Despite Quick Start, Racers Fall at NIU

Saturday, September 12

DeKalb, Ill.

2:30 p.m.

Murray State

1-1

Northern Illinois

2-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Murray St.

Northern Ill.

Photo by: Ed Marlowe/Paducah Sun

9/12/2015 7:12:00 PM | Football

Box Score

Just The Facts
Despite scoring more points on an FBS opponent since 1989 against Akron and leading, 7-6, after the first quarter, the Murray State football team fell to Northern Illinois, 57-26, Saturday afternoon at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb.

Murray State turned in 373 yards of total offense in the game including 281 in the air by KD Humphries. Humphries was 31-for-49 in the game with two touchdowns despite throwing three interceptions.

Jeremy Harness turned in his second 100-plus yard receiving game of the season, pulling down eight catches for 105 yards. Roman Clay led the MSU rushing attack on the day, which lost just one yard at the line of scrimmage, with 64 yards on 16 carries.

The Turning Point
With Murray State trailing by just three, 13-10, late in the second quarter, junior quarterback KD Humphries engineered a 62-yard drive that took the Racers all the way to the four yard-line of NIU. However, the Huskies' Paris Logan brought the drive to a disappointing end by intercepting Humphries in the end zone. NIU would go on to score two drives later, taking a 20-10 lead into the locker room at the break and never looking back from there.

About The Huskies
Drew Hare was 29-for-38 for 358 yards and four touchdowns Saturday under center for NIU, while his leading receiver was Kenny Golladay who had eight catches for 144 yards and two touchdowns. DJ Brown rushed for 55 yards in the contest, while Joel Bouagnon rushed for 52 with two touchdowns. Defensively, Mayomi Olootu capped his first career interception for the Huskies, by going 42 yards for his first career touchdown.

Fast Out Of The Gate
The 7-6 lead Murray State held at the end of the first quarter marks the second time in the past three seasons that they have done so against an FBS opponent. In 2013, the Racers led Missouri 14-13 at the end of one in Columbia. However, the Tigers would battle back for the 58-14 victory.

Triple Double
Three Murray State players recorded 10 or more tackles in Saturday's game with DeQuinten Spraggins leading the way with 11, including nine solo. Jonathan Jackson and Joe Cicoria also had big days with 10 tackles each.

Not The Paper Kind
Both Jalen Harrington and St. Pierre Anilus came up with sacks on Saturday, with Anilus racking up nine yards of loss and Harrington getting six. Harrington has adjusted quickly to his move to defense and currently has 2.5 sacks on the season and is the only Racer to get at least one sack in each game so far in 2015.

Fumblerewski
Jalen Harrington and Dylan Boone each had big fumble returns in the game, with Harrington returning the ball 47 yards and Boone going 60 yards on his scoop up. Harrington's return, on a fumble that he caused, set up a field goal, while Boone scored on his return.

Kick Strong
Kicker Carson Greifenkamp continued his strong start to 2015 on Saturday by going 2-for-2 on PATs and 2-for-2 on field goals. Both field goals were 26 yards, which is now his new season long. He also averaged 58.7 yards on six kickoffs in the game, with one going for a touchback.

Never Give Up
While records are incomplete, Saturday's game is likely the first time since 1989 against Akron that Murray State has scored in every quarter against a FBS team. It is at least the first time they have done so since 1995, which is where current records begin.

Up Next
Next Saturday, Murray State will play the final game of a two-game road stretch against FBS schools when it faces off with Western Michigan for the second consecutive year. Kick off from Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT/7 p.m. ET.