Racers Fall In Shootout At UTM

Saturday, October 24

Martin, Tenn.

2 p.m.

Murray State

2-5 , 1-3

UT Martin

5-2 , 4-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Murray St.

UT Martin

Photo by: Tab Brockman

10/24/2015 7:26:00 PM | Football

Box Score

Just The Facts
Despite an early 17-3 lead, the Murray State football team fell 52-45 to UT Martin Saturday at Hardy M. Graham Stadium in Martin. KD Humphries passed for 351 yards and three touchdowns, while Janawski Davis caught two of those and finished with 112 yards.

The Turning Point
After scoring 28 points in the second quarter to tie the game at the break, UT Martin came out halftime and scored two touchdowns to take a 44-31 lead. Murray State then answered with its longest scoring drive of the season that ended with an 18-yard run by Roman Clay to bring the Racers within six at 44-38. However, UT Martin responded with a touchdown run and a two-point conversion to extend the lead to 14, one from which MSU was never able to recover.

About The Skyhawks
Jarod Neal was 25-for-44 for 420 yards and five touchdowns to propel UT Martin to 661 total yards of offense. Rod Wright had three touchdowns and 143 yards, while William Tanner had two touchdowns and 103 yards. On the ground Trent Garland, rushed for 12 yards and two touchdowns.

18 Years In The Making
With 106 yards Saturday, Roman Clay has now rushed for 100-yards or more in three consecutive games. He is the first Racer since Anthony Downs in 1997 to accomplish the feat.

Solid Field Position
A big component of Murray State's early 10-0 lead was the field position given up by the Skyhawks. On their first drive that led to a field goal, Murray State took over at the UT Martin 31 yard-line thanks to a muffed punt by Jackson Redditt that went just 20 yards and was then returned nine yards by Jeremy Harness. On the ensuing Skyhawk possession, Shawn Samuels Connell intercepted Jarod Neal on the first play at UTM's 36 yard-line. The Racers followed that up with a two-play, 25 second drive that ended in a Janawski Davis touchdown to push the lead to 10-0.

Quick Strike
The first 24 points scored by Murray State were done so quickly and efficiently. The Racers scored three touchdowns and a field goal on just 15 total plays and in exactly 5:00 minutes of total possession.

Initial Returns
Senior Janawski Davis retuned a second quarter kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown, marking the first kickoff return touchdown of his career. However, it was not the first kick return touchdowns of his career, as he returned two punts for scores last season. Davis' touchdown was also the first kick return touchdown of any variety for Murray State this season.

Never Give Up
After fumbling in the end zone late in the fourth quarter, the Racers were able to stop the Skyhawks on the next possession. Playing right to the end, KD Humphries connected with Jesse Blackburn with just three seconds left in the game for a 35-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to just seven.

Career Day
DeQuinten Spraggins racked up a career-high 19 tackles on Saturday, the fifth-highest single game total in MSU history. Spraggins' previous career-high was 16 and also came against UT Martin last season.

Up Next
Next Saturday, Murray State will return to Stewart Stadium for its penultimate home game of the season against Eastern Illinois. Kick-off on Halloween is scheduled for 1 p.m.