The Murray State Racers opened the 2023 campaign with a resounding 41-10 victory over the Presbyterian Blue Hose in front of a crowd of 6,953 at Roy Stewart Stadium in Murray, Kentucky.
The history book shows Saturday’s game was the 1000th game played in Murray State history at the start of their 99th season and it sends the Racers on the road Thursday for a game against the Louisville Cardinals.
Taylor Shields caught a pair of touchdown passes and the Racers scored the game’s final 31 points to break open a contest that was tied 10-10 with 4:03 before halftime. In the final drive of the first half, DJ Williams hit Cole Rusk and Shields on consecutive plays to put the Racers up 17-10 at the intermission. Williams, a year removed from a season-ending injury in the 2022 season opener at Texas Tech, looked comfortable and confident in throwing for 104 yards on 8-of-16 passing. Newcomer Eric Phoenix got into the second half and threw a touchdown pass to Shields and was 4-of-5 for 121 yards.
The MSU rushing attack was six running backs strong in combining for 231 yards on 44 carries for an average of 5.3 yards per run. Q’Daryius Jennings (9-50yds), Kylan Galbreath (3-47yds) and Jawaun Northington (11-40yds) led the way for MSU.
The Racers racked up 484 yards of total offense, while checking Presbyterian to 196.
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Game Notes
- The win gives MSU football its 501st in program history.
- It’s MSU first win in a season opener since 2021 when they defeated Mississippi Valley 35-0.
- MSU has won its home opener at Stewart Stadium in 12 of their last 17 games since 2007.
- Coach Dean Hood picks up his 69th win as a head coach in 12 seasons and 14th at Murray State in his fourth season.
- Galbreath’s 39-yard touchdown scamper was his first as a Racer.
- Matt Maldonado and James London each scored their first points as MSU kickers in the game. They combined for 5-of-5 on PATs and each made a field goal.
- The Racers’ game Thursday at Louisville is a 6:30 p.m. kick at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium.
- It’s the first time the two have met since 2017 and the 21st overall.
- MSU’s last win against an FBS team was against Louisville in 1984 under Coach Frank Beamer. The 26-23 upset win was delivered by a Kevin Sisk to Bill Bird screen pass that went 75-yards for a touchdown with 27 seconds remaining for the win.
- Monday’s Racer Report LIVE radio show will feature that upset from 1984 as Dave Winder and Jeff Bidwell recap the win over Presbyterian and look ahead to the UL game at 6 p.m. on Froggy 103.7FM.
- The Labor Day holiday on Monday means there is no in-person recording of the program at the Hop Hound Brew Pub, but a live show will return on Sept. 11.
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