Racers Clinch Winning Season With Win Over EIU

Saturday, November 20

Charleston, Ill.

12 p.m.

Murray State

6-5 , 3-3

Eastern Illinois

1-10 , 1-5

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Murray St.

Eastern Illinois

Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics

11/20/2021 6:57:00 PM | Football

Box Score Photo Gallery

MSU records consecutive winning season for first time since 10-11

In A Nutshell
The Murray State football team took care of business Saturday by beating Eastern Illinois, 20-13, at O'Brien Field in Charleston. With the win Murray State ends the season at 6-5 overall and 3-3 in the OVC

Fast Facts

Saturday's win clinched back-to-back winning seasons for Murray State for the first time since the 2010 and 2011 seasons and just the third time since 1999 and 2000.
With his 58-yarder in the first quarter, Aaron Baum became the first kicker in Murray State history to have three or more kicks of 55-yards or more. Baum finished the day going 2-for-2 on field goals and is now 9-for-9 all-time against EIU.
Murray State rushed for nearly 300 yards in the game and had three different rushers tally 50-plus yards. Cortezz Jones ended the day with 71 yards and a touchdown, while DJ Williams added 83 and Damonta Witherspoon led the way with 135 yards and a touchdown of his own.
The Racers forced two turnovers in the game with Eric Samuta and Cortez Roberts forcing the fumbles and Lauwaun Powell and Jamari Dailey recovering them.
Witherspoon finished his sophomore season with 910 total rushing yards making him just the third player since 2010, along with Roman Clay and Marcus Harris, to finish with 900-plus yards.

Recap
After scoring two field goals and a touchdown each in the first half, Murray State and Eastern Illinois entered the locker room at halftime of Saturday's game tied at 13. On their first drive of the second half, the Racers went 76 yards in just under four minutes to score on a 26-yard run by Cortezz Jones to go on top, 2013. That would be the last score of the game by either team, as MSU held on for the seven-point win.

Malik Honeycutt led the Racer receivers in the game with 42 yards, while Lawaun Powell recorded a team-high nine tackles. Quinaz Turner came up with the three huge pass breakups.