Murray State University Athletics
Racers Travel to Take on #23 Jacksonville State
10/17/2008 5:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 18 4 p.m.
Memorial Stadium - Jacksonville, Ala.
The Murray State football team will look to extend its winning streak to three games as the Racers travel to take on Ohio Valley Conference preseason favorite Jacksonville State Saturday afternoon. Both teams are 2-1in OVC action and sit just one game out of first place.
Gameday Central
Stadium Paul Snow Memorial Stadium
Capacity 15,000
Surface Pro Grass Artificial
Kickoff 4 p.m.
Television none
Radio Froggy 103.7 FM
Neal Bradley (PxP) and David Ramey (Color)
Internet www.GoRacers.com
Series Record JSU leads 4-1
STORY LINES
The Racers and Gamecocks are meeting for just the sixth time. JSU holds a 4-1 advantage in the series and are coming off a 40-24 victory over MSU in Murray last season.
The Racers are looking for their third Ohio Valley Conference victory this season. The last time MSU won three OVC games was in 2004.
Junior wide receiver Derrick Townsel has put together the best three-game stretch in MSU history. The Memphis, Tenn. native has 27 catches for 525 yards and three scores since returning from injury.
MSU quarterback Jeff Ehrhardt is averaging 282.8 yards a game through the air and 49 yards a game on the ground.
The Racers offense has found its way in Ohio Valley Conference action as they are averaging 548.3 yards a game, including 201.7 yards a game on the ground.
The Gamecock offense is led by former LSU signal caller Ryan Perrilloux.
About the Opponent
Jacksonville State enters the game with an overall record of 4-2 and a 2-1 mark in OVC action.
The Gamecocks are coming off a 38-35 setback at the hands of Eastern Kentucky last weekend.
JSU has the second-best rushing attack in the OVC at 190.7 yards a game.
They are also averaging a league-best 420.2 yards a game of total offense.
The JSU is only allowing 21.2 points a game, while allowing just 329.5 yards.
LSU transfer Ryan Perrilloux leads the JSU offensive attack as he is averaging 204.3 passing yards a game. He is also averaging 32.8 yards a game on the ground.
He has thrown for nine touchdowns and rushed for six more, but has thrown an OVC-high 10 interceptions (5 last week against EKU).
Maurice Dupree is his go-to guy on the outside as he has 29 catches for 475 yards and seven touchdowns. Dupree is also averaging 14 yards a punt return and 29.6 yards a kickoff return, including a 99-yard TD return.
Daniel Jackson leads the ground attack with 351 rushing yards and is averaging 70.2 yards a game.
Inside the Numbers (OVC games only)
Murray State has the second-best rushing attack and the best passing attach in OVC games. MSU is averaging 548.3 yards of offense a game, which is over 100 yards more than any other team in the league.
The Racer defense ranks third in the league in total defense. MSU is third against the rush and fourth against the pass.
The Racer offensive line has allowed just one sack in three OVC contests.
Quarterback Jeff Ehrhardt has thrown for 1,009 yards and rushed for 168 yards in OVC action.
Derrick Townsel leads all receivers in OVC action with 25 catches for 525 yards. He is also tied for the league lead with three TDs.
Marcus Harris is one of three other players in the league with three receiving TDs. Harris is also fourth in the league with a 26.9 yard kickoff return average.
Nathan Williams is averaging an OVC-best 16 tackles a game in conference contests. He also ranks second with two sacks.
Safeties Will Werner and Taylor Lanigan have broken up four passes each.
Zach Kutch ranks second with five tackles-for-loss.
