Racers Travel To SEMO Saturday

Date (Time): Oct. 3 (6 p.m.)
Opponent: Southeast Missouri
Site (Venue): Cape Girardeau, Mo. (Houck Stadium)
Audio: Froggy 103.7 FM (PxP: Neal Bradley; Color: Dave Winder)
TV: American Sports Network (PxP: Brett Dolan; Color: Michael Young)
Web Stream: OVCDigitalNetwork.com
Live Stats: GoRacers.com
Twitter In Game: @RacersFootball, @PGriffithMSU
MSU Record (Streak): 1-3, 0-1 OVC (L3)
SEMO Record (Streak): 1-3, 0-0 OVC (L2)
All-Time Series vs. SEMO (Streak): MUR leads 39-9-1 (W1)
Last Meeting: W 44-41 2OT (Oct. 11, 2014 – Murray, Ky.)
MSU Last Game: vs. Tennessee Tech, L 29-31
SEMO Last Game: vs. Shorter (DII), L 21-26
MSU Next Game: Oct. 10 vs. Austin Peay
MSU Next Home: Oct. 10 vs. Austin Peay

The Game
The Racers will travel to Southeast Missouri Saturday in hopes of snapping a three-game skid. Kick-off from Houck Stadium in Cape Girardeau is scheduled for 6 p.m. The game will be broadcast on the American Sports Network, which is carried locally by WDKA MyNetworkTV 49. Fans not in an ASN market will still be able to watch the game free of charge on OVCDigitalNetwork.com. The game will also be broadcast locally on the radio on Froggy 103.7 FM with the voice of the Racers, Neal Bradley,

Saturday's Weather
Saturday is scheduled for a high of 66°F, with a low of 48°F. The evening skies will be cloudy in Cape with a slight chance of rain at 10 percent. Winds are expected to be light out of the NNE at 4 mph.

Last Time Out
The Murray State football team suffered a heartbreaking, 31-29, loss to Tennessee Tech Saturday night at Stewart Stadium in Murray. The Racers gave up four lost fumbles on the night that resulted in 14 points for Tennessee Tech. In addition, Murray State missed a field goal and had both a field goal and a PAT blocked that would have resulted in additional seven points.

It was not all bad news for Murray State, as they produced 551 yards of total offense with a season-high 491 in the air. The defense also came big in the game with 9.0 tackles-for-loss and 3.0 sacks.

Coming out of the half, the two teams were tied at 14. However, Murray State would fumble a punt return on what would have been its second drive of the half and add another fumble in TTU territory on its actual second drive of the half. The Golden Eagles would score touchdowns off of both turnovers to take a 28-14 lead that MSU was never able to recover from.

The Racers pulled within two late in the game when KD Humphries took MSU 68 yards down the field and then ran ball himself for the score, cutting the lead to 31-29 with 1:51 left on the clock. After holding the Golden Eagles to what appeared to be a three and out, Murray State was set to get the ball back with over a minute and a half to play. However, on the punt, the Racers were called for roughing the kicker, giving TTU an automatic first down and the win.

The SEMO Series
Murray State has virtually owned the all-time series against Southeast Missouri, winning 39 of 49 meetings with nine losses and a tie. However, six of the nine wins for the Redhawks have come in Cape Girardeau, including MSU's last trip to Houck Field in 2013. Southeast Missouri won the 2013 meeting in three overtimes, 37-34, which was followed last season by two OT win by the Racers, 44-41, in Murray.

Scouting The Redhawks
Southeast Missouri is coming off of a disappointing 26-21 loss to Division II Shorter Saturday, allowing the Hawks 12 fourth quarter points for the win. The loss drops the Redhawks, who begin OVC play this week, to 1-3 on the year.

Southeast Missouri has favored the run so far this season, as they have averaged 355.2 yards of total offense per game through the first four contests, with223.8 of those yards coming on the ground. Junior transfer Tremane McCullough has been a welcome addition for the Redhawks, as he currently leads the rushing attack with one touchdown and 75.5 yards per game.

After a strong performance two weeks ago against No, 23 Indiana State, it appears that true freshman Dante Vandeven will be the man under center moving forward for the Redhawks. In two games, Vandeven has gone 25-for-34 with a score and two interceptions for an average of 109.5 yards per game. The leading target for SEMO quarterbacks this season has been All-OVC and Preseason All-American Paul McRoberts, who is averaging 52.2 yards per game with two touchdowns.

Defensively, the Redhawks have allowed opponents to score 28.2 points per game and have given up 421.8 yards per game. Roper Garrett has been the leading tackler thus far in the season with 41, including 16 solo, 5.0 for loss, 1.5 sacks and a fumble recovery with a 20-yard return.

New Record, New Honor
With 6.0 tackles for loss Saturday night; Elijah Daniel set a new school single-game record in just his fourth game as a Racer. His performance earned him the title of OVC Newcomer of the Week. The previous record of 5.5 was set by Anthony Hutch against UT Martin in 1996. Daniel led Murray State in the game with nine total tackles, to go along with 2.5 sacks and a hurry.

Climbing The Charts
Jeremy Harness and Janawski Davis continue to chip away at several career receiving records.

Jeremy Harness
Cat. (Rank)    #      Next Milestone
Rec. (3)        167         Powell - 208
100 YG (4)      7               Green - 8
Yards (5)     1904      Swinton - 2346
TD (11)          11          4 Players -12

Janawski Davis
Cat. (Rank)    #      Next Milestone
TD (4)            20              Harris - 21
Rec. (9)        123           Green - 126
Yards (10)   1704     Arterburn - 1706
100 YG (7)      5                Slater - 6

You Complete Me
After leading the nation in completions per game a year ago at 26.58 per game, KD Humphries is once again leading the nation in that category 31.00 per game. He is also completing passes at 68.5 percent which ranks him ninth in the nation and first in the OVC.

Four-For-Four
With 115 yards Saturday, Jeremy Harness has now tallied at least 100 yards receiving in each of the four games this season. Walter Powell set the record for 100-plus yard games in a season with six in 2012. Harness joins teammate Janawski Davis and three other players tied for fourth on the list with four each. The game also gives him seven 100-plus yard games for his career, with Walter Powell holding that record as well, at 10.

More Fun With Four
In addition to climbing the season and career charts for 100-yard game, Harness is now only the third player in MSU history to string together a school record four consecutive 100-plus yard receiving games. He now shares the honor with Marcus Harris from 2010 and Walter Powell from 2012.

Third And Out
The Murray State defense was clutch on third down Saturday, limiting the Golden Eagle offense to just one third down conversion in 17 tries.

Career Night
KD Humphries set a new career-high Saturday with 491 passing yards. Humphries has now passed for 300-plus yards in three out four games this season and in seven of his last eight. The game will also go down as the fourth 400-plus yard game of his career.

History Repeating
For the second time in his career Saturday, Janawski Davis scored three receiving touchdowns in a game. He finished Saturday night with 140 yards on seven catches. Davis previously caught three touchdown passes in the opener last season against Union (KY).

Up Next
Murray State returns to the friendly confines of The Track for Homecoming 2015 against rival Austin Peay. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m., and the game will be carried live on the OVC Digital Network.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Elijah Daniel

Janawski Davis

Jeremy Harness

KD Humphries

Murray State University Athletics