Game #8 - Morehead State

[VULB#62]

Quite a weekend in the PFL. Morehead escaped Deland, FL with a 29-26 win over Stetson setting the stage for this coming Saturday at Brown Field.

But a couple of the other scores were noteable. USD absolutely killed Jacksonville 63-10 AT Jacksonville and Butler beat Campbell in Indianapolis 37-23.

We should have a rested and, hopefully, fully recovered Jimmy Seewald on Saturday. I did not realize he was nursing both an injured quad as well as his throwing shoulder going into the Marist game. See the Trib link in Brandon's retweet.

[tweet]921118823700422656[/tweet]

[vu72]

Quite a weekend in the PFL. Morehead escaped Deland, FL with a 29-26 win over Stetson setting the stage for this coming Saturday at Brown Field.

But a couple of the other scores were noteable. USD absolutely killed Jacksonville 63-10 AT Jacksonville and Butler beat Campbell in Indianapolis 37-23.

We should have a rested and, hopefully, fully recovered Jimmy Seewald on Saturday. I did not realize he was nursing both an injured quad as well as his throwing shoulder going into the Marist game. See the Trib link in Brandon's retweet.

[tweet]921118823700422656[/tweet]

Butler winning fairly easily over Campbell does not bode well for the Helmet game.  It is also played in  Indy this year.

[VULB#62]

Yep. Butler actually led 37-17 well into the 4th until Campbell scored with 31 seconds left in the game. Glad to see Campbell with a loss so that if USD runs the table Campbell would not be the PFL representative to the FCS playoffs.

But this is the Morehead string, so I'll mention that Morehead had to come from behind at the end to defeat Stetson as the Hatters scored 16 straight points at one point and actually went ahead of the Eagles 26-21 with a little over 3 minutes left in the game. Morehead scored the winning TD with 30 ticks left on the clock.

[JD24]

I didn't think yesterday's results worked "favorably" for Valpo. I thought MSU was a win prior to yesterday. They beat a Stetson team that Valpo was hanging on against themselves.

Butler looks really good at this point. Campbell was not in that game and the score was closer than the game showed.

Dayton's right now a lot closer to Dayton than whoever the team out of Ohio was earlier in the year which lost to the team that is coming to Brown Field this weekend.

Jacksonville might be the best bet for a win but that game is on the road vs a team Valpo surprised last season and beat. They'll be no surprising this upcoming season.

Valpo will have to keep up with MSU on the scoreboard in all likelihood. Lawson Page is mobile and it may be better to sit back and make him throw rather than attacking and allowing him to run around, buy time or extend drives. His arm doesn't appear particularly strong but he's good enough to make the throws necessary to string long drives together. He's not Gahafer but it is the same offense and they went the length of the field to beat Stetson yesterday. That should sound familiar to Valpo fans since MSU has done it to them multiple times recently.

Defensively, MSU couldn't defend a crossing route if their lives depended on it. So the slot guys such as Rene, Navarro and Gessinger should have a busy day.

Bottom line...IMHO...better win Saturday...or it's on to 2018.

[VULB#62]

Being the fair weather fan that I am      and weighing bad weather vs. a 4 ½ hour drive down to Valpo on Saturday, I really am hoping for no rain so that I can attend the game.

[vu72]

I didn't think yesterday's results worked "favorably" for Valpo. I thought MSU was a win prior to yesterday. They beat a Stetson team that Valpo was hanging on against themselves.

If you can figure out Valpo's chances based on other game results then you are much better than most.  Yes, Valpo was "hanging on" to beat Stetson but we handily beat the snot out of Marist who beat Stetson by 21 and only lost to Drake by 5. I would be surprised if Valpo lost any of their remaining games by more than 2 TDs and, I  think we go 2-2 and finish 5-6.

[VULB#62]

That would be nice.

[JD24]

I didn't think yesterday's results worked "favorably" for Valpo. I thought MSU was a win prior to yesterday. They beat a Stetson team that Valpo was hanging on against themselves.

If you can figure out Valpo's chances based on other game results then you are much better than most.  Yes, Valpo was "hanging on" to beat Stetson but we handily beat the snot out of Marist who beat Stetson by 21 and only lost to Drake by 5. I would be surprised if Valpo lost any of their remaining games by more than 2 TDs and, I  think we go 2-2 and finish 5-6.

The Marist game was an anomaly.....for all sides.

