Racers End Season With 28-23 Victory Over Tennessee State

Saturday, November 20

Stewart Stadium

1 p.m.

Murray State

Tennessee State

Marcus Harris breaks free on the game-winning 68-yard touchdown reception

Photo by: Samantha Mohr

Racers End Season With 28-23 Victory Over Tennessee State

11/20/2010 7:19:31 PM | Football

Harris sets all-time receiving yards record as Racer record first winning season since 2004

Box Score
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Murray State senior wide receiver Marcus Harris put his name atop the Racer record books again as he hauled in the game-winning 68-yard touchdown pass late in the third quarter to give MSU a 28-23 victory over Tennessee State in the 2010 season finale.

The catch by Harris helped etch Harris' name in Racer history as it made him just the just fifth Racer receiver to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark in a single season. Harris finished the game with 11 catches for 137 yards and a touchdown. In the third quarter, Harris caught a nine-yard pass that made his MSU's all-time leader in career receiving yards. He also ranks as the school's all-time leader in career receptions and ranks second in touchdown. Harris' history-making career came to an end after 214 catches for 2,471 yards and 21 touchdowns. His 1,057 yards in 2010 ties him with Terrance Tillman (1999) for the second most in a single-season.

The victory was also memorable for head coach Chris Hatcher as it marked the 100th career victory in the 11-year head-coaching career. Hatcher finishes his first season at MSU with an overall record 100-32. Hatcher was quick to give a game ball in the locker room to offensive line coach Shawn Bostick who has been at Hatcher's side for all 100 victories.

Not to be outdone, the self proclaimed “Wild Horse” tried to steal the show as he three for 300 yards and rushed for 112 to become the second player to accomplish that feat, joining senior Jeff Ehrhardt who accomplished it against TSU in 2007.

The Tigers (3-8, 0-7 OVC) got on the board first in the opening quarter as they put together an eight-play drive that ended with Jeremy Perry finding Calvin McNairl for a 20-yard touchdown.

The Racers (6-5, 5-3 OVC) answered back on their next possession Brockman found Arthur Brackett for 17 yards and then Harris for 13 yards and another first down. Harris set up a first-and-goal situation with a 20-yard reception and Brockman took it from there as he rolled out and found open space for a seven-yard touchdown run.

The defenses would dominate the majority of the rest of the first half as neither team was able to muster an offense until TSU drove 76 yards in the final minute to score on a Perry 37-yard touchdown to Joseph Hills.

The Racers stormed out of the locker room in the second half and needed only three plays to the tie game. Brockman found Dexter Barnett on the second play for a 65-yard catch and run and Duane Brady followed it by going four yards for the touchdown.

The defense forced a three-and-out and the offense continued the momentum as Tyler Lavea picked up a first down on the ground and followed it up with a 14-yard reception for another first down. On second-and-long, Brockman picked up 17 yards on a quarterback draw, before scrambling for 22 yards on the next play for his second rushing score of the game.

TSU had another answer late in the quarter as Perry found McNairl for a nine-yard score on a wheel route. Freshman Jeremy Brackett kept the lead at one for the Racers as he broke through and blocked the extra point.

The lead did not stay at one for very long as Brockman and Harris hooked up on a 68-yard touchdown on the Racers first play of the next drive.

The Tigers looked like they were driving for a potential game-tying drive as they used a 17-play drive to get down to the Racer one. Instead of going for it on fourth down, the Tigers decided to kick a Jamin Godfrey 18-yard field goal.

TSU had one last chance to win the game, but Arlester McKinnon came up with a big sack on third down, and Darrell Davis broke up a pass on fourth down to give the ball back to MSU. After three kneel downs, and a gatorade bath for Hatcher, the Racers closed out the season with a 6-5 record, the school's first winning record since 2004.

Brockman finished the game 22-for-33 for 300 yards and touchdown, while gaining 112 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries. Harris hauled in 11 passes for 137 y ards, while Barnett added three catches for 72 yards and Arthur Brackett three catches for 60 yards.

The defense was led by Brandon Wicks and Dontrell Johnson, who each had 11 tackles. Wicks recorded his first career interception on a fake field goal attempt in the first quarter.