Murray State University Athletics
Murray State Football Set For Illinois State
9/7/2007 5:00:00 AM | Football
The Murray State Racers are on the road again for their second game of the 2007 season when they travel to Normal for their fifth meeting with the Redbirds of Illinois State. Game time at Hancock Stadium is set for 6 p.m.
The Redbirds have a 3-1 lead in the series and have won the last three. MSU's only win came in the first game of the series 32-17 at MSU's Roy Stewart Stadium in 2001. The Racers lost at home to the Redbirds last season 35-14.
Illinois State is coached by Denver Johnson who patrolled the MSU sidelines from 1997 to 1999 compiling a 21-12 record.
It may be hard to tell exactly where the Racers are in their rebuilding project under second year head coach Matt Griffin. The Racers opened the season last Saturday against the 10th ranked team in FBS when they took on the Louisville Cardinals. The game marked the Racers' tenth game against a Football Bowl Series team since 2000. The Racers have tangled with the likes of Wisconsin, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Connecticut, Kentucky and Missouri.
The Racers tied the game at 7-7 in the first quarter on a touchdown pass from first time starter Jeff Ehrhardt to Derrick Townsel, but from that point on the Cardinals had their way in a 73-10 victory. Murray State also got a 24-yard field goal from Sean O'Brien.
The 2007 Racers are very young with 72 underclassmen and only 14 juniors and seniors on the roster. MSU has eight returning starters on the offensive side of the ball and nine starters returning to the defense.
Redshirt freshman Jeff Ehrhardt who won the job in fall camp made his first collegiate start against Louisville and ended the night completing 12 passes in 20 attempts for 88 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions. While Sophomores Charlie Jordan and Josh Jones will figure heavily into the Racers ground attack, freshman Paul McKinnis burst onto the scene against Louisville by rushing for 72 yards on nine carries, his longest run of the evening was 32 yards. Eight different receivers caught passes in the Louisville game, including four each for Rod Harper and Derrick Townsel. On defense, Josh Marshall led the Racers with six tackles, all were of the solo variety.
After the game with Illinois State, the Racers return to Murray for their home opener against Lambuth on Sep. 15th at 6 p.m. The game will mark the first game on MSU's new FieldTurf playing surface that was installed at Roy Stewart Stadium over the summer. The Racers have won nine of their last 10 home openers.
