Murray State started the Jody Wright era by traveling to Columbia, Missouri, for a matchup with the No. 11 ranked Missouri Tigers.
The first half did not go well for the Racers. Murray State was only able to gain 45 yards total across the first half. Graduate running back Kywon Morgan had the most yards by any player for Murray State with 16 over six carries. Graduate transfer Jayden Johannsen found his stride after his first pass was intercepted and returned for a touchdown by Missouri junior cornerback, Toriano Pride Jr., to put the Tigers up 21-0. Johannsen finished the half completing five of his eight passes for 15 yards.
The first two drives for Mizzou saw them score in a combined 3:27. Luther Burden III got the scoring started for the Tigers with a 16-yard touchdown reception after a failed onside kick by the Racers to start the game. Nate Noel made it 14-0 after a 9-yard touchdown run.
The second half wasn’t kind to Murray State either as they only totaled 40 yards over the final two quarters. The best drive the Racers had all game was their second to last of the game. Murray State had an eight play, 28-yard drive that lasted 8:29. Mizzou would run up 31 more points on the Racers before the game ended.
Despite the less than ideal result, head coach Jody Wright was proud of how the team fought over the entire game.
“[Missouri] beat us up and down the field but we did have some fight and some positives we can build off of going forward this season,” Wright said. “I can’t say enough about that locker room right there. They were really positive and we’re going to go back to work next week.”
Wright took all of the blame for Thursday’s loss and said the main positive was how hard his team worked and that they “played till the end.”
Wright, as well as quarterback Jayden Johannsen and graduate linebacker Tyson Meiguez, made it known that they want Racer fans to fill Roy Stewart Stadium for their home opener against Butler on Sept. 7.
“I’m excited to see how Murray shows up and supports this new team,” Johannsen said. “I’m fired up.”
Meiguez said he is excited to see Racer One run around the track. “We’re going to put up some points, for sure,” he said. “He’s going to be running across that track a lot, so I’m really excited for everyone to come out to the stadium and watch us play.”
Wright’s head-coaching debut wasn’t the way he imagined it, but the Racers’ hopes are still very high for the 2024 season. Murray State hosts the Butler Bulldogs on Sept. 7, the first time the two programs have ever played, and Mississippi Valley State on Sept. 14 for Family Weekend.
