Big Fourth Quarter Gives Racers Win at SEMO

Saturday, October 16

Cape Girardeau, Mo.

2 p.m.

Murray State

3-3

Southeast Missouri

2-5

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Murray State

Southeast Missouri

Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics

10/16/2021 8:54:00 PM | Football

Box Score BOX SCORE (PDF)Baum Game WInning FG Gallery Honeycutt Punt Return TD Gallery MSU at SEMO Gallery Photo Gallery

Baum finished game-winning drive with FG as time expires

In A Nutshell
The Murray State football team drove 47-yards in one minute and seven seconds to set up a 35-yard field goal from Aaron Baum as time expired to give the Racers a 32-31 win over Southeast Missouri Saturday at Houck Field in Cape Girardeau.

Fast Facts

The 15-point deficit overcome by the Racers in the fourth quarter was the largest of the Dean Hood era and the largest overall since MSU rallied from a 31-0 deficit in 2018 to beat the same Redhawks, 40-38.
Malik Honeycutt's 52-yard punt return touchdown in the game was the second punt return touchdown and third overall kick return touchdown of his career. Honeycutt helped seal MSU's comeback against the Redhawks in 2018 with a 79-yard kickoff return touchdown, which he followed with an 80-yard punt return touchdown at Austin Peay, one week later.
DJ William's first career start at quarterback could not have gone much better. The redshirt freshman was 15-for-29 passing for 240 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions, in addition to 81 yards on 13 carries with two rushing touchdowns.
Aaron Baum's 35-yard game winner was his second make of the day, after connecting on an 18-yarder as time expired in the first half. His kick was the first game winner for Murray State since Gabe Vicente nailed a 32-yarder in the rain in a 13-10 win at UT Martin in 2017.
The 240 passing yards by the Racers Saturday is the most in a single-game this season and the second-most in the Dean Hood era, second to the 347 yards against Jacksonville State last season.
While neither team was heavily penalized in the game, with both teams combining for just 90 yards on eight penalties, but one specifically played a huge role in the game. After Geno Hess ran for 67 yards on the first two plays of the contest, Southeast Missouri had seemingly scored the first touchdown of the game moments later, however it was called back moments later due to offensive pass interference, forcing the Redhawks to settle for a field goal, costing SEMO four points.
Paired with Murray State's victory in Cape Girardeau in the spring, Saturday's win gives the Racers back-to-back wins at Houck Stadium for the first time since 2001 & 2003.

Recap
Murray State used two rushing touchdowns and a field goal from Baum in the first half to build a 16-10 lead that they took into the locker room at the break. However, the third quarter absolutely belonged to the Redhawks who scored 21 unanswered in the stanza to take a commanding 31-16 lead to the fourth quarter.

Though down by two scores, the Racers wasted little time scoring in the fourth, as DJ Williams found Damonta Witherspoon for a 16-yard touchdown to trim the deficit to 31-22. After holding the Redhawk offense to a three-and-out on the following SEMO possession, Honeycutt made a heads-up special teams play that turned the game for Murray State. With the punted ball on the ground and three Redhawks looking on, Honeycutt came in and scooped up the un-downed ball and took it 52 yards for the score to cut the lead to 31-29.

From that point on, the Murray State defense held the Redhawks to three more three-and-outs, allowing zero SEMO first downs and just 12 yards in the fourth quarter. Conversely, Murray State had eight first downs in the fourth quarter including three consecutive first downs in the final game-winning drive. The Racers drove 47 yards over six plays with just 1:02 left in the game and no timeouts to give Baum the opportunity for the win. Baum sent the ensuing kick right down the middle with plenty of distance to give Murray State the win and Baum his seventh consecutive made field goal of the season.

Witherspoon also ran for 81 yards in the game in addition to a team-high 56 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown. Jacob Bell caught three passes for 66 yards, while Honeycutt caught three for 44 yards. Defensively, Eric Samuta led the way with 12 tackles, while Cade Shupperd followed with seven and Jamari Dailey added five with a pass breakup. Marcis Floyd also had a big game, notching four tackles and three pass breakups.

Next Game
With the non-conference portion of their schedule in their review, Murray State now turns its full attention to OVC play when they welcome Austin Peay to the track for a Popeyes Battle of the Border Homecoming matchup at 2 p.m.