By Matt Schabert, Morehead State Athletic Media Relations
MOREHEAD, Ky. — Fresh off a road win at Valparaiso last weekend, Morehead State football stays on the road this weekend when it travels to the West coast to face PFL frontrunner San Diego. Game time is 5 p.m. ET Saturday.
The Eagles sit at 5-5 overall and 3-3 in league contests, while the Toreros are still unbeaten in PFL play at 6-0 and are 7-2 overall. Fans can see the game live on the WCC Network.
Following this weekend’s action, MSU will be at home on Nov. 23 for the season finale and senior day against Stetson.
QUOTING COACH TENYER
On last week’s road win at Valpo
“Very proud of our defensive effort in that game to hold them to 22 rushing yards. They had rushed for more than 200 yards against four PFL opponents. We did a really nice job of setting the edge, and our corners did a nice job. We haven’t had that (multiple road wins in a season) in a while, so it was nice for our players and staff to enjoy our hard work.”
On the emergence of running back Issiah Aguero
“It’s easy to trust a guy that you know will give you everything he’s got every snap, and that’s the type of player he is. Give him a lot of credit. He’s tough.”
On facing San Diego
“This is the game your circle on the calendar, and this is game you want to go play in. It’s kind of like you are playing the top team in the country. That’s the way we approached it this week. This is a tremendous opportunity for our players and program.”
GAME NOTES
• Morehead State will search for its first-ever win in the series with San Diego. The Eagles are 0-12 in the series, including 0-7 in games on the West coast.
• Junior defensive end Vaughn Taylor, Jr. has won three PFL Defensive Player of the Week honors in 2019 – the most ever by an Eagle (since joining the league in 2001). Taylor, Jr., continues to lead the conference in tackles for loss (15.5) and sacks (5.5).
• Sophomore quarterback Mark Pappashas thrown for 1,245 yards and 10 touchdowns in the last four games, including three 300+ yard efforts. In his first six collegiate starts this year, he did not have a 300-yard game.
• Junior kicker Andrew Foster, who won FCS Stats National Player of the Week once this year, missed his first PAT of the season at Valparaiso, but before that he made 39 consecutive extra points, which was Morehead State’s record.
• Andrew Foster ranks first in the PFL in punting, averaging 42.4 yards per boot. He has landed 22 inside opponents’ 20-yard lines and has six booms of more than 50 yards.
• 21 different Eagles have caught passes in the Eagles’ aerial game – that’s the most spread out stat line for receivers since the 1996.
• Junior running back Issiah Aguero(107.2) and sophomore slot receiver Ian Holder (100.5) ranks seventh and eighth, respectively in the PFL in all-purpose yards per game
• Redshirt senior center Cam Bailey has now started 32 consecutive games.
• Senior slot receiver Landon Hurst has averaged 98.7 yards per outing just in the last four games. He had a career-high 11 catches for 123 yards at Drake.
• Landon Hurst has a team-high 51 receptions this year, and 31 have been good enough for first downs for a 61 percent success rate in converting first downs.
• MSU ranks first in the PFL in turnovers gained with 21. The Eagles lead the PFL in fumbles recovered with 10.
• The Eagle defense also leads the PFL in sacks with 18.
• The 2019 roster features 23 players who transferred from two-year or four-year institutions, including seven from two-year colleges in California. The Eagles have four Division I school transfers (Jovan Smith and Kyle Goss from Louisville, Jelani-Ray Garvin from Rutgers and Vaughn Taylor, Jr., from Kansas.).
• Morehead State once again leads the PFL in home attendance. In five games, the Eagles have drawn an average of 6,367 fans to Jayne Stadium. Morehead State has led the league in attendance five consecutive seasons.