Murray State University Athletics
Saturday, September 12
DeKalb, Ill.
2:30 p.m.
Murray State
at
Northern Illinois
Players Mentioned
RB
/ Football
K
/ Football
WR
/ Football
LB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
Photo by: Curt Hart
Racers Travel North To Face NIU
9/10/2015 11:10:00 AM | Football
Date (Time): Sept. 12 (2:30 p.m.)
Opponent: Northern Illinois
Site (Venue): DeKalb, Ill. (Huskie Stadium)
Audio: Froggy 103.7 FM (PxP: Neal Bradley; Color: Logan Stout)
Web Stream: ESPN3.com (PxP: Peter Young; Color: Tyoka Jackson)
Live Stats: GoRacers.com
Twitter In Game: @RacersFootball, @PGriffithMSU
MSU Record (Streak): 1-0 (W1)
NIU Record (Streak): 1-0 (W1)
All-Time Series vs. NIU (Streak): NIU leads 1-0 (W1)
Last Meeting: NIU 49, MSU 7 (Oct. 20, 1990 – DeKalb, Ill.)
MSU Last Game: Kentucky Wesleyan, W 52-12
NIU Last Game: UNLV, W 38-30
MSU Next Game: Sept. 19 at Western Michigan
MSU Next Home: Sept. 26 vs. Tennessee Tech
The Game
Murray State will look to continue its winning ways Saturday when it opens a two-game road stretch against FBS opponents at Northern Illinois. Kick-off is at Huskie Stadium in DeKealb is set for 2:30 p.m., and can be heard locally on Froggy 103.7 FM. A free live video stream is also available and can be found WatchESPN.com or on the WatchESPN app for Apple and Android devices.
Saturday Weather
The weather in DeKalb is slated to be mostly sunny Saturday with a high of just 63°F. Despite a few clouds, there is just a 10% chance of rain, while the winds will be moderate, coming out of the north at 12 mph.
Last Time Out
The Murray State football team opened the Mitch Stewart era with a convincing 52-12 win over Kentucky Wesleyan, Thursday night at Stewart Stadium. Junior KD Humphries powered the Racers by going 25-for-34 for 385 yards and five touchdowns. Jeremy Harness had a big night on the receiving end, catching seven passes for 156 yards and a career-high three touchdowns.
Murray State needed just 23 seconds to score its first touchdown, in the contest, a 10-yard strike from Humphries to Paul Rice, and never looked back from there. The opening drive stretched 58 yards and consisted of two plays; the touchdown and a 48-yard pass, also to Rice.
vs. Northern Illinois
Saturday will be just the second meeting all-time between the Racers and Northern Illinois with the only other occurring 25 years ago in 1990. In MSU's only other trip to DeKalb, the host Huskies came away with a 49-7 victory.
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Scouting The Huskies
The Huskies are coming off of a season-opening 38-30 win over UNLV last Saturday in DeKalb. UNLV quickly rushed out to 17-3 lead in the game, but the Huskies would go on to outscore the Runnin' Rebels 35-13 from that point to secure the win.
Northern Illinois racked up 545 yards of total offense in the game with 360 coming in the air and 185 on the ground. Drew Hare ended his night by going an impressive 21-for-26 at quarterback for 360 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. His leading target on the night was Kenny Golladay who racked up 213 yards, while Desroy Maxwell and Shane Wimann came up with the two scores. Joel Bouagnon rushed for three scores in the game while finishing with 152 yards.
Defensively, Boomer Mays led the way for the Huskies with a game-high 13 total tackles, including 10 solo. Four different players had sacks in the game, while one of those players, Jamaal Payton led the way in tackles-for-loss at 2.0 for seven total yards. Shawun Lurry had NIU's lone interception of the night to go along with a breakup, while Paris Logan and Albert Smalls had two breakups each.
FBS Futility
The Racers are 2-23-2 all-time against FBS opponents since Division I split into two smaller divisions in 1978. The two wins both came against in-state foe, Louisville, with the last one occurring over 30 years ago in 1984.
