Racers Meet Missouri State For 12th Time In Springfield

Saturday, October 21

Springfield, Mo.

2 p.m.

Murray State

Missouri State

Photo by: David Eaton-Murray State Athletics

Racers Meet Missouri State For 12th Time In Springfield

10/18/2023 9:09:00 PM | Football

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Murray State looks to win away from home against the Bears at Plaster Stadium

Game-7
Murray State at Missouri State
Oct. 21, 2023 - 2:00 p.m. CT
Springfield, Mo. - Robert Plaster Stadium (17,500)

Murray State Record: 2-4 (2-1 H, 0-3 A) Missouri Valley: 1-2
Next Away: North Dakota State (Oct. 28) Next Home: North Dakota (Nov. 4)
Head Coach: Dean Hood (Ohio Wesleyan, 1986) Record: 70-58 (12th season) at MUR: 15-20 (4th season)
vs MOST: 1-1

Missouri State Record: 2-4 (1-1, 1-3 A) Missouri Valley: 1-2
Next Home: Illinois State (Nov. 4) Next Away: Youngstown State (Oct. 28)
Head Coach: Ryan Beard (Western Kentucky, 2012) Record: 2-4 (1st season) at MOST: Same
vs MUR: 0-0

Game Day Storylines

The Racers are 1-2 in their first season in the MVFC after a home win over Indiana State (30-28) a road losses (38-7) at South Dakota and a home loss (27-6) last week vs Southern Illinois.
The Bears are also 1-2 in MVFC play with a loss at Southern Illinois (33-20), a loss at home to North Dakota State (38-10) and a win at Western Illinois (48-7).
South Dakota, South Dakota State lead the MVFC at 3-0. They meet in Vermillion on Oct.28.
Seven different MVFC teams are ranked in Top 25 this week as South Dakota State, South Dakota, North Dakota, Southern Illinois, and North Dakota State represent the MVFC in both top-25 polls. Youngstown State is No. 25 in the Stats Perform poll; Illinois State is No. 25 in the FCS Coaches Poll. UNI is receiving votes in both polls.
It marks the 64th time in league history that six or more MVFC teams have been ranked in the same poll.
The Racers and Bears are meeting for the 12th time and the first since 2017. The Bears have won the last two and the Racers' last win was at home in 2013.
The Racers have had worn six different uniform combinations in the first five games.
The Racers are trying to snap a 9-game road losing skid. Their last road win was at Eastern Illinois in the final game of the 2021 season (20-13).
The Racers are 10th in the MVFC in total offense 297.7ypg & 11th total defense 442.1ypg.
The Bears are fourth in total offense 417.5 & 10th total defense 423.6ypg.
MSU's Nick Walker has 42 tackles - is ninth in MVFC with 7.0 per game. WIU's Bradyn Smith is the leader at 9.8.
Both the Racers and Bears have given up 11 turnovers.
Racers (7 fumbles & 4 interceptions) & Bears (5 fumbles & 6 interceptions)

First MVFC vs Missouri State
With their first meeting happening in 1942 in Murray, the Murray State Racers and Missouri State Bears have a short series, but it isn't short on close games. The Racers lead the all-time series 8-3, but the Bears have won the last two games in 2016 and 2013. Today's game marks their first meeting in the MVFC.

2017       at Springfield
Corey Newble made his first start at quarterback for the Racers and DeMontre Wade picked off a pair of passes. The game was tied 21-21 heading into the fourth quarter when the Bears won it 28-21 on a touchdown by Calan Crowder with 1:53 to play.
2016       at Murray
Down 13-3 early in the game, the Racers couldn't score the comeback in a 28-22 loss to the Bears. MSU's Connor Mitchell kicked field goals of 31, 36 and 37 yards for the Racers.
2013       at Murray
In the late-game nail-biter, Murray State's Maikhail Miller found Walter Powell on a fade in the back of the endzone with 24 seconds remaining to give the Racers a 41-38 win over the Bears. Miller was brilliant at quarterback in passing for 272 yards on 24-of-33.
2012       at Springfield
Murray State used a fourth-quarter touchdown to take the lead and a key Brandon Wicks interception as to earn a hard-fought 28-23 road victory over the Bears. Walter Powell (Murray State Hall of Fame 2020) caught 12 passes for 90 yards.
2010       at Murray
In maybe the most incredible game in Murray State history, the Racers beat the Bears on homecoming day 72-59. It was a record-setting day, as the two teams combined to score at least 28 points in each quarter and an rack up a FCS record 1,423 combined yards. The Racers became the first in FCS history to have a 500 yard passer (Casey Brockman), 500 receiver (Marcus Harris) and a 200-yard rusher (Mike Harris).

Homecoming Attendance Marker
The Murray State Racers' 87th homecoming football game ended in a 27-6 loss to the Southern Illinois Salukis, but they drew a crowd of 15,868. It marked consecutive seasons of a top-10 all-time crowd at Stewart Stadium which is in its 51st year as the home of MSU Football. The 15,868 was the fourth-largest in Stewart history just behind the all-time mark of 16,600 when the Racers hosted Eastern Kentucky in 1981. Matt Maldonado accounted for the Racers' scoring with a pair of field goals of 44 and 29 yards.

A Murray State Victory:
Gives the Racers their 503rd win in their 1007th game.
Gives MSU a win over Missouri State since 2017 and in Springfield since 2012.
Gives MSU their first win over the Bears in their first as a member of the MVFC.
Breaks MSU's road losing streak at nine
Gives Coach Dean Hood his 71st win of his 12-year head coaching career and his 16th win in his fourth season at Murray State.