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Defense Rises Up in Football's 14-10 PFL Win Over Presbyterian

https://msueagles.com/

Playing in mostly rainy weather, Morehead State's football team won a hard-fought 14-10 contest over visiting Presbyterian Saturday at Jayne Stadium as the Eagle defense and special teams rose up for 14 tackles for loss, eight sacks, nine pass breakups, an interception and the sixth blocked kick of the season.

The Eagles improved to 2-3 and 1-1 in the PFL, while the Blue Hose fell to 1-4 and 0-2.

In a game where both offenses slugged it out with not much on the scoreboard, it was the Eagle defense that came up big, especially late in the contest when Presbyterian had two offensive possessions with just more than minutes left trailing just by four.

With 5:23 left, MSU punter Kip Warren pinned the Blue Hose back to their three-yard line on a 42-yard boot. During the ensuing possession, lineman Nick Lavender and linebacker Jahleel Holmes combined for a sack for minus nine. The defensive backs then forced two incomplete passes.

The Eagle offense stalled and punted it back to PC, and once again Warren pinned the visitors deep - this time at their own 12 with just 2:27 remaining. After two positive rushes, Lavender and lineman Tom Flood crashed through for a sack back to the 15-yard line. PC completed a pass for 18 yards on a third-and-21, but the final defensive play sealed the game as lineman Davier Fairrow completed the eighth and final sack for minus-seven on a fourth down play.

The Eagles led 14-0 at halftime, thanks to an eight-yard Grady Cramer to Chance Harris touchdown pass with 5:02 left in the first quarter and a five-yard TD strike from Cramer to wideout Jeremiah Scott with just 37 ticks before the intermission.

After a scoreless third period, Presbyterian broke through on a 27-yard Parker Maddrey field goal at the 11:35 mark in the fourth to make it 14-3. They then took advantage of a strip sack deep in the Eagles' own zone and punched it in from a yard out with 8:39 remaining.

Safety Cooper Krezek led the Eagles in tackles again, coming up with 13 including two for losses while also breaking up two passes. Holmes had 11 stops, including 1.5 in the Blue Hose backfield. Devon Connors had a pair of TFLs, both sacks, and Eddie Loos totaled 1.5 TFLs, also both sacks.

Defender Jihad McCall registered his fourth blocked punt of the season, now just one short of the MSU program record for blocks in a season. Khiyree Keith picked up the pickoff for the defense.

Offensively, running back Chance Harris recorded his first career 100-yard effort, gaining 103 yards on a career-high 21 carries. MSU rushed for 178 total yards and 125 net yards. Cramer completed 19 balls for 180 yards and the two scores.

Morehead State now heads into a bye week before returning on Oct. 15 at Davidson.

By Matt Schabert, Morehead State Athletic Media Relations