This is it. It’s time for the eight games on Morehead State’s schedule that determines how successful a season 2009 will really be. The Eagles host Butler at Jayne Stadium/Jacobs Field at 1 p.m. Saturday to kick-off Pioneer Football League play. Saturday is also Family Weekend at MSU and at halftime the Eagle men’s basketball team will be honored with 2008-09 OVC Championship rings.
Morehead State football is coming off a thrilling double-overtime win at North Carolina Central, an up-and-coming Division I scholarship program. It was a victory that erased the St. Francis setback and moved the Eagles to 2-1 heading into PFL play. Butler is 3-0 with wins over Albion, Franklin and Hanover, all NCAA Division III schools.
MSU is 10-2 all-time versus the Bulldogs, with the two losses coming in the Eagles’ first year in the PFL and last season. The Eagles had a commanding 21-3 lead in last year’s game, but 28 second-half points by the Bulldogs, sparked by an interception return and a punt return gave Butler its first win over Morehead since 2001.
Offensively, the Eagles rebounded from the previous week’s struggles at St. Francis, recording 265 yards of total offense, 144 of those on the ground. Jerrod Pendleton had his breakout week for 2009, picking up 73 yards on 17 carries on the ground, but he was also an effective weapon through the air, leading the Eagles with trhee catches for 41 yards. Sawyer was 11-25 for 121 yards with a tocuhdown. Though the real star of the game, scoring wise was freshman kicker Rainer Duzan, who’s 45-yarder in the second overtime gave MSU the win last Saturday. Duzan, who hit a kick in the fourth quarter to put MSU up 10-7 missed his first chance in the first overtime, but recovered nicely to win the game. he was honored with PFL Special Teams Player of the Week for his game-winner.
On the other side of the ball NCCU had more success than any other team this season against the stallwart MSU defense. Despite allowing NCCU to rack up more yardage than its other opponents, the Morehead State defense still stepped up and made the crucial plays when needed, including a blocked field goal attempt by Andrew Doan and a key interception by Wes McDermott in overtime. McDermott, J.D. Cecil and Doanare 1-2-3 to lead MSU in tackles and Mark Hall is the backfield baron, with five tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.
Butler’s primary attack has been through the air by two different passers, Andrew Huck and Calvin Blair. Huck has carried most of the load, but the two have combined for 12 touchdowns and 854 total yards on 76 completetions. BU’s top five receivers all have long completions of over 20 yards. Zach Watkins has been the primary target, with 327 receiving yards. Huck is also a mobile quarterback, leading the Bulldogs in rushing with 144 yards on 20 carries. Steven Depositar has 130 yards on the ground on 19 carries to trail Huck. Butler’s potent offense has resulted in 40+ points all three games.
The Bulldogs defensive efforts have held its opponents to 21 points or less. A swarming defense that has 14 sacks nad nine takeaways has helped keep opponents to 227 yards per game and 3.4 yards per play.
Saturday is the first of two PFL home games at Jayne Stadium for the Eagles.
