Racers Comeback Runs Out of Time

Saturday, October 1

Stewart Stadium

6 p.m.

Murray State

Jacksonville State*

Photo by: Samantha Mohr

10/1/2011 8:39:00 PM | Football

Box Score | Box Score (.pdf) | 1st Half Photo Gallery | 2nd Half Photo Gallery | Postgame Notes

Murray State had the ball at midfield with under a minute remaining in the game, but the Racers simply ran out of time in falling to #13 Jacksonville State, 38-30, Saturday evening at Stewart Stadium.

The Racers (2-3, 1-2 OVC) found themselves down 14 points with under two minutes remaining when Dontrell Johnson returned a punt 54 yards to the Gamecock one-yard line. Two plays later, quarterback Casey Brockman scrambled up the middle for a two-yard touchdown.

On the ensuing kickoff, Kienan Cullen executed a perfect onside kick up the middle that was recovered by Brandon Wicks. The Racers picked up a first down on a 15-yard pass to Arthur Brackett. Following a sack, a false start penalty resulted in a 10-second runoff on the clock, ending the game.

The Racers started the game by driving 70 yards on their opening drive to take a 7-0 lead. Tyler Lavea led the drive by carrying the ball three times for 20 yards, capping the drive with an eight-yard touchdown run.

After a 44-yard Kienan Cullen field goal, the Gamecocks used a Washaun Ealey 13-yard touchdown run and a five-yard pass from Coty Blanchard to Justin Howard to take a 14-10 lead into intermission.

The Gamecocks (4-1, 3-0 OVC) extended their lead early in the second half as they turned a Racer turnover into the second touchdown run of the game for Ealey.

The Racers responded with a nine-play 98-yard scoring drive as Brockman found Brackett for a 19-yard touchdown pass. The duo of Brockman and Brackett did the majority of the damage on the drive as they converted a 3rd-and-11 by hooking up on a 70-yard connection down the seam.

The final minute of the third quarter saw the two teams exchange touchdowns as the Racers countered a JSU one-yard run from Jerry Slota with a 35-yard touchdown from Brockman to Walter Powell.

JSU opened up a double-digit advantage again early in the fourth quarter as a third-and-long pass from Blanchard to Trey Smith resulted in a 40-yard touchdown.

The Racers looked to have gotten a stop on the Gamecocks next possession, but the JSU punt hit the Racer returner and the Gamecocks recovered the ball on the Racer 11. The defense stiffened and held the Gamecocks to just a field goal.

Brockman led the Racer offense by going 30-for-53 for 421 yards and two touchdowns. Brackett was his favorite target as he caught eight passes for a career-best 181 yards and a touchdown. Hannibal Beauford hauled in four passes for 92 yards, while Powell added three grabs for 62 yards.

The Racers got a strong defensive effort from its linebackers as Sam Small recorded a game-high 16 tackles, while Qua Huzzie added 15 tackles, including two tackles-for-loss. Wicks was the third Racer in double digits with 10 stops.

The Racers return to action Oct. 8 as they travel to face Georgia State. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at the Georgia Dome and will be carried live on the Racer Television Network.