From GoRacers.com
The Game
The Murray State football team will travel east Saturday to take on 17th-ranked Louisville in its final non-conference game of the season. Kickoff from Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium is scheduled for 3:34 p.m.
Saturday’s Weather
After a brutal September, temps will finally begin to cool off this weekend with a high of just 74 F on Saturday. There is currently zero chance for precipitation during the game with winds low at 7 mph.
Last Time Out
The Murray State football team gave up just 119 yards in the second half on Saturday’s game with Austin Peay at Roy Stewart Stadium in Murray, Kentucky. However, a 20-point first-half performance by the Govs was enough to propel them to a 27-7 win. Austin Peay held the Racers to just five total yards in the first half, while racking up 273 themselves. In the second half, the Racer offense finally got going and ended the game with 88 total yards. In the third quarter, Corey Newble found D.J. Penick in the end zone from seven yards out for Murray State’s only touchdown in the game. The Racers had chances in the fourth quarter but a late touchdown by Austin Peay sealed the win for the Govs.
The Louisville Series
Saturday will be the 20th meeting all-time between the Racers and the Cardinals, with Louisville holding a 13-6 advantage. This will be the first time the two teams have met since 2014 when U of L won its fifth straight in the series. Saturday will also mark the 15th meeting in Louisville, where the Racers have won just four times, the last coming in 1984.
Scouting The Cardinals
The 17th-ranked Cardinals enter the week at 3-1 after a convincing 42-3 win over Kent State Saturday. Reigning Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson set a Louisville record for 88 career touchdowns when he passed for two and ran for another in the win. As a team Louisville, averaged 36.2 points per game, while allowing 28.2. Yardage wise, the Cardinals are racking up 550.0 yards of total offense per game, while limiting their opponents to 377.0 yards per game. Jackson currently leads Louisville in both passing and rushing at 346.8 and 84.2 yards respectively, with 10 passing touchdowns and four rushing. His leading target at receiver this season has been Jaylen Smith who has 379 yards on 22 catches with two touchdowns for 126.3 yards per game. Zykiesis Cannon leads the U of L defense with 28 total tackles on the year, while Jon Greenard has a team-high 5.0 sacks and 7.5 tackles-for-loss.
85th Anniversary
This year marks 85th anniversary of the second-largest victory in the history of MSU football and the largest shutout in school history when the Racers defeated Louisville, 105-0, in Murray.
Sacks on Sacks
Kenney Wooten recorded his fifth sack in four games last week and is now among the national leaders. Wooten currently racks sixth in sacks per game and leads the OVC with 1.25 per game.
Air Defense
Through four games, the Racer defense has already racked up eight interceptions and are currently third in the FCS. Sacramento State leads the country with 10, while Campbell follows at nine. MSU is currently part of a three-way tie for third with eight along with No. 1 James Madison and No. 17 North Carolina A&T.
OK, What’s Next?
The Racers return to OVC action next week when they make the short trip to Martin to take on the 18th-ranked Skyhawks. Kickoff from Hardy Graham Stadium is scheduled for 2 p.m.
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