Morehead State football piled up 472 total offensive yards, but a 2-for-14 day on third down chances hurt the Eagles Saturday at Stetson as the Hatters pulled away for a 48-24 defeat of MSU at Spec Martin Stadium.
MSU fell to 3-6 overall and 2-4 in the PFL.
"It was a disappointing day. We rushed the ball well again today, but our inability to convert third downs was the difference. That's one of the things we have done well all year, but today we just could not get anything going. We held them to 5-of-14 on third downs, which is usually good enough defensively, but we gave up too many big plays again."
MSU finished with 177 rushing yards, led by senior QB Lawson Page with 65 yards.
Morehead State was up 7-0 after Page connected on a 55-yard screen pass score to running back Chris Nelson just two minutes into the contest. MSU had an opportunity to make it at least a two-score game, but Page fumbled on the Hatter one-yard line, and quickly Stetson signal caller Collin McGovern burned the defense on a 96-yard touchdown toss.
Page tied the game 14-14 with 4:30 left in the opening period on a 15-yard jaunt. Stetson knotted it back up at 14-all when McGovern found Donald Parham on an 18-yard pitch and catch score, and the Hatters went on to lead 27-17 at the half. They effectively put the game away by outscoring the visitors 21-0 in the third period. MSU was 0-for-4 on third downs in the third period and generated just 75 of its 472 yards. Stetson finished with 575 total yards and also returned an interception 43 yards for a score in the third quarter.
Page also had an 18-yard touchdown pass to sophomore slot man Landon Hurst in in the fourth quarter after Stetson had pulled ahead 48-17.
Page was 20-for-41 for 280 yards but was intercepted twice. Senior wideout Jarin Higginbotham tallied another 100-yard game with a team-best 109 in the aerial game.
Defensive back Eldee Edwards III led the defensive effort with eight tackles, while linemen Chrinovic Mukulu and Vaughn Taylor, Jr. got into the backfield for a pair of tackles for losses each.
Sophomore kicker Andrew Foster connected on a 34-yard field goal and averaged 42 yards on eight punts.
Morehead State returns to conference action next Saturday at Dayton for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff.
