Murray State University Athletics
Racers Complete Successful Spring With Spring Game
4/19/2008 5:00:00 AM | Football
The Murray State football team closed out its Spring workouts with the annual Spring Game Saturday afternoon the turf at Stewart Stadium. The scrimmage consisted of 61 offensive plays.
"I thought our kids were very competitive throughout the course of the scrimmage," said head coach Matt Griffin. "I thought the competitiveness throughout the whole Spring was better than in the past. We have to continue improve there and think we are starting to understand it is not just about competing, but it is about winning. Those two things go hand-and-hand and we need to keep getting better in both those areas. I am particularly pleased with the whole Spring. Even more happy that we came out healthy"
The offense got off to a good start as they marched 65 yards on the opening series and scored on a fourth-down play as quarterback Jeff Ehrhardt found Marcus Harris over the middle for the eight-yard scoring strike. The 12-play drive was very methodical as six of the plays going for 5-9 yards with the longest play being a 16-yard hookup between Ehrhardt and Kenny Benjamin on the first play.
The second-team offense then took the field and followed suit of the first team as they drove down the field on got a 12-yard touchdown run from Paul McKinnis on the 12th play of the drive.
The defense would bow their necks on the next series as De'Markus Lee would pick off a Chris Franklin pass and return it 47 yards for the score.
DeAngelo Nelson would set up the Racers next score as he hauled in a short pass from Franklin and break a couple tackles before finally being tackled after a 41-yard gain. Four plays later, Franklin would find a leaping Benjamin for the score.
The offense would need only three plays to score two-drives later as Nico Yantko would hit Daniel Ard for a 51-yard gain before calling his own number on the next play and scoring from two-yards out.
The Racers reached into their bag of tricks on the next series as guest offensive coordinator Eric Crigler called for the half-back pass and Charlie Jordan found a wide-open Marcus Harris for the 35-yard scoring strike.
MSU was able to put together one final scoring drive as Franklin would connect with Ard on a 37-yard gain down to the one and then call his own number two-plays later for the score.
Scoring Summary
Marcus Harris 8 yd pass from Jeff Ehrhardt (Tyler Larson kick)
Paul McKinnis 12 yd run (Larson kick)
De'Markus Lee 47 yd interception return (Larson kick)
Kenny Benjamin 13 yd pass from Chris Franklin (Larson kick)
Nico Yantko 2 yd run (Larson kick)
Marcus Harris 35 yd pass from Charlie Jordan (Larson kick)
Chris Franklin 1 yd run (Larson kick)
Team Statistics MUR
First Downs 12
Rush Att.-Net Yards 34-116
Passing A-C-Int. 27-17-1
Net Passing Yards 247
Offensive Plays 61
Total Offense 363
Fumbles-Lost 1-1
Penalties/-Yards 1-5
Rushing
MUR- Jordan 3-20, McKinnis 6-42, Ehrhardt 6-30, Chris Franklin 6-6, Jones 5-5, Nwagbara 4-9, Yantko 2-2, Cardenas 2-2
Passing
MUR- Ehrhardt 8-9-0-69, Franklin 6-12-1-92, Yantko 2-4-0-51, Jordan 1-1-0-35, Jones 0-1-0-0
Receiving
MUR- Harris 6-82, Ard 3-89, Benjamin 2-42, Nelson 2-50, Clark 2-13, Nwagbara 1-0, Townsel 1-(-3)