[JD24]

Valpo vs MSU preview

http://www.valpoathletics.com/football/news/2017-18/17708/football-back-in-action-hosts-morehead-state-saturday/#.We4aODtrzIU

[VULB#62]

Valpo vs MSU preview

http://www.valpoathletics.com/football/news/2017-18/17708/football-back-in-action-hosts-morehead-state-saturday/#.We4aODtrzIU

For anyone interested in just cutting to the scouting paragraph......

Scouting Morehead State: The Eagles were picked to finish eighth in the PFL Preseason Poll, two spots ahead of the Crusaders. They were ravaged by graduation losses, which included star quarterback Austin Gahafer, wide receivers Jake Raymond and Darius Prichett and kicker Matt Ward. The Eagles are led by head coach Rob Tenyer, who is in his fifth season in charge of the team. Morehead State's three losses in PFL play have all come in lopsided fashion – Campbell (38-0), Butler (44-6) and San Diego (56-27). The Eagles earned one of the most surprising victories in the league this season when they knocked off perennial power Dayton 34-28 in the PFL opener on Sept. 23. Last week, Morehead State rallied from behind late in the fourth quarter to defeat Stetson 29-26. The Eagles are led in the running game by Logan Holbrook, who has 89 carries for 367 yards and five touchdowns. Quarterback Lawson Page is also a threat to run, as he has 218 yards on 66 carries and two scores to go along with 1,815 passing yards (156-241, 15 TD, 7 INT). Page is second in the league in total offense behind only Campbell's Daniel Smith. The team's top receiver is Jarin Higginbotham, who has 35 catches for 638 yards and five TDs. Morehead State has the league's worst scoring defense (41.6 ppg) and total defense (463.0 yards/G). Statistically, the Eagles have the best pass defense (181.6) and the worst rushing defense (281.4) in the PFL. They also lead the league in passing offense at 272.9 yards per game. Morehead State is also far and away the most penalized team in the league (80 for 715 yards) and has been the most susceptible to the opponent converting on third down (46.6 percent).

[valpofb16]

QB   #9 Jimmy Seewald SO. (7/7)   #14 Chris Duncan RSFR. (0/7)   #4 Joe Mullen RSSO. (0/1)   #11 Trey Bilinski (RS)   #13 Ryan Markoff FR. (RS)   
RB   #10 Jarrett Morgan SR. (5/5)   #44 Kyle Cartales SO. (2/7)   #32 Cody Boxrucker SO. (0/6)   #21 Elias Earley RSSO. (0/6)   #15 Doug Haugh FR. (RS)   
FB   #40 Brannen Martin RSFR. (0/6)               
WR   #30 Frank Catrine SR. (7/7)   #2 Griffin Norberg JR. (0/7)   #82 Deuce Larose FR. (0/6)   #85 TJ Weinzimmer FR. (RS)      
WR   #3 Parker Fox RSSO. (7/7)   #12 JD Koehler RSSO. (0/7)   #19 Trey Stablein FR. (RS)   #86 Kevin Wright FR. (RS)      
Slot   #1 Jean Rene JR. (5/5)   #26 Donny Navarro FR. (2/7)   #23 Bailey Gessinger SO. (0/7)   #33 Connor Beer FR. (RS)      
TE   #84 Mason Sutter JR. (7/7)   #16 Ryan Clarke SR. (0/7)   #87 Martin Petruff SO. (0/7)   #31 Alex Kluck FR. (RS)   #80 Brett Bittner FR. (RS)   
OT   #77 Terrence Roberts RSSO. (5/5)   #75 Shannon Taliaferro JR. (1/7)   #71 Bryce Biggs RSFR. (0/2)         
OG   #67 Eric Rentschler JR. (7/7)   #72 Solomon Kamara RSFR. (0/6)   #50 John Horan RSSO. (0/0)   #78 Ronald Williams RSFR. (0/0)      
C   #65 Jack Jarnigan RSSO. (6/6)   #70 Brady Sullivan RSSO. (1/7)   #69 Alex Helander RSSO. (0/0)   #51 Nick Antonacci FR. (RS)      
OG   #73 Tom Schofield JR. (7/7)   #66 Sam Vas FR. (0/6)   #61 Sean Pierce SO. (RS)   #64 Sean Stephens RSFR. (0/0)      
OT   #60 Andrew Lundberg RSSO. (6/6)   #76 Alex Cotton RSSO. (3/7)   #74 James Zajac RSFR. (0/1)   #79 Thomas Walsh FR. (RS)      
NT   #93 James Reed SO. (2/2)   #92 Drew Gedrys FR. (3/7)   #56 Tristan De La Rosa SR. (2/5)   #97 Jeremiah Olojo FR. (0/5)   #58 David Mason FR. (RS)   #90 Isaac Velasco FR. (RS)
DT   #99 Jakob Trumpower RSSO. (7/7)   #91 Jordan Goebel RSFR. (0/7)   #62 Nathan Orlandini FR. (0/5)   #96 Cameron Germain FR. (0/3)   #94 Humza Razzak (0/1)   #42 Jake Iery JR. (RS)
DE   #34 Jay Slone RSSR. (6/7)   #54 Jesse Studyvin JR. (1/2)   #44 Connor Sperling RSFR. (0/1)   #95 Murphy Osmond SO. (RS)      
OLB   #18 Mike Wheeler JR. (7/7)   #33 Gowan Baldwin JR. (0/7)   #35 Gavin Twigg FR. (0/7)   #46 Josh Baker FR. (RS)   #89 Cade Bishop FR. (RS)   
ILB   #24 Drew Snouffer JR. (7/7)   #6 Logan Pfizenmayer (0/7)   #39 Jack Buckey SO. (RS)         
ILB   #49 Nick Turner JR. (7/7)   #47 Matthew Messler RSSO. (0/7)   #43 John Regan SR. (0/5)         
OLB   #36 Austin Petrie SO. (5/6)   #37 Laddie Skarecky FR. (2/7)   #38 Joey Poloskey FR. (0/6)   #30 Cole VanSetters FR. (RS)      
CB   #5 Jalin Leandre JR. (7/7)   #14 Cam Kelly FR. (2/7)   #2 Stacey Jones FR. (RS)         
SS   #4 JJ Nunes RSSR. (6/6)   #20 Jamari Booker SO. (1/7)   #45 David Hebda FR. (0/1)         
FS   #28 Joey Diaz-Martinez (7/7)   #22 Tamone Duncan FR. (0/2)   #7 Brent Brimmage FR. (0/4)         
CB   #17 Brandon Riley SR. (1/1)   #25 Dilan Scargle FR. (4/6)   #41 Henry Hebda FR. (0/5)   #19 Bryce Leach FR. (RS)      
K   #98 Dimitrios Latsonis SO. (0/7)   #98 Jake Simpson RSJR. (0/0)            
P   #88 Alex Ng JR. (0/7)   #13 Kyle Ulbrich FR. (RS)            
LS   #99 Carter Puckett FR. (RS)               

