Northington Sets Career Rush Game But Racers Fall At Illinois State

7

Murray St.
MUR

2-8 , 1-6

44

Winner

Illinois St.
ILS

6-4 , 4-3

7

44

Illinois St.
ILS

6-4 , 4-3

Winner

Score By Quarters

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	F
MUR Murray St.	7	0	0	0	7
ILS Illinois St.	14	6	17	7	44

Game Recap: Football | 11/11/2023 3:48:00 PM

The Murray State Racers took on the Illinois State Redbirds at Hancock Stadium.

The Murray State Racers dropped a 44-7 defeat to the Illinois State Redbirds at Hancock Stadium in Normal, Ill.
 
The Racers (2-8) fell to 1-6 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference as they come home next Saturday for an 1 p.m. kickoff against the Youngstown State Penguins on Hall of Fame Day and Senior Day.
 
After falling behind 14-0, the Racers got on the board with 1:35 remaining in the first quarter on an 11-yard touchdown run by Jawaun Northington.
 
Trailing 20-7, MSU’s Curtis Francis blocked a 31-yard field goal try by the Redbirds and the Racers went into the halftime intermission trailing 20-7.
 
The Racers were driving to start the third quarter, but a tipped DJ Williams pass was intercepted by the Redbirds. The Racers defense held ISU out of the end zone, but a field goal put the Racers behind 23-7 with 6:58 in the third quarter.
 
For the second-consecutive week, Northington set his career-best for carries and rushing yards. On 20 carries, he was just shy of a 100-yard game with 96 yards for the Racers.
 
Game Notes

• Ryan Batsch (LB) Sr., Loveland, Ohio and Michael Fox (WR) Sr., Orlando, Fla., took the coin toss as captains for the Racers today.
• Today was the first meet meeting between the Racers and Redbirds since a game in Normal in 2008.
• MSU trails in the all-time series 1-6.
• ISU plays at Murray State next season on Oct. 19, 2024.
• Northington’s TD run in first quarter was his second of the season and the seventh for the Racers.
• Curtis Francis picked up his first career blocked kick on an 31-yd field goal try for ISU on the final play of the first half.
• The last blocked field goal by the Racers was against Tennessee State at home in 2022 by Cam Brown.
• The Racers a Redbirds have played six times, but not since 2008 when the Racers lost to Illinois State 42-23. MSU has won one time in the series, that coming in their first meeting in 2001 in Murray 32-17.
• Next Saturday is Senior Day and Hall of Fame Day at Roy Stewart Stadium. The Racers host the Youngstown State Penguins for the first time since 1987 when YSU and MSU battled as members of the OVC.

 
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