Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Glenville State
Racer 1 gets a real workout in 56-3 win over Glenville State
8/28/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
"When I came to Murray, I wanted to see that horse run around the track," said junior running back Nick Turner, talking about the tradition of Murray State's mascot, Racer 1, running around the track after every Racer score. Turner bolstered his wish with two touchdowns, including a 65-yard punt return for a score, and was one of two Racers to rush for more than 100 yards in tonight's 56-3 win over visiting Glenville State.
Turner had 13 rushes for 106 yards and a touchdown, two receptions for 43 yards, six punt returns for 102 yards and a TD and one kickoff return for 27 yards. Total effort: 278 yards, more than two-thirds the distance around the track.
Junior running back Ron Lane added 105 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries, gaining the longest run from scrimmage in the game with a 33-yarder in the third quarter.
Turner and Lane became the first MSU tandem to run for 100 yards since Oct. 9, 1999, when Justin Bivins and Shadrach Jackson ran for 116 and 105 yards, respectively, in a 62-14 win over Tennessee-Martin.
Murray State amassed 604 yards against Glenville State, the most for the Racers since its 800-yard effort in a 62-40 win over Tennessee State on Nov. 11, 2000. The 56 points is the most for Murray State since that game as well.
Murray State (1-0) got on the scoreboard on its third possession of the game, when a 38-yard Turner pass reception brought the Racers from their own 30 to the Pioneers' 32-yard line. Four plays later, junior quarterback Adam Fisher found junior tight end Jimmy St. Louis on a 12-yard pass that brought MSU to the 1-yard line. Sophomore running back Chad Cook ran it in for the score. Freshman kicker Morgan Riley's point-after kick gave Murray State a 7-0 lead with 4:45 left in the first quarter.
After Glenville's ensuing possession, Turner took a Pioneer punt from the MSU 35 and ran it all the way home on a 65-yard return. Riley's kick made the score 14-0 with 4:03 left in the first quarter.
On the Racers' next possession, Turner made a 28-yard scamper into the endzone for another score. Riley's kick made it 21-0 with 14:08 left in the second quarter.
Later in the second quarter, Turner ran a punt return 52 yards for an apparent touchdown, but it was called back when MSU was whistled for an illegal block. On the following drive, a 17-yard pass from Fisher to junior wide receiver DeSean Hammons set up a 17-yard TD run by Lane. Riley's kick made the score 28-0 with 5:11 left in the period, and remained there through the end of the half.
On the Racers' second possession of the second half, Lane took another long run through the Glenville State defense, trucking 33 yards for a TD. Riley's kick made the score 35-0 with 6:43 left in the third quarter.
A 27-yard run by Cook set up a two-yard TD run by junior running back Ulysses Odoms. Riley's PAT kick made the score 42-0 with 1:27 left in the third quarter.
Odoms wasn't through with his scoring runs yet, as he took a 12-yard scoring run into the endzone on the Racers' first possession of the fourth quarter. Sophomore kicker Gary Crass's kick made the score 49-0 with 12:06 left in the game.
Glenville State (0-1) halted the shutout bid with a 36-yard field goal by Chris Owens put the Pioneers on the scoreboard 49-3 with 8:25 remaining.
On Murray State's next drive, freshman quarterback Ryne Salyer completed three passes for 70 yards, finding freshman wide receiver Lee McGinnis on a 23-yard TD strike to cap the drive. Crass's kick ended the scoring a 56-3 with 6:10 left in the game.
Turner led all rushers with 106 yards. Lane added 105, while Cook had 90 and Odoms had 53.
"We know that at any time, whoever is hot, Coach P is going to go with," said Turner, a transfer from Mississippi State. "(All four running backs) are different. When 'Tank' (Cook) runs, there is a whole lot of bruising going on. Ron, Ulysses and myself all have different things that we're good at."
For Glenville State, Damon McDowell had 30 yards on nine carries, while Arthur Bryant had 28 yards.
Turner led eight MSU receivers with 43 yards through the air. Junior wide receiver Erin Milton had 40 yards, while freshman tight end Ben Rush had 39, St. Louis had 38 and Hammons had 34.
For the Pioneers, Antonio Carter had 70 yards in receptions, while Tavon McGee had 52.
At quarterback, Fisher completed 11 of 20 pass attempts for 155 yards. Salyer was 3-for-3 for 70 yards and a TD, while freshman quarterback Geoffrey Nixon was 2-for-4 for six yards.
"There is no pressure on me," said Fisher. "The pressure is on all of us to go out and perform. As far as our passing game tonight, we can do much better, and we should show improvement next week."
Pre-season All-American Joey Conrad was 9-for-35 for 64 yards, while Jared Stephens was 5-for-9 for 72 yards.
"I'm proud of the way our kids played tonight," said MSU head coach Joe Pannunzio. "I think we have some excitement on our offense, but I wasn't pleased with the way we threw the ball, and 11 penalties is way too much.
"We're not a one-guy team; we made that mistake last season. When you win like we did tonight, you have to be happy. We have to develop chemistry. Teams that have that win championships, even the ones who may not be as talented as ours.
"Obviously, Nick is an explosive back," he said, "but the best thing tonight was seeing Nick watch the horse (Racer 1). I'm sure the horse liked watching him, too!"
Murray State visits I-A opponent Connecticut on Saturday at 11 a.m. Central Time. The game is the season-opener for the Huskies.
