Down one with just over five minutes to go, the Morehead State football team mounted a 12-play, 80-yard touchdown drive that was capped off by a 17-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Austin Gahafer to junior wideout Jake Raymond.
The touchdown gave the Eagles a 36-29 lead at Valparaiso, and that would be the final score after senior cornerback Justin Grier sealed it with his second interception of the game and his FCS-leading ninth of the year.
The win moves the Eagles' record to 6-4 overall and 5-2 in league play. It also clinches Morehead State's first winning season since 2007. With nine interceptions on the season, Grier has tied the Morehead State single-season record set by David Hyland in 2007.
"I wasn't thrilled with our performance today, and I don't think our players will be thrilled either, but in the end we had to make great plays on both sides of the football. We had to go get the ball back and then march down and score," said Head Coach Rob Tenyer.
"I'm proud of the way that we closed it out, and we're finding ways to win games. That's what is important moving forward," added Tenyer.
Valpo got off to an early 7-0 lead after senior wideout Tanner Napier fumbled, and the Crusaders' senior defensive end Cody Cotton scooped it up and returned it to the MSU five-yard line. Two plays later, sophomore wide receiver Jarrett Morgan found freshman tight end Mason Sutter on a jump pass from four yards out for the score.
Morehead State evened things up late in the first as Gahafer found sophomore wide receiver Christian Robinson for the 17-yard score. The score marked the first receiving touchdown of the season for Robinson.
Early in the second quarter, Robinson got in on the action again. He recovered a muffed punt at the Valpo 20-yard line, setting up the second MSU touchdown of the game. On the first play of the drive, Gahafer and Raymond switched roles as Raymond connected with Gahafer in the right corner of the end zone. The score gave MSU a 14-7 lead that they maintained until midway through the fourth quarter.
Valpo took the lead with ten minutes to go in the game, 29-28. On the drive, the hosts converted a fourth-and-six play for 24 yards down to the one-yard line. A play later, Morgan marched it in, setting up Gahafer and Raymond's heroics.
Gahafer finished 27-of-55 for 335 yards, three touchdowns passes and an interception. He also had the 20-yard touchdown reception. Raymond led the Eagles with six catches for 88 yards, two touchdown receptions and a touchdown pass.
Robinson also had a big day, with four catches for 40 yards, a receiving touchdown, a rushing touchdown, and a fumble recovery. Linebacker Ryan Bennett led the defense with 12 total tackles, including nine solo stops. Quarterback Scott Staal had 337 yards through the air for the Crusaders.
Next Saturday, the Eagles close out the regular season and look to get their seventh win as they travel to Marist. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. ET.
