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Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics
Racers Travel To EIU For Final Game of 2021 Season
11/18/2021 10:51:00 AM | Football
A win gives MSU back-to-back winning seasons for 3rd time since 1999-00
Date (Time): Nov. 20 (12 p.m.)
Opponent: Eastern Illinois
Site (Venue): Charleston, Ill (O'Brien Field)
Audio: Froggy 103.7 FM (PxP: Neal Bradley; Analyst: Chip Adams)
TV: ESPN- (PxP: Mike Bradd; Analyst: Jack Ashmore)
Live Stats: GoRacers.com
Twitter In Game: @RacersFootball
MUR Record (Streak): 5-5, 2-3 OVC (Won 1)
EIU Record (Streak): 1-9, 1-4 OVC (Lost 5)
All-Time Series vs. EIU (Streak): EIU leads 19-18 (Won 4)
All-Time Series in Charleston (Streak): EIU leads 11-6 (Won 2)
First Meeting: W 38-13 (Nov. 15, 1946; Murray, Ky.)
Last Meeting: W 22-6 (Oct. 2, 2021; Murray, Ky.)
Largest MSU Win: 28 Points [W 35-7] (Nov. 12, 1977; Murray, Ky.)
Largest MSU Loss: 41 Points [L 7-48] (Oct. 14, 2000, Charleston, Ill.)
Last Five vs. EIU: 4-1 (WWWWL)
MUR Next Game: 2022 Season
The Game
The Murray State football team will make one last road trip for the 2021 season, as it travels to Eastern Illinois Saturday for its season finale. Kickoff from O'Brien Field in Charleston is scheduled for 1 p.m.
The Series At A Glance
Saturday will be the 39th all-time meeting between the Racers and the Panthers with EIU currently holding a one-game lead in the all-time series, 19-18. With a non-conference win over the Panthers in October, the Racers have now won each of the last four meetings and five of the last six, including the two most recent games in Charleston.
Scouting The Panthers
Eastern Illinois has currently lost five games in a row and will enter Saturday's contest at 1-9 overall and 1-4 in the OVC. The Panthers are coming off of a 42-26 loss last week at Austin Peay.
The Panthers are currently scoring 14.7 points on 285.1 yards per game, while allowing 29.2 points and 351.4 yards per game. The EIU is pass-heavy with 190.9 yards of its offense coming in the air and 94.2 coming on the ground.
Quarterback Otto Kuhns currently averages 126.0 yards per game this season with six touchdowns and eight interceptions. Harrison Bey-Biue leads the rushing attack for EIU with 43.2 yards per game, while receiver Isaiah Hill has come on strong late in the season to average 173.5 yards over the last two games. Defensively, Jordan Miles leads the way for the Panthers with 37 tackles and team-highs of 10.0 tackles-for-loss, 4.0 sacks, 11 pass breakups, two forced fumbles and a blocked kick.
A Win Saturday Would...
A win Saturday would clinch a winning season for the Racers and give them back-to-back winning seasons for only the third time since 1999-00. The only other occasion during that span in which MSU has had two consecutive seasons of winning records is 2010-11.
Third Down Defense Excels
Murray State held Southeast Missouri to 0-for-13 on 3rd down conversions Saturday. It marked the first time since Valparaiso in 2013 that the Racers did not give up a single third down conversion. The Redhawks ended the day with an average 3rd-down distance of 10.6 yards.
All About The Fans
With Saturday's attendance of 6,313, the third largest home finale in known history, the Racers finished the 2021 season averaging 7,843 fans per game. This season's average is the highest for a Murray State football team since 1998.
Double The Fun
Murray State finished the two rushers over 100 yards Saturday for the first time since 2018. DJ Williams finished with 121 rushing yards, while Damonta Witherspoon racked up 113. Williams had two rushing touchdowns on the day, while Witherspoon had one, however both also passed for a touchdown as well.
A National Spotlight
Not only did DJ Williams earn his second OVC Offensive Player of the Week award for his play against SEMO, he was also named as the State Perform National Freshman of the Week. Williams was 10-for-17 passing for 175 yards with a long of 75, in addition to rushing for a game-high 121 yards and two touchdowns.
