Murray State
Tennessee State
Racers Fall To TSU In Season-Finale
11/22/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
The Murray State football team could not overcome a slow start and closed out the 2003 season with a 35-10 Ohio Valley Conference loss to Tennessee State today Roy Stewart Stadium in Murray, Ky.
After falling behind 21-0 in the first half, MSU (4-8, 3-5 OVC) used a pair of third quarter scores to cut the TSU (7-5, 5-3 OVC) lead to 21-10, but got no closer as the Tigers put things away late in the third and early in the fourth.
TSU opened the scoring with 11:46 left in the first quarter as wide receiver C.J. Johnson scored on a 57-yard pass from quarterback Bryson Rosser and a 7-0 lead.
The Tigers made it 14-0 as running back Charles Anthony scored on a 42-yard run with 10:49 to go in the second quarter, and Rosser made it 21-0 as he found Ande Durojaiye for a 13-yard scoring pass with 7:07 to go in the first half.
MSU put its first points on the board with 11:08 left in the third quarter as senior placekicker Jesse Ohligher booted home a 24-yard field goal to make it 21-3.
The Racers made it 21-10 with 2:25 to go in the third as sophomore quarterback Stephen Hatchell found senior tight end Brandon Roddy for a 16-yard touchdown pass.
MSU got no closer as the Tigers put the game away with a 22-yard touchdown pass from Rosser to Johnson with :28 seconds left in the third, and a Ronald Jackson touchdown reception from Riley Walker with 10:47 left in the game.
The Racers were out-gained 386-227 in total yardage by the Tigers, while TSU ground out 191 yards rushing compared to MSU's 46.
Hatchell led the MSU offense with 181 yards on 17-of-37 passing and one touchdown. Senior wide out Deandre Green, playing his final game in a Racer uniform, led the receiving corps with five catches for 69 yards.
The Tigers were led by the OVC's leading rusher, Anthony, who gained 194 yards on 38 rushes and one score. He also added a pair of catches for 54 yards.
The MSU defense was led by senior linebacker Bobby Sanders' 10 tackles, including eight solo stops. Sanders finishes the season as the Racers' leading tackler with 92 stops and becomes the first MSU player in history to lead the team in tackles three-straight seasons.
POST GAME COMMENTS
MSU head coach Joe Pannunzio:
"Well, this is a very disappointing loss and a tough way to end our season. We just never got things going today. Tennessee State came right at us, just like we knew they would, but we didn't meet the challenge. We've got to get better in a lot of different areas before next season, and that starts with recruiting next week."
"I hate it for the seniors on our team. This is the first Senior Day we've lost since I've been here. I know it's been a very tough year for our seniors, and I really hate that we closed the season out with a loss like this."
"We're going to be recruiting junior college kids and try to get some immediate help at mid-year, look for some transfers and then get some help again in February. And, we're also going to look at what we're doing schematically. Are we doing the right things? Can we do some things better?"
