Story by Blake Sandlin
Sports Editor
bsandlin1@murraystate.edu
It took a last-second field goal for Murray State to steal its first conference win at UT Martin last season, but when the two met Saturday night the Racers needed no such heroism.
The Racers struck on their first drive and never looked back, as they went on to claim a 45-38 victory for their first win of the season. The win was highlighted by senior quarterback Drew Anderson’s 373-yard showcase, the most since KD Humphries threw for 378 yards against Tennessee Tech on Nov. 19, 2016.
Murray State Head Coach Mitch Stewart said Anderson’s display Saturday night was a luxury for his team, and allowed the Racers to boost their effectiveness on the ground.
“It feels like a long time,” Stewart said. “Anybody that knows me knows that that’s when I’m in my comfort zone, when that dude’s out there and he’s making some plays and running around and throwing that ball around. I use that just to lighten the box to run. I use that to be able to run the football, not vice versa. And anytime you can do that, you have the chance to run the football a little bit better, so it gave me a little bit more comfort on the sideline.”
Anderson began his passing clinic with a 31-yard pass to sophomore wide receiver Rodney Castille. Shortly after, Anderson hit sophomore receiver DeQuan Dallas on a 37-yard find that resulted in a touchdown to cap off a five-play opening drive.
UT Martin would register on the scoreboard later in the quarter with a 36-yard field goal from sophomore kicker Ryan Courtright.
The Racers kept rolling, as Anderson led a drive 75 yards down the field which ended in a five-yard grab by junior receiver Jensen Feggins to go up 14-3.
The Skyhawks would find the endzone for the first time in the second quarter, courtesy of a connection from sophomore quarterback Dresser Winn to junior receiver Terry Williams to trim the lead to 14-10.
Anderson countered midway through the second quarter – this time with his feet. The senior scrambled for 17 yards to pad the Racer lead.
On the ensuing drive for the Skyhawks, the Racers pinned them deep into their own territory. When UT Martin attempted to punt, punter Zane Cox muffed it; the Racers did the rest. Junior safety Jason Johnson recovered the failed punt in the Racer endzone to improve the lead to 28-10.
A 26-yard field goal by junior Gabe Vicente capped off an explosive first half that was arguably Murray State’s most explosive thus far.
UT Martin began to knock on Murray State’s door early in the third after junior running back Jaimiee Bowe took it to the house off a 15-yard rush to give the deficit to 31-17.
Seizing momentum, the Skyhawks attempted an onside kick, but Murray State would recover and take over on UT Martin’s 40. Anderson hit junior receiver James Sappington for a big 34-yard gain to put the Racers in scoring position. They capitalized, though somewhat unexpectedly, as junior Jonathan Moss caught a pass and took it eight yards.
As he attempted to cross the plane, Moss fumbled the ball, though a stroke of serendipity struck the Racers as Dallas fell on the live ball in the end zone for his second score.
A score by the Skyhawks later in the quarter would make the score 38-24. When UT Martin began the fourth quarter, it looked poised to make it a one-score game as Winn marched the team down to Murray State’s 22. However, Winn made a costly mistake that would ultimately prove the difference.
Senior linebacker Quincy Williams read Winn’s pass and picked it off. Seeing an open field, Williams ran the length of the field virtually untouched to compound the lead to 45-24.
“It’s a big moment,” Stewart said. “It’s a big time play. Quincy’s an OG; he’s the oldest one in that locker room. He came in with me when I recruited him out of high school. He’s been around the longest of anybody, and to see him make a play in that kind of situation with his family here and all that, I’m just super elated for that kid.”
That interception would give Murray State the cushion they needed to weather two later touchdowns from the Skyhawks.
The Racers did find themselves on the verge of blowing their lead. With 2:04 remaining, Murray State found itself in a 3rd and 10 situation up by just seven. With the fate of the game on the line, sophomore running back DJ Penick delivered the last blow to strike the Skyhawks out of contention – a 32-yard rush that would allow the Racers to run out the clock.
Stewart said that play helped everyone on the sideline breath just a little easier in the waning moments of the game.
“I’d be lying to you if I said it wasn’t relief, because it was,” Stewart said. “It was relief because you’re in that funny situation because you know if you give that ball back to them they have a chance to go score. But at the same time, you don’t want to put the ball in the air. You do not want to stop that clock; you want to run it.”
The Racers will look to capitalize upon their win when they meet Eastern Illinois next week at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29 in Charleston, Illinois.