Opponent: Eastern Illinois
Site (Venue): Charleston, Ill (O'Brien Field)
Audio: Froggy 103.7 FM (PxP: Neal Bradley; Analyst: Chip Adams)
TV: ESPN- (PxP: Mike Bradd; Analyst: Jack Ashmore)
Live Stats: GoRacers.com
Twitter In Game: @RacersFootball
MUR Record (Streak): 5-5, 2-3 OVC (Won 1)
EIU Record (Streak): 1-9, 1-4 OVC (Lost 5)
All-Time Series vs. EIU (Streak): EIU leads 19-18 (Won 4)
All-Time Series in Charleston (Streak): EIU leads 11-6 (Won 2)
First Meeting: W 38-13 (Nov. 15, 1946; Murray, Ky.)
Last Meeting: W 22-6 (Oct. 2, 2021; Murray, Ky.)
Largest MSU Win: 28 Points [W 35-7] (Nov. 12, 1977; Murray, Ky.)
Largest MSU Loss: 41 Points [L 7-48] (Oct. 14, 2000, Charleston, Ill.)
Last Five vs. EIU: 4-1 (WWWWL)
MUR Next Game: 2022 Season
The Game
The Murray State football team will make one last road trip for the 2021 season, as it travels to Eastern Illinois Saturday for its season finale. Kickoff from O'Brien Field in Charleston is scheduled for 1 p.m.
The Series At A Glance
Saturday will be the 39th all-time meeting between the Racers and the Panthers with EIU currently holding a one-game lead in the all-time series, 19-18. With a non-conference win over the Panthers in October, the Racers have now won each of the last four meetings and five of the last six, including the two most recent games in Charleston.
Scouting The Panthers
Eastern Illinois has currently lost five games in a row and will enter Saturday's contest at 1-9 overall and 1-4 in the OVC. The Panthers are coming off of a 42-26 loss last week at Austin Peay.
The Panthers are currently scoring 14.7 points on 285.1 yards per game, while allowing 29.2 points and 351.4 yards per game. The EIU is pass-heavy with 190.9 yards of its offense coming in the air and 94.2 coming on the ground.
Quarterback Otto Kuhns currently averages 126.0 yards per game this season with six touchdowns and eight interceptions. Harrison Bey-Biue leads the rushing attack for EIU with 43.2 yards per game, while receiver Isaiah Hill has come on strong late in the season to average 173.5 yards over the last two games. Defensively, Jordan Miles leads the way for the Panthers with 37 tackles and team-highs of 10.0 tackles-for-loss, 4.0 sacks, 11 pass breakups, two forced fumbles and a blocked kick.
A Win Saturday Would...
A win Saturday would clinch a winning season for the Racers and give them back-to-back winning seasons for only the third time since 1999-00. The only other occasion during that span in which MSU has had two consecutive seasons of winning records is 2010-11.
Third Down Defense Excels
Murray State held Southeast Missouri to 0-for-13 on 3rd down conversions Saturday. It marked the first time since Valparaiso in 2013 that the Racers did not give up a single third down conversion. The Redhawks ended the day with an average 3rd-down distance of 10.6 yards.
All About The Fans
With Saturday's attendance of 6,313, the third largest home finale in known history, the Racers finished the 2021 season averaging 7,843 fans per game. This season's average is the highest for a Murray State football team since 1998.
Double The Fun
Murray State finished the two rushers over 100 yards Saturday for the first time since 2018. DJ Williams finished with 121 rushing yards, while Damonta Witherspoon racked up 113. Williams had two rushing touchdowns on the day, while Witherspoon had one, however both also passed for a touchdown as well.
A National Spotlight
Not only did DJ Williams earn his second OVC Offensive Player of the Week award for his play against SEMO, he was also named as the State Perform National Freshman of the Week. Williams was 10-for-17 passing for 175 yards with a long of 75, in addition to rushing for a game-high 121 yards and two touchdowns.
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