By Matt Schabert, Morehead State Athletic Media Relations
MOREHEAD, Ky. — Looking to even up its mark in the Pioneer Football League, Morehead State’s troops will fly south to the Sunshine State this weekend for a battle at Jacksonville. Game time at D.B. Milne Field is set for 1 p.m. ET.
Both teams enter with identical marks at 2-3 overall and 0-1 in the league. The game can be heard live on the Eagle Sports Radio Network (WIVY-96.3 FM & WMST-1150 AM and 106.9 FM) with the pregame show starting at 12:30 p.m. The game will also air live on ESPN+.
QUOTING COACH TENYER
On playing a second straight option-offense team
“There are some differences between the two (Davidson & Jacksonville). You are going to see a lot more under center with their quarterback. They are still a dangerous team. We’ve looked at some things and evaluated and moved some guys around this week. I think we’ve got a really good plan.”
On learning from the Davidson game moving into this week
“The lessons you learn are eliminate the mistakes. That’s what last week was – a game of mistakes. You just can’t play catch up every week.”
On getting back to having an efficient rushing game
“We have a stable of healthy backs, and I think that will be an important piece of our execution in this game.”
GAME NOTES
• Morehead State will shoot for its first victory against Jacksonville since 2005, a span of 11 games. The teams did not face each other in 2017 or 2018.
• The Eagles will be looking for their second road victory in the last three seasons.
• Morehead State has returned two kickoffs for touchdowns (Aaron Turk vs. Union, Ian Holder vs. Davidson), marking the first time since the 2012 season MSU has multiple KO returns for scores.
• Sophomore Ian Holder’s 196 all-purpose yards last week versus Davidson were the most in the PFL.
• Morehead State’s 73 points against Kentucky Christian were the second-most scored in the PFL era (since 2001), coming in only behind the 76 scored against Valparaiso in the final game of 2012.
• Junior kicker Andrew Foster comes into the matchup a perfect 21-of-21 on point-after-touchdown tries this season.
• Junior defensive Vaughn Taylor, Jr. is a close second in the PFL in tackles for loss. Taylor, Jr., has 6.5 stops behind the opponent lines of scrimmage.
• Andrew Foster has been listed on the FCS Punter of the Year Watch List, presented by the Augusta (Ga.) Sports Council. He ranks second in the league with a 43.6-yard average.
• Morehead State’s defense continues to lead the PFL in interceptions, collecting seven pickoffs. In just five games, the Eagles have eclipsed their entire 2018 interception total when they had six.
• Sophomore linebacker Justin Benviepiled up a career-best 13 tackles against Davidson, the most by an Eagle in a game this season. It was the third double-digit tackle effort for an individual as well.
• Redshirt senior center Cam Bailey has now started 27 consecutive games.
• Redshirt junior QB DeAndre Claytonled a furious fourth-quarter rally against Davidson, finishing with a team-best 50 rushing yards and tossing his first two career passing scores.
• The Eagles were 10-for-10 on PAT attempts against Kentucky Christian, tying a school record for most extra point kicks in a game.
• The 2019 roster features 24 players who transferred from two-year or four-year institutions, including seven from two-year colleges in California. The Eagles have five Division I school transfers (Jovan and Jovel Smith and Kyle Gossfrom Louisville, Jelani-Ray Garvin from Rutgers and Vaughn Taylor, Jr., from Kansas.).
• Morehead State once again leads the PFL in home attendance. In three games, the Eagles have drawn an average of 6,078 fans to Jayne Stadium. Morehead State has led the league in attendance five consecutive seasons.