Murray State University Athletics

The Murray State Racers dropped a 46-32 loss to the No. 10 Illinois State Redbirds Saturday night at Roy Stewart Stadium in Murray, Kentucky.

The Racers (0-6,) fell to 0-2 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference as they host South Dakota State next Saturday (Oct. 8) at 6 p.m.

In a season of improvement and hard knocks, the Racers may have experienced what the team can accomplish given their current track in the toughest FCS league in the country.

Scoring a season-high 32 points and racked up 471 yards of offense, while carrying the fight into the last part of the fourth quarter.

With 12:06 remaining in the first half, the Racers trailed 28-3 and were seemingly dead in the water.

However, MSU put together a 15-play 77-yard drive, capped by Jordan Washington's 6-yard TD run. After getting a defensive stop, the Racers went 80 yards in 13 plays that Jim Ogle finished with a 1-yard run to make it a 28-17 Redbirds lead.

ISU made a field goal on the final play of the first half and led the Racers 31-17 at the intermission.

Jewaun Northington scored on a 5-yard run with 3:16 remaining to get the Racers to within 10 points, but they never got closer.

GAME NOTES

Today's captains for the Racers were (2) JK Carter (Sr., Aubrey, Texas), (0) Kobe Roberts (Sr., New Plymouth, Idaho) and (8) Dylan Rowsey (Jr., Rienzi, Miss.).

Illinois State won the coin toss and deferred possession to the second half.

Jordan Washington/s four-yard TD run was his second career TD for the Racers, after getting his first against Southeastern Louisiana (Sept. 6) on a 21-yard run.

Jack Tannehill's 41-yard field goal in the first quarter gave him his fifth field goal of the season in seven attempts.

Tannehill booted four extra points today and is 14-of-14 this season.

The Racers' 15-play drive in the second quarter that ended on a touchdown run by Jewaun Northington was MSU's largest drive in the number of plays attempted this season.

The previous best was 11 plays three different times.

The Racers' back to back touchdown scoring drives at the end of the first half marked the second time they've done this in the season, as MSU also had back-to-back scoring drives at Georgia State and in the opener at ETSU.

Jim Ogle's two rushing touchdowns was the first for a Racer since Jewuan Northington did it last season against ISU.

The Racers topped their season-high in total yards with 471 yards on 66 plays.

MSU's previous best was 390 yards in the second game of the season against Southeastern Louisiana.

Follow the Racers on Twitter (@MSURacers), Instagram (@RacersAthletics), and Facebook to stay up-to-date on all that is happening with Murray State Athletics. Follow Murray State football on Twitter and Instagram (@Racersfootball).

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