Murray State’s 100th home opener was on Sept. 6 and the Racers looked to bounce back with a win against the Butler Bulldogs after a rough loss in week one..
A new policy allowing alcoholic beverages to be sold at games created a buzz as fans made their way into the stadium. Something that has never been done before at Murray State gave fans an additional reason to support the Racers this fall.
As is tradition before the game, Racer One—whose real name is Vegas— took his first lap around the track. As Racer One was taking the first turn, jockey Madison Presley fell onto the track behind the south end zone. Racer One proceeded to run the final stretch of the track while the handlers attempted to get him back to the grazing area. Presley was placed on a stretcher and gave the “Shoes Up” sign to the crowd to a great ovation. Racer One did not run the rest of the game. Some fans said that could be a bad omen for how the game was going to go.
Butler started the contest with the ball and would drive down the field, but would have to settle for a 22-yard field goal to start the scoring and take 3-0 lead. The first quarter would see both the Racers and the Bulldogs trade 3-and-out’s for the rest of the quarter.
Murray State broke into the scoring column in the second quarter. Running back Jawuan Northington would get into the end zone from five yards out to give the Racers their first touchdown of the 2024 season. James London would convert the PAT to make the score 7-3 Murray State.
The lead was being held well by the Racers and looked as if they would carry it into halftime until a penalty was called against them. After Reagan Andrew completed a 40-yard pass to Ethan Loss with no time left in the half, the Racers were called for roughing the passer. That allowed Butler to have a free play with no time on the clock. Nick Howard would rush in for a 1-yard touchdown and Butler would take a 10-7 lead going into halftime.
The third quarter was quiet until just under 10 minutes when Racer quarterback Jayden Johannsen left the pocket and ran for 64 yards down to the Butler 3-yard line. Kywon Morgan would cap off the drive with a touchdown run, giving the Racers the lead back 14-10.
Murray State took the four-point lead into the fourth quarter as they looked to hold on for their first win of the year, but Butler wouldn’t go away. With just over nine minutes left, Nick Howard rushed for his second touchdown of the game and gave the Bulldogs the 16-14 lead. Kicker Ryan Short missed the PAT that would’ve made it a 3-point lead.
The ensuing Murray State drive got them into scoring range, but it wouldn’t be easy. The Racers sent out James London to face a 51-yard field goal attempt to potentially give Murray State the lead back. London drilled the kick with 2:41 left to give the Racers a 17-16 lead. Now it was all up to the Murray State defense to hang on to the lead.
Try as they might, Murray State couldn’t slow down the Butler offense. The Bulldogs got a chance to win the game, but it would fall on the shoulders of Ryan Short, who missed a PAT earlier in the game. A 22-yard field goal attempt is all that stood between Butler and their first win of the season, and they drilled it.
The Racers had one chance to win the game with two seconds left, but they failed. Johannsen’s pass to J’Kalon Carter was incomplete and the Racers would lose in devastating fashion.
Murray State’s next game is at Roy Stewart Stadium against the Delta Devils of Mississippi Valley State as part of Family Weekend on Saturday, Sept. 14.
