Strong Second Half Pushes JSU Past Racers

Saturday, September 27

Stewart Stadium

6 p.m.

Murray State

1-3 , 0-1

Jacksonville State (Family Weekend)

3-1 , 1-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Jacksonville St.

Murray St.

Photo by: Tab Brockman

9/28/2014 12:02:00 AM | Football

Box Score

Outscored 17-0 in the second half, the Murray State football team dropped its OVC opener to 8^th-ranked Jacksonville State, 52-28, on Saturday night at The Track.

The Family Weekend crowd of 10,897 was treated to a shootout in the first half, with the two teams going toe-to-toe throughout the opening stanza. Murray State (1-3, 0-1 OVC) wasted little time scoring on the opening drive as KD Humphries picked up the first rushing touchdown of his career, a 16-yarder, to put MSU ahead just 1:41 into the contest.

However, Jacksonville State (3-1, 1-0 OVC) answered on the next possession with a 2:42 drive that was capped by a one-yard run from DeMarcus James to even the score at seven. The Gamecocks went on to score on the next three out of four drives, while the Racers recorded touchdowns in two of their next three possessions, making the score 28-21 midway through the second quarter.

With time winding down in the first, Humphries took MSU 71 yards down the field in just two minutes and 47 seconds to tie the game at 28 on a two-yard pass to Jeremy Harness. However, the tie did not last long, as JD Williams returned Carson Greifenkamp's kick-off 90 yards to the Racer six to set up the go-ahead touchdown with just 16 seconds left in the half.

After the break, it was all Jax State. The Gamecock defense held MSU scoreless over the last two quarters and limited its total offense to just 71 yards in the final half, compared to 289 in the first. JSU went on to add 10 points in the third quarter and seven in the fourth to hand Murray State its third consecutive loss.

Humphries capped a positive outing by going 27-for-41 with one interception, two passing touchdowns, a rushing touchdown and 247 total yards, the latter three being career-highs for the redshirt sophomore. Nevar Griffin led the MSU receiving corps with 48 yards on six catches, while Pokey Harris had five catches for 41 yards and two touchdowns.

Humphries led the Racer rushing attack with 50 yards on 10 carries, while Harris added 48 yards on 14. Greifenkamp was perfect 4-for-4 on PATs on the night, bringing his season total to 17-for-18.

Defensively, Jonathan Jackson and Travis Taylor combined for 38 tackles on the night, with 19 and 17, respectively. The totals are career-bests for both men, marking the second-consecutive week Jackson has set a new career mark and the third-straight for Taylor.

Jackson's 19 is the most by a Racer since Nathan Williams had 21 against Eastern Illinois in November of 2008 and is tied for the 10^th best MSU single-game performance of all time. The 19 tackles is also currently a season-high in the OVC and is tied for third-best in all of the FCS.

The Racers will look end their three-game skid next week when they travel to Tennessee Tech. Kick-off in Cookeville is set for 7 p.m.