Compare & Contrast
The fact that both Murray State and Kentucky Wesleyan returned a majority of their starters from the 2014 meeting in Thursday's game made it easy to draw comparisons. In the first half Thursday, MSU allowed just 115 yards and no points, while giving up 270 yards, four touchdowns and a field goal in the opening stanza a year ago.
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Mr. 300
Thursday marked the sixth 300-plus yard performance of Humphries' career and fifth in a row, dating back to last season. The five touchdowns he threw also ties his career-high, which he set last season against UT Martin.
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Kick It
Senior Carson Greifenkamp was a perfect 8-for-8 in place kicks Thursday, converting on seven PATs and knocking down a 21-yard field goal. In addition, he kicked off eight times for an average of 61.8 yards with two touchbacks.
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Under Pressure
With new coordinator Chris Boone at the helm, opponents can expect the Racer defense to bring more pressure on the quarterback this season, if Thursday is any indication. In the season opener, MSU came up with five quarterback hurries, compared to just 10 in all of last season.
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What A Rush
The 191 rushing yards by the Racers Thursday were the most since Nov. 17, 2012 against Southeast Missouri, when MSU ran for 219 yards. Roman Clay had 96 yards on 17 carries with a touchdown, while Nick Taylor had 72 yards on 14 carries and a score. The touchdown was the first of Clay's career and his 96 yards was a career high.
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A Smashing Debut
Thursday night's win makes Mitch Stewart with 10th head coach in MSU history to win his first game at the helm of the Racers and first since Joe Pannunzio in 2000.
The Dean's List
Senior Zach Dean led all Murray State defensive players Thursday with nine total tackles including five solo. He also had 2.0 sacks for a loss of 11 yards, 4.5 tackles-for-loss totaling 27 yards and two quarterback hurries. The tackles, sacks and tackles-for-loss he tallied in the opener are all new career highs.
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Switching It Up
Senior Jalen Harrington made the move from offense to defense Thursday and it proved to be a successful one. Harrington tied DeQuinten Spraggins with second most tackles on the team at eight and tallied a sack for a loss of seven yards and a 1.5 tackles-for-loss for a total of nine yards.
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Up Next
Murray State will continue its two-game road stretch against BCS opponents next Saturday when it travels to Western Michigan. Kick-off from Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo is scheduled 6 p.m. CT/7 p.m. ET.
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Opponent: Northern Illinois
Site (Venue): DeKalb, Ill. (Huskie Stadium)
Audio: Froggy 103.7 FM (PxP: Neal Bradley; Color: Logan Stout)
Web Stream: ESPN3.com (PxP: Peter Young; Color: Tyoka Jackson)
Live Stats: GoRacers.com
Twitter In Game: @RacersFootball, @PGriffithMSU
MSU Record (Streak): 1-0 (W1)
NIU Record (Streak): 1-0 (W1)
All-Time Series vs. NIU (Streak): NIU leads 1-0 (W1)
Last Meeting: NIU 49, MSU 7 (Oct. 20, 1990 – DeKalb, Ill.)
MSU Last Game: Kentucky Wesleyan, W 52-12
NIU Last Game: UNLV, W 38-30
MSU Next Game: Sept. 19 at Western Michigan
MSU Next Home: Sept. 26 vs. Tennessee Tech
The Game
Murray State will look to continue its winning ways Saturday when it opens a two-game road stretch against FBS opponents at Northern Illinois. Kick-off is at Huskie Stadium in DeKealb is set for 2:30 p.m., and can be heard locally on Froggy 103.7 FM. A free live video stream is also available and can be found WatchESPN.com or on the WatchESPN app for Apple and Android devices.
Saturday Weather
The weather in DeKalb is slated to be mostly sunny Saturday with a high of just 63°F. Despite a few clouds, there is just a 10% chance of rain, while the winds will be moderate, coming out of the north at 12 mph.
Last Time Out
The Murray State football team opened the Mitch Stewart era with a convincing 52-12 win over Kentucky Wesleyan, Thursday night at Stewart Stadium. Junior KD Humphries powered the Racers by going 25-for-34 for 385 yards and five touchdowns. Jeremy Harness had a big night on the receiving end, catching seven passes for 156 yards and a career-high three touchdowns.
