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ELAINE KIGHT / For the Ledger
Illinois State senior running back Parrish Fisher surges forward as Murray State safety Will Werner attempts to bring him down in Saturday night's game at Roy Stewart Stadium. Fisher was just one of a bevy of backs who combined to carry for 235 yards on the ground for the Redbirds. |
Seeing red again: Racers fail to capitalize on ISU miscues
By TOMMY DILLARD
Sports Writer
On a night in which the Murray State defense gave up 35 points in a loss to Illinois State, head coach Matt Griffin placed the blame on his offense, which employed its third starting quarterback in as many games.
The Racer defensive unit forced fumbles on Illinois State's first two drives, giving the offense the ball at the Redbird 35-yard-line on the second. But third-string quarterback Chris Franklin and Murray State squandered those opportunities and suffered three drive-stalling fumbles themselves en route to a 42-23 defeat at Roy Stewart Stadium Saturday night.
The end result of an offense that couldn't stay on the field was a defense worn thin by Illinois State's incessant rushing attack in the second half.
“It was difficult to get any kind of momentum going offensively,” Griffin said. “I think that was the most deflating factor for our defense was the fact that we couldn't get out of our own way on offense.”
Down 21-10 late in the third quarter, the Racers seemed to finally begin to find rhythm on offense behind Franklin and running back Charlie Jordan.
But on the first play of the fourth quarter, Murray State coughed up the ball on an exchange.
The Redbirds responded with a methodical march down the field and a touchdown that put them ahead 28-10.
Griffin refused to use employ any excuses or explanations for the struggles of his offense, which has been in a constant state of fluctuation at the quarterback position since starter Jeff Ehrhardt injured his shoulder two weeks ago against Lambuth.
Backup Nico Yantko hurt his knee in the second game of the season at Indiana.
“Injuries are part of the game,” Griffin said. “No one's pointing the finger, saying that's why (we lost). That wasn't it at all. There's going to be an angry Irish guy watching film with the offensive staff in the morning and that's that. There will be no more of this crap. I've had it.”
The Racers fumbled the ball four times and lost three, two of which came on the quarterback-tailback exchange.
Illinois State fared even worse, coughing up five fumbles and losing four. But Murray State couldn't capitalize on the opportunites and the Redbirds did.
“I'm mortified at how bad we were offensively,” Griffin said. “The minute we'd get something going, we'd shoot ourselves in the foot. We weren't very sound, and that all falls on me.”
Griffin praised the defense, which was led once again by sixth-year senior linebacker Nathan Williams.
Williams, who led the FCS in total tackles coming into Saturday night's game, had a 23-tackle performance, nearly doubling his previous mark over the first two games.
The Racers also got a solid evening out of wide receiver Marcus Harris, who caught 10 passes for 95 yards and a leaping touchdown grab in the back corner of the end zone in the fourth quarter.
Griffin said he wasn't disappointed in the effort of any individuals and said he felt for his team.
“(Harris) plays his butt off and for the most part all the kids do,” he said. “This is the first loss we've had since I've been here where I can feel how hurt they are on that sideline and in that locker room after the game. There's guys crying in there. I can feel it and I feel it too.”
In his first start, Franklin completed 16-of-25 passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns. Harris took several snaps at the quarterback position and went 0-for-1 on the evening.
Most of Franklin's yardage and his two touchdowns came in the fourth quarter, after the Redbirds had established a comfortable lead.
“I came out slow in the first half,” said the sophomore Lexington native. “I missed some checks I should have made. I came out in the second half and started hitting some more throws, but we've just got to come out of the gate faster.”
The game marked what appears to be Illinois State head coach Denver Johnson's final matchup against the Racers, the team he coached from 1997-99, accumulating a 21-12 record.
The series contract is up this season and Johnson said he hasn't discussed plans to renew it.
“Murray's a better team, they're a year older and a year better than they were last time we played them,” Johnson said.
Griffin, however, didn't see the improvement Saturday night.
“It's certainly a disappointing, disappointing loss,” he said. “I said it all week, this game was a good measuring stick for where we're at. I thought we were a team that could have done a lot more tonight than what we showed.”
The rundown
After a sloppy start from both teams, Illinois State struck first blood on a drive dominated by tailback Parrish Fisher, scoring on a 3-yard run with 24 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
The Redbirds racked up 235 yards on the ground, with no single rusher carrying for more than 100.
Fisher finished with 74 and Geno Blow carried for 98 yards.
Early in the second quarter, the Racers' special teams troubles plagued them once again as Redbird returner Tom Nelson took a Murray State punt 82 yards for a 14-0 lead.
The Racers cut the lead to 14-10 at the half on a Kienan Cullen field goal followed by a sack of ISU quarterback Kevin Brockway in the end zone.
Brockway fumbled and Racer freshman defensive end Jamal Crook jumped on the ball for Murray State's first touchdown against a Division I opponent this season.
Illinois State led off the second half with a methodical march downfield and capped it off with an 11-yard touchdown run by Blow that seemed to take the wind out of the Racers' sails.
The fourth quarter was an offensive free-for-all, with the two teams combining to put 34 points on the board. Murray State never came closer than 12 points.
Story created Sep 15, 2008 - 12:13:24 EDT.
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