MOREHEAD, Ky.—Morehead State football coach
Matt Ballard announced the 2010 Eagle Football Schedule Tuesday afternoon. It includes five home dates and two road non-conference games, including a game in the Georgia Dome and a game versus a national championship program.
MSU opens the season at 2004 FCS National Champion James Madison on Sept. 4. The Eagles and Dukes have met six times dating back to 1979. JMU leads the all-time series 4-2, but the programs have not met since the 1987 season.
The Jayne Stadium home opener will also be during family weekend on Sept. 11. MSU will host St. Francis, the fourth straight year the two teams have met. The teams have met a total of five times since 2004, and MSU holds a commanding 4-1 record against the Red Flash.
The Eagles open Pioneer Football League play at rival Dayton on Sept. 18. MSU is 5-10 all-time versus the Flyers.
The first-ever trip to Marist follows on Sept. 25. The Red Foxes, who just completed their first season in the PFL, won the inaugural game between the two and hold a 1-0 series lead.
The final non-conference regular-season game of 2010 opens October with a trip to Atlanta to face first-year program Georgia State in the Georgia Dome on Oct. 2.
After the open date on Oct. 9, PFL play resumes at Jayne Stadium on Oct. 16 with Davidson. An intense rivalry because Ballard is a native of Davidson, N.C., the Wildcats won last year’s game, but MSU owns a 7-4 series advantage.
A trip to 2009 PFL and Gridiron Classic champion Butler on Oct. 23 follows the Davidson game. The Bulldogs beat MSU for just the third time ever in a rain-soaked game at Jayne Stadium in 2009 en route to the PFL title. The Eagles are 10-3 all-time against Butler.
The Homecoming game will close out the month on Oct. 30 with Jacksonville at Jayne Stadium. The Dolphins hold a slight edge all-time versus Morehead State at 4-5.
A trip to San Diego opens the final month of the season on Nov. 6, also marking the last regular season road game. Always a tough opponent, MSU has never beaten San Diego, holding 0-5 record versus the Torreros.
The Eagles close out the regular season with a pair of home games against Valparaiso (Nov. 13) and Campbell (Nov. 20). MSU is 11-3 all-time against Valpo and 1-1 versus 2008 PFL addition Campbell.
“This is a schedule we’re very excited about,” Ballard said. “It will be a huge test, but one that we expect our guys to step up and meet the challenge. There are some tremendous games for our fans to get excited about.”
MSU will not face fellow PFL member Drake as part of the league’s scheduling policy that mandates that each team skips one PFL opponent for two years.
2010 Morehead State Football Schedule
2010 Morehead State Football Schedule
Sept. 4 - at James Madison, TBA
SEPT. 11 - SAINT FRANCIS (FAMILY WEEKEND), TBA
Sept. 18 - at Dayton, TBA
Sept. 25 - at Marist, TBA
Oct. 2 - at Georgia State, TBA
Oct.9 - OPEN TBA
OCT. 16 - DAVIDSON, TBA
Oct. 23 - at Butler, TBA
OCT. 30 - JACKSONVILLE (HOMECOMING), TBA
Nov. 6 at - San Diego, TBA
NOV. 13 - VALPARAISO, TBA
NOV. 20 - CAMPBELL, TBA