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MOREHEAD, Ky.—It’s often said history repeats itself. It did Saturday for Morehead State.
Butler overcame a 21-point halftime deficit to beat Morehead State 28-21 in overtime Saturday afternoon in a Pioneer Football League game at a rain-soaked Jayne Stadium. It was the second year in a row MSU surrendered a 21-point halftime lead to the Bulldogs.
“This one stings because we let them back in,” Morehead State coach
Matt Ballard said. “It’s disappointing because we had too many mistakes.”
The Bulldogs (4-0; 1-0 PFL) got the ball first in the extra period and scored on a Andrew Huck pass to Eddie McHale. David Lang’s first PAT attempt was blocked cleanly by
Wes McDermott, but the ball was kicked by MSU on the ground during the scramble to recover the block and Hale made the re-kick. A dropped pass and an interception by Mark Giacomantonio ended Morehead’s attempt to tie the game.
“We’ve had one block in each of the last three games,” Ballard said. “We kicked it trying to pick it up and the rule is that it’s a re-kick. We still got a chance, but we couldn’t convert. We get guys open, but we can’t connect or we drop the ball.”
Morehead State opened the game on fire, forcing the Bulldogs to punt on their first possession. Two plays later, Donte Sawyer slipped behind the Butler secondary and caught an
Evan Sawyer pass and carried it into the endzone for a 60-yard score.
Derek Harkness made it 14-0 on Butler’s next play from scrimmage, intercepting Huck’s pass and winding his way for a 63 yard touchdown return. The Eagles had scored twice in less than three minutes and Harkness’ interception was the first of three first-half picks by the senior, which tied a school record.
The Eagles struck again seven minutes later when Evan Sawyer, who was 11-27 in passing for 149 yards, found
Drew Morgan on a 28-yard pass. #Rainer Duzan’s3 kick gave MSU a 21-0 lead that held through halftime.
Butler moved the ball well on its first possession of the second half, using a nine-play, 82-yard drive to crack the scoreboard when Huck found Zach Watkins in the endzone on a nine-yard pass. The Bulldogs again marched downfield on their second possession, scoring on a pass from Huck to Dan Bohrer. David Lang’s extra point kick was blocked by
Henry Hudson, keeping MSU’s lead at eight.
A fourth-quarter fumble deep in Morehead State territory set up a two-play, 25-yard Butler drive when Huck again threw to Watkins for the touchdown. Logan Sullivan’s run up the middle gave the Bulldogs the two-point conversion and tied the game.
MSU had a late chance to take the lead, moving the ball 31 yards on the final drive of regulation to the Butler 44. Eagle quarterback
Zach Lewis, playing for an injured Evan Sawyer, had completed two passes and seemed to be connecting on a third that would have put Morehead in field goal range, but Butler’s Tadd Dombart stepped in front of the pass for the interception, forcing the overtime.
Jerrod Pendleton led the MSU ground game with 57 yards on 11 carries and
Ronnie McDermott had three catches for 23 yards. Scott Gray had 15 carries for 59 yards to lead the Bulldogs and Watkins caught 13 passes for 130 yards. Huck was 26-49 for 208 yards.
Morehead State racked up 268 yards of total offense, 105 of which came on the ground. Butler had 239 yards of offense and was officially held to 31 yards, but a 39 yard botched long snap contributed to the Bulldogs’ 58 yards lost rushing.
It was the second consecutive overtime game for Morehead State, who will host PFL opponent Dayton next week at 1 p.m. at Jayne Stadium. It also is just the second overtime game played at Jayne Stadium, the last time being in 1998. The Bulldogs also remain in league play, hosting San Diego at 1 p.m.
“We’ve got to get ready to go, because if you think Butler was physical, look out,” Ballard said. “But I believe our guys will step up and respond.