SIU looks to bounce-back from their blowout loss to Youngstown State with their first MVFC meeting with the Murray State Racers.
Meet the Racers:
The Racers are coached by Dean Hood, in his 4th year with the program. Hood spent 8 years at OVC Eastern Kentucky where he led them to the playoffs 3 times and compiled a 55-38 record. In his first season at Murray State, Murray State surprised with a 5-2 record and finishing #19 in the FCS polls. Last season, Murray State went 2-9 in their last season in the Ohio Valley Conference.
This season, the Racers were picked 11th of 12 in the MVFC Preseason Poll only ahead of Western Illinois. Murray State started their season with a win against Presbyterian before back to back FBS losses at Louisville and Middle Tennessee. They followed that with their first Missouri Valley win in their first Missouri Valley game with a 30-28 home win against Indiana State. Last week, the Racers lost 38-7 to #15 South Dakota on the road.
The quarterback of the Racers is 6-3 Redshirt Sophomore DJ Williams. Williams was named OVC Freshman of the Year in 2021 throwing for 1,020 yards and 3 touchdowns and also rushing for 532 yards and 6 touchdowns. Last season, Williams tore his ACL in the Racers first game against Texas Tech and missed the rest of the season. This season, Williams has thrown for 680 yards, 5 touchdowns and 1 interception. He hasn't run as effectively so far as he did his Freshman year, just 91 rushing yards on 37 carries.
Murray State's leading rusher is 5-11 Redshirt Junior Cortezz Jones. Jones combined for for 633 rushing yards and 5 rushing touchdowns in his first two seasons. So far this season, Jones has rushed for 296 yards and 3 rushing touchdowns.
The Racers' leading receiver is 6'6 Junior Tight End Cole Rusk. Rusk was a 3 star recruit out of Rock Island, IL and started his collegiate career at Eastern Michigan. Rusk played in 1 game at EMU and didn't record any stats and transferred to Murray State this year. Rusk has 14 receptions for 212 yards and 2 touchdowns so far this season including 83 yards and a touchdown against FBS Middle Tennessee. Murray State's 2nd leading receiver is 6'0 Redshirt Junior Taylor Shields. Shields led the Racers in receiving yards last season with 460 yards and added 5 touchdowns leading him to be named to the All-OVC 2nd team. This season, Shields has 115 yards on 8 catches with 2 touchdowns.
Weather:
I expect this team to bounce back in a big way! Dawgs 49 Racers 17
I don't know what to expect. It is such a frustrating team to watch.I expect this team to bounce back in a big way! Dawgs 49 Racers 17
Same here. As is almost always the case, SIU has been diagnosed by the opposition and play calling predictability becomes a liability. That, plus unfortunate injuries.
Sadly, I foresaw last week's fiasco while wishing I was wrong. Here's hoping the Salukis come back strong.
Go Dawgs!
March on triumphantly!
I simply don't pretend to know much about this Racer team, other than their 2-3 record. However, I have a feeling that this game will be much closer than many of us would like. A rivalry being renewed, that in the past presented issues on the playing field. After last Saturday's disappointment, who knows how this team will react? I am hoping that my feeling is not correct.
GO DAWGS!!!
I watched a bit of USD and Murray. Murray doesn't seem to have a lot of talent - not in the same league with USD, but they beat Indiana St in a close game. Ind St looks awful, but they did come close to beating a talented UNI team last week.
I'm sure Murray will play hard against us though. I think we whip them easily.
42 - 6 Dawgs
Some Murray fans on the message board are pretty confident about today. I think they’re in for a rude awakening, but I don’t want to speak it for fear of jinxing us.
Has there been an update on Ro or Cox for today? I haven’t been able to follow much this week.
Some Murray fans on the message board are pretty confident about today. I think they’re in for a rude awakening, but I don’t want to speak it for fear of jinxing us.
Has there been an update on Ro or Cox for today? I haven’t been able to follow much this week.
They’re 1-1 with a close win against the worst team in the valley. That’s just goofy to expect. I hope we win by 50.
No reason we shouldn't blow them out today
They’re 1-1 with a close win against the worst team in the valley. That’s just goofy to expect. I hope we win by 50.
Last year didn't we look really good, have a game where we, to paraphrase an old KMart ad, shipped the bed, and had 0 wins the rest of the season?
So that's a reason that's not entirely goofy. I hope and strongly suspect that won't be the case, but it's not entirely out of the question for that to happen.
They’re 1-1 with a close win against the worst team in the valley. That’s just goofy to expect. I hope we win by 50.
Last year didn't we look really good, have a game where we, to paraphrase an old KMart ad, shipped the bed, and had 0 wins the rest of the season?
So that's a reason that's not entirely goofy. I hope and strongly suspect that won't be the case, but it's not entirely out of the question for that to happen.
We’re talking about Murray State Football. It’s goofy. We could suck the rest of the year but this is Murray Football.
SIU is favored by 21.5
Time to get past the last game. Get this win and siu is 5-1 going into a tough homecoming game. Still have an opportunity to have a great season.
Go Dawgs
That'll do lol
