Game Recap: Football | 11/6/2021 9:13:00 PM | By Matt Schabert, Morehead State Athletic Media Relations

Frustrating Day for Football as Eagles Drop Heartbreaker at San Diego

SAN DIEGO, Calif — What appeared to be a potential game-tying touchdown pass with five seconds remaining was then ruled an interception as the Morehead State football team’s comeback effort at San Diego came up short Saturday in a 10-3 setback.

The Eagles slipped to 5-4 overall and 4-2 in the Pioneer League.

Quarterback Mark Pappas completed a 31-yard pass to slot man Michael Armour with 12 seconds left down to the USD 12-yard line. Two plays later, Pappas appeared to connect wide receiver DeVonte Adams for a potential game tying touchdown. Adams appeared to catch the ball and get the body inbounds, but a wrestle for the ball with defender Isaac Haney pursued and Haney ended up with the ball out of bounds. However, it was ruled an interception, thus dashing the Eagles’ hopes.

A tough day offensively was still highlighted by wide receiver BJ Byrd, who hauled in six passes from Pappas for 100 yards and his seventh 100-yard game of 2021. Byrd now has 991 yards this season.

Grad student Andrew Foster scored the Eagles’ lone points on a 40-yard field field goal with 4:56 left in the first quarter but also had a field goal blocked later on. Foster did his part to pin the Toreros back, nailing seven punts for a 50-yard average and three inside the 20.

MSU was held to just 2-of-12 on third downs and also were held out of the end zone and with no points twice with the ball inside the USD five-yard line.

Pappas completed 22 passes for 242 yards, upping his career total to 6,562. He moved to fifth place in career passing yards in program history past Brian Yost.

On defense, linebacker Vincent Winey posted his third straight double-digit tackle game with 10. Defensive end Vaughn Taylor, Jr., was credited with a half a tackle for loss, giving him 19.5 for the season. That ties for the second most in a single year in MSU history. He also had four quarterback hurries.

San Diego scored the go-ahead touchdown with 4:20 left in the third period. The Eagles’ defense did force USD into four field goal tries, three of which were missed.

Morehead State returns home Saturday for its home finale versus Stetson with kickoff at 1 p.m. ET.