Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Indiana
Racers Fall on Road at Indiana
9/6/2008 5:00:00 AM | Football
Murray State entered its contest with Indiana on Saturday night knowing that they had to stop the two-way threat in Hoosier quarterback Kellen Lewis. The Racers were successful in minimizing his big play ability, but it was still not enough as MSU fell 45-3 to the Hoosiers in front of 30,123 fans at Memorial Stadium.
Lewis, who torched Western Kentucky for 185 yards last week, was held to minus-two yards by the Racer defense.
"I thought our defense came out and played well, I really did," said head coach Matt Griffin. "We gave up a few here and there, but Indiana is just better in some areas, naturally. We didn't take advantage of a couple opportunities offensively. When you play up like this, I don't want to say you have to play a perfect game, but you can't turn the ball over. You can't execute a fake punt and get nothing out of it. You need to get at least a field goal and we didn't do that. "
The Hoosiers (2-0) hit the Racers with a big play on their third possession of the game as Terrance Thigpen cut back and raced down the center of the field for a 67-yard touchdown run.
MSU (1-1) was able to bounce back as Charlie Jordan took the ensuing kickoff from his own one-yard line and returned to the IU 49. The Racers used the legs of Paul McKinnis and some short passes from Nico Yantko to drive down to the Hoosier 10-yard line. Kienan Cullen got the Racers on the board with a 27-yard field goal.
The Hoosier ground attack was back at in on their next drive as IU caught the Racers defense out of position as they quickly snapped the ball and Thigpen raced over left end for a 31-yard TD scamper.
IU took advantage of a personal foul on the Racers as they started their first drive of the second quarter on the MSU 28-yard line. The Racer defense bent, but did not break as Austen Lane and Lamar Hall combined to stop Thigpen on a swing pass two-yards shy of the first down. Austin Starr capped off the drive by connecting on a 24-yard field goal.
The Hoosier defense helped set up the offense with just over five minutes left in the half Ryan Marando forced a fumble and then hustled to recover it on the Racer two-yard line. Two plays later, Bryan Payton went over the left side of the line for the two-yard touchdown run.
IU continued to keep the ball on the ground in the second half and were able to score three more rushing touchdowns in the second half.
Yantko was making his first collegiate start against the Hoosiers and finished the game by going 16-for-24 for 95 yards and an interception. His favorite target again was Daniel Ard as the two connected on four receptions for 42 yards. The freshman duo of Ja-Vonta Trotter and Patrick Robertson combined for eight catches for 37 yards.
The defense was again led by senior linebacker Nathan Williams who registered nine tackles, seven solo, forced a fumble and also recovered a fumble. True freshman Lamar Hall made his first collegiate start at cornerback and responded with eight tackles.
"I thought his composure was very good all night, he was in the ball game," said Griffin. "I said many times he is a high energy guy, but he wasn't out of control. He was working his butt off trying to make plays.
The Racers return to the field on Sept. 13 when they play host Illinois State. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Roy Stewart Stadium.