Murray State needed just 23 seconds to score its first touchdown, in the contest, a 10-yard strike from Humphries to Paul Rice, and never looked back from there. The opening drive stretched 58 yards and consisted of two plays; the touchdown and a 48-yard pass, also to Rice.
vs. Northern Illinois
Saturday will be just the second meeting all-time between the Racers and Northern Illinois with the only other occurring 25 years ago in 1990. In MSU's only other trip to DeKalb, the host Huskies came away with a 49-7 victory.
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Scouting The Huskies
The Huskies are coming off of a season-opening 38-30 win over UNLV last Saturday in DeKalb. UNLV quickly rushed out to 17-3 lead in the game, but the Huskies would go on to outscore the Runnin' Rebels 35-13 from that point to secure the win.
Northern Illinois racked up 545 yards of total offense in the game with 360 coming in the air and 185 on the ground. Drew Hare ended his night by going an impressive 21-for-26 at quarterback for 360 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. His leading target on the night was Kenny Golladay who racked up 213 yards, while Desroy Maxwell and Shane Wimann came up with the two scores. Joel Bouagnon rushed for three scores in the game while finishing with 152 yards.
Defensively, Boomer Mays led the way for the Huskies with a game-high 13 total tackles, including 10 solo. Four different players had sacks in the game, while one of those players, Jamaal Payton led the way in tackles-for-loss at 2.0 for seven total yards. Shawun Lurry had NIU's lone interception of the night to go along with a breakup, while Paris Logan and Albert Smalls had two breakups each.
FBS Futility
The Racers are 2-23-2 all-time against FBS opponents since Division I split into two smaller divisions in 1978. The two wins both came against in-state foe, Louisville, with the last one occurring over 30 years ago in 1984.
Compare & Contrast
The fact that both Murray State and Kentucky Wesleyan returned a majority of their starters from the 2014 meeting in Thursday's game made it easy to draw comparisons. In the first half Thursday, MSU allowed just 115 yards and no points, while giving up 270 yards, four touchdowns and a field goal in the opening stanza a year ago.
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Mr. 300
Thursday marked the sixth 300-plus yard performance of Humphries' career and fifth in a row, dating back to last season. The five touchdowns he threw also ties his career-high, which he set last season against UT Martin.
Â
Kick It
Senior Carson Greifenkamp was a perfect 8-for-8 in place kicks Thursday, converting on seven PATs and knocking down a 21-yard field goal. In addition, he kicked off eight times for an average of 61.8 yards with two touchbacks.
Â
Under Pressure
With new coordinator Chris Boone at the helm, opponents can expect the Racer defense to bring more pressure on the quarterback this season, if Thursday is any indication. In the season opener, MSU came up with five quarterback hurries, compared to just 10 in all of last season.
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What A Rush
The 191 rushing yards by the Racers Thursday were the most since Nov. 17, 2012 against Southeast Missouri, when MSU ran for 219 yards. Roman Clay had 96 yards on 17 carries with a touchdown, while Nick Taylor had 72 yards on 14 carries and a score. The touchdown was the first of Clay's career and his 96 yards was a career high.
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A Smashing Debut
Thursday night's win makes Mitch Stewart with 10th head coach in MSU history to win his first game at the helm of the Racers and first since Joe Pannunzio in 2000.
The Dean's List
Senior Zach Dean led all Murray State defensive players Thursday with nine total tackles including five solo. He also had 2.0 sacks for a loss of 11 yards, 4.5 tackles-for-loss totaling 27 yards and two quarterback hurries. The tackles, sacks and tackles-for-loss he tallied in the opener are all new career highs.
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Switching It Up
Senior Jalen Harrington made the move from offense to defense Thursday and it proved to be a successful one. Harrington tied DeQuinten Spraggins with second most tackles on the team at eight and tallied a sack for a loss of seven yards and a 1.5 tackles-for-loss for a total of nine yards.
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Up Next
Murray State will continue its two-game road stretch against BCS opponents next Saturday when it travels to Western Michigan. Kick-off from Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo is scheduled 6 p.m. CT/7 p.m. ET.
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