In a dominating fashion, the football team picked up their first win of the season on Saturday, Sept. 14, beating Mississippi Valley State 59-8 and securing their first win of the season and coach Jody Wright’s first win as a head coach.
Through the first two games, the Racer offense only scored 17 points, all of which came against Butler on Sept. 7. Things were different against MVSU, as the Racers’ 59 points was the most points scored in a game since 2019, when Murray State scored 50 against Morehead State.
The Racers closed out the first half leading 31-0. Quarterback Jayden Johannsen connected with basketball-turned-football player Justice Hill for a 36-yard touchdown completion. On the ensuing defensive possession, the defense would force a fumble and Tyson Meiguez scooped and scored. Meiguez is the first Racer to score in that manner since 2018. Johannsen would cap off the first half of scoring by rushing into the end zone from five yards out. The touchdown was the 100th touchdown of his collegiate career.
Running back Jawuan Northington scored his second touchdown of the season in the second quarter. Place kicker James London kicked a 54-yard field goal to finish the first half scoring for the Racers. It was his second kick of 50 yards or longer this season.
The Delta Devils found the end zone just before halftime courtesy of a 15-yard touchdown pass from QB Ty’Jarian Williams to wide receiver Kerrick Ross. MVSU scored on the two-point conversion to give them eight points going into the half.
Murray State didn’t let their foot off the gas in the second half. On the first possession of the third quarter, RB Kywon Morgan ran and scored from 45 yards out. On the next Racer drive, Johannsen would connect with Kade Neely for a 38-yard touchdown pass. The reception was Neely’s first collegiate touchdown.
Murray State made changes to the lineup to give players that don’t get much playing time an opportunity and they made the most of it. Transfer QB Jameson Holcomb would find Marcus Floyd Jr. for a 15-yard touchdown, and both of their first touchdowns in college.
The Racers scored the final touchdown of the game courtesy of RB Kevin Emmanuel, who ran into the end zone from five yards out. That touchdown run was also Emmanuel’s first touchdown of his college career.
Wright gave everyone praise in the post-game press conference, from administration to support staff.
“[I] can’t say enough about how proud I am of the guys,” Wright said. “We really challenged them this past week. We felt like there were 99 things we needed to execute in the game last week and we didn’t and we let the game slip away. We knew Mississippi Valley was going to have a lot more talent than even Butler did. We had to play with some smarts, some poise and discipline and I think our guys did that for the most part.”
Murray State’s next game is on Saturday, Sept. 28 as the Racers travel to Grand Forks, North Dakota to play the 10th ranked team on the FCS level, the North Dakota Fighting Hawks.
