After winning back-to-back games for the first time since 2015, the Morehead State football team absorbed a 48-21 setback to Pioneer Football League foe Marist on a damp Saturday afternoon at Jayne Stadium.
The Red Foxes' offense racked up 425 total yards and 281 yards on the ground with an average of 6.4 yards per rushing attempt. The duo of Mekhai Johnson and Darryn Jordan both went over 100 yards on the ground - Johnson rushed for 170 yards and three scores while Jordan scurried for 101.
The Eagle offense produced its quickest score of the season after recovering a Marist fumble on the game's opening kickoff. The home team ran six plays and went 26 yards on the drive that was capped off by Jovan Smith two-yard dive for six.
The score that came only 1:41 into the opening quarter turned into the only Morehead State touchdown of the opening half.
Marist scored 28 unanswered points to close out the half. The Red Foxes' defense held Morehead State to only 94 yards offensively through the first two quarters.
"The wheels kind of fell off," said head coach Rob Tenyer. "We just made a lot of mistakes today and dug ourselves a hole and could never get back."
The second half began nearly the same way as the first, with a Morehead State touchdown. Chris Nelson finished out a seven-play, 75-yard drive with a two-yard rushing score to cut the Marist lead to 28-14 with 11:57 remaining in the third.
Marist answered the score with back-to-back touchdowns to pull away. The two Red Foxes' scores were highlighted by Johnson's 81-yard burst to pay dirt for the latter score at the 3:46 mark of the quarter to extended their lead to 41-14.
The Eagles' final score came in the opening moments of the fourth quarter when senior quarterback Lawson Page rushed in from a yard out with 14:53 left in the game. Marist closed the game with Johnson rushing in from 19 yards out with 11:53 remaining.
Page finished the game with 216 yards through the air and an interception. The senior also led the Morehead State rushing attack with 29 yards plus a score.
Page completed passes to six receivers in the game - finding Ian Holder for six completions and 85 yards and senior Jarin Higginbotham for three catches and 60 yards. Higginbotham went over 100 career catches.
Defensively, Eldee Edwards III eclipsed the double-digit mark for tackles with 11. Senior cornerback Brandyn Duncan made his second interception of the season in the game as well.
"We want to win games and it's gut check time after today," said Tenyer. "We have to look ourselves in the mirror and ask ourselves if we're prideful enough to finish the season strong."
The Eagles have three games remaining on their 2018 schedule. The team hits the road next Saturday to DeLand, Fla. for a matchup against PFL opponent Stetson at 1:00 p.m. ET at Spec Martin Memorial Stadium.
