Fast Start Not Enough For Racers on Homecoming

Saturday, October 17

Murray, Ky.

4 p.m.

Murray State

1-6 , 0-3

South Dakota

6-2 , 3-1

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
South Dakota	0	14	13	21	48
Murray St.	7	7	0	6	20

Box Score (PDF)

Photo by: David Eaton-Murray State Athletics

10/17/2026 8:07:00 PM | Football

Box Score

Murray State Falls to South Dakota 48-20

By: Charlie Williams

MURRAY, Ky. — A fast start was not enough for the Murray State Racers (1-6, 0-3 MVFC) to overcome the South Dakota Coyotes (6-2, 3-1 MVFC) on Homecoming at Rudolph Family Field at Roy Stewart Stadium in Murray, Ky.

Despite outgaining the Coyotes 351-327, the Racers fell 48-20 on a night that saw three different Racers haul in passing touchdowns, the most passing touchdowns in a game for the Racers since Sept. 14, 2024, in a win over Mississippi Valley State.

The Murray State defense opened the game with a bang, as Dylan Rowsey hauled in his first interception of the season on the opening drive of the game. The offense followed that with an 8-play, 80-yard drive that ended with an 11-yard pass from Baxter Wright to Dimitri Howard for an early 7-0 lead. After South Dakota took a 14-7 lead, the Racers tied the game with another long drive with just 2:14 left in the first half. The Racers went on an 8-play, 75-yard drive, highlighted by a 45-yard carry by Dimitri Howard. Baxter Wright capped off the drive with his second touchdown pass of the first half, hitting Malachi Williams for the first touchdown of the fifth-year player's career and tying the game 14-14.

After going three-and-out on the opening drive of the third quarter, the Racers gave the Coyotes the ball on their own 4-yard line, and two plays later they took an early third-quarter lead on a 5-yard carry by Tennel Bryant. Later in the quarter, South Dakota once again took advantage of good field position, scoring again on a drive that started inside the Murray State 20-yard line to make it 27-14.

South Dakota added 2 more touchdowns early in the fourth quarter before the Racers scored again in the fourth. Taking over for an injured Baxter Wright, Collin Shannon drove the Racers 71 yards in 10 plays before hitting Trey Firestone from 20 yards out to cut the deficit to 41-20. The Coyotes scored 1 more time with 1:12 on the clock, making the final score 48-20.

The Racers ended the game with 351 total yards, including 206 yards through the air and 145 on the ground. Starting quarterback Baxter Wright went 10-of-17 for 56 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Collin Shannon went 10-of-17 for 150 yards and 1 touchdown in relief. Wright led the team with 59 rushing yards on 8 carries, while Howard added 54 yards on 4 carries. Jaxon Potter led the team with 69 receiving yards on 6 catches, while Dimitri Howard, Trey Firestone, and Malachi Williams each had a touchdown catch.

Rett Hemphill led the Racers on defense with a career-high 18 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss. Ryan McCall and Klayton Ingram each had 8 tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss, while Dylan Rowsey stuffed the stat sheet with 8 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and an interception. Cedric Henderson had 7 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss, and Conlee Crossno and Keyaan Abdul-Rahim each had 0.5 tackles for loss.

Up Next

The Racers return to action on Saturday, Oct. 24, in Brookings, S.D., against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits.

Follow the Racers on X (@MSURacers), Instagram (@RacersAthletics), and Facebook to stay up-to-date on Murray State Athletics. Follow Murray State football on X and Instagram (@Racersfootball).