Murray State
1-6 , 0-4
(16) Illinois State
5-3 , 2-2
Tight Bout on Homecoming as Racers Fall Just Short
10/19/2024 6:41:00 PM | Football
Murray State football fell 40-32 in a closely fought contest against Illinois State
Jawaun Northington got the scoring started for the Racers by way of a 48-yard rush to begin his big day on the ground. Just before the half, the Racers would cut the Redbird's lead to 16-14 after Elijah Downing grabbed a 24-yard touchdown after a Justice Cross interception and 36-yard return set up the MSU offense.Â
Jayden Johannsen and J'Kalon Carter would connect on a 6-yard touchdown to begin the fourth quarter for the third score of the day. Northington would pick up his second touchdown rush of the day with just over five minutes to cut the Illinois State lead to just eight. The Redbirds would knock in a field goal with under a minute to to play in the contest as James London would cap the scoring with a 51-yard field goal in the final seconds of the game.
Game Notes
- Jawaun Northington led the Racers offense with 104 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns, the first 100-yard performance by a Racer this season.
- His game was the first 100-yard rushing game for the Racers since 167, Cortezz Jones had 167 yards at Middle Tennessee (09-16-23) andÂ
Damonta Witherspoon with 157 yards at Lindenwood (10-22-22). - Justice Cross led the Racers defense with six solo tackles to go along with his first career interception.
- James Camden continues to shine, piling up seven more tackles to bring his season total to 51.
- James London's 51-yard kick is his third field goal of 50+ yards this season and the fourth of his career.
- 15,991 were in attendance for the homecoming matchup, the fourth largest crowd in Murray State history.
- Dennard Flowers picked up a blocked field goal, the first by a Racer this season.
- Jayden Johannsen, Justice Hill, James London, and Amari Wansley served as the game captains.
- The announced crowd of 15,991 was the fourth-largest crowd in the Stewart Stadium history.
- The gold standard for the largest crowd in Stewart Stadium history remains the 1981 game between the Racers and Eastern Kentucky of 16,600.
- Murray State will host number two North Dakota State at Roy Stewart Stadium next Saturday (Oct. 26).
For tickets to the Racers home games visit GoRacers.com/FBTix
Follow Racers Football on X (@Racersfootball) and Instagram (@Racersfootball) to stay up-to-date on all that is happening with Murray State Football.
Â
Team Stats
ILS 6, MUR 0
ILS - Rittenhouse,Tommy 40 yd run (), 6 plays, 80 yards, TOP 02:06
ILS 9, MUR 0
ILS - Wagner,Ian 20 yd field goal 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:16
ILS 9, MUR 7
MUR - Northington,Jawaun 48 yd run (London,James kick), 3 plays, 75 yards, TOP 01:06
ILS 16, MUR 7
ILS - Wright,Wenkers 1 yd run (Wagner,Ian kick), 5 plays, 75 yards, TOP 01:52
ILS 16, MUR 14
MUR - Downing,Elijah 24 yd pass from Johannsen,Jayden (London,James kick) 2 plays, 19 yards, TOP 00:09
ILS 23, MUR 14
ILS - Rittenhouse,Tommy 26 yd run (Wagner,Ian kick), 2 plays, 59 yards, TOP 00:21
ILS 30, MUR 14
ILS - Sobkowicz,Daniel 1 yd pass from Rubley,Jake (Wagner,Ian kick) 11 plays, 77 yards, TOP 05:11
ILS 30, MUR 22
MUR - Carter,J'Kalon 6 yd pass from Johannsen,Jayden (Johannsen,Jayden rush) 17 plays, 75 yards, TOP 06:58
ILS 37, MUR 22
ILS - Sobkowicz,Daniel 13 yd pass from Rittenhouse,Tommy (Wagner,Ian kick) 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:13
ILS 37, MUR 29
MUR - Northington,Jawaun 4 yd run (London,James kick), 4 plays, 75 yards, TOP 01:39
ILS 40, MUR 29
ILS - Wagner,Ian 37 yd field goal 9 plays, 27 yards, TOP 04:29
ILS 40, MUR 32
MUR - London,James 51 yd field goal 4 plays, 42 yards, TOP 00:57
