Weekend. The Racers and Gamecocks have played four times since JSU joined the OVC in 2003. The Racers won the first meeting in 2003 in overtime at home 23-17, but JSU has won the last three including their last visit to Murray 28-23 in 2005. The Racers lost at Jacksonville 49-17 in 2006.