Racers Fall Short In Thriller At Missouri State

Saturday, October 21

Springfield, Mo.

2 p.m.

Murray State

2-5 , 1-3

Missouri State

3-4 , 2-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Murray St.

Missouri St.

Photo by: David Eaton-Murray State Athletics

10/21/2023 8:12:00 PM | Football

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

The Murray State Racers took it to the wire in a 28-24 defeat in Springfield

The Murray State Racers battled to the end, but lost a close 28-24 final Saturday to the Missouri State Bears at Plaster Stadium in Springfield.

The Racers (2-5) are now 1-3 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference as they play at North Dakota State, Saturday (Oct. 28) in a 2:30 p.m. CT kick at the Fargodome.

Down by four points with 55 seconds remaining, the Racers and quarterback DJ Williams had one last chance to win the game as they drove to the Missouri State 37. On 4^th and 10, Williams looked for a receiver and was sacked to end the Racers' day.

The Racers started the game with a splendid first half in which they racked up 214 yards on a pair of Williams to Taylor Shields touchdown passes to put the Racers in front 21-14 with 13:40 before halftime. The Bears tied it 21-21 at the intermission.

The Racers enjoyed their final lead of the day when Matt Maldonado booted a 27-yard field goal to make it 24-21 Murray State at 5:29 in the third quarter. The Bears took the lead for good with 3:28 left to make it a 28-24 final.

Williams had his best performance of the season in throwing for 227 yards on 21-of-34 with three touchdowns and a pair of interceptions. The Bears sacked Williams five times. Cole Rusk caught 10 passes for 88 yards and Shields caught nine for 61 yards.

Game Notes

Cole Williamson (OL) Sr., Carrolton, Ga. and Kanyon Walker (FS) Sr., Leesburg, Fla., took the coin toss as captains for the Racers today.
Today was the 12th meeting between the Racers and Bears and the first since MSU played in Springfield since 2017.
The Racers now lead the series 8-4 and the Bears have won the last three.
MSU had only five TD passes coming into the day, but had three in the first half.
Taylor Shields caught two TDs in the first half, he also caught a pair of TDs in the season opener vs Presbyterian (Sept. 2).
Williams' three touchdown passes in the first half made him the first Racer since Jayden Stinson to throw three in a game.
Q'Darryius Jennings' 39-yard Kickoff Return in the third quarter was the longest of the season for the Racers, ahead of his 33-yard effort against Presbyterian.
Marco Collins' interception with 12:21 in the 4Q was his first as a Racer and the team's sixth this season.
The Racers forced three turnovers on the Bears - marking the Racers' season-high.
Orion Phillips popped a career-long 71-yard with 10:25 in the fourth quarter. It marked his 13^th punt inside the 20-yard line and his ninth this season of 50 yards or more.
Phillips' punt was the seventh-longest and just the eighth of 70 yards or more for the Racers since 1999.
The MSU record 90-yard punt by Brian Bivens vs Southeast Missouri in 2002, still stands for the Racers.
Maldonado is still perfect in his first season kicking for the Racers. He is 4-of-4 in field goals and is 13-of-13 in PATs.
MSU's game Saturday (Oct. 28) is their first against the North Dakota State Bison and their first visit to the Fargodome in Fargo, N.D.