[valpofb16]

Morehead State last game

QB   #1 Lawson Paige RSJR.         
RB   #22 Logan Holbrook RSFR.         
WR   #6 Jalen Washington RSSO.   #4 Landon Hurst RSFR.   #23 Sugar Ray Wyche FR.   
WR   #11 Christian Robinson SR.   #85 Nathan Sames RSJR.      
WR   #13 Jarin Higginbotham RSJR.   #86 De'Vonte Adams FR.      
TE   #44 Jake Southerland SR.   #48 Dalton Frasure RSFR.      
RT   #54 Kris Jones RSJR.         
RG   #64 Cameron Bailey RSFR.         
C   #57 Kyler Corbett RSSR.         
LG   #73 Willie Currie RSSR.         
LT   #55 Liam Maloney RSSR.         
RE   #58 Jamil Butler RSJR.   #42 Jack Mayer RSFR.   #94 Chrinovic Mukulu FR.   
DT   #92 RT Sutherland RSJR.   #96 Travis Jenkins RSJR.   #40 David Devaughn RSSO.   
NT   #93 Patrick Rice RSSO.   #99 Jeff Jones RSSR.   #91 Nick Flores JR.   #90 Hunter Burdino RSFR.
Spur   #7 Juanyea Turner SO.   #47 Kirk Peterson FR.      
LB   #2 Kordell Brown SO.   #34 Cameron Barrett FR.      
LB   #8 Jerome Brooks SO.   #35 Jacob Biller SR.      
CB   #28 Braylyn Cook SR.   #27 Kalen Carson RSFR.      
FS   #31 Star Hutchinson FR.   #25 Eldee Edwards FR.      
BS   #3 Sayid Kanu RSJR.   #24 Tyler Reese FR.      
CB   #39 Brandyn Duncan RSJR.   #21 Chauncey Johns RSJR.      
K   #37 Sam Mcdonogh FR.   #47 Andrew Foster FR.      
LS   #50 Brandon Fields SO.         
P   #88 Bradley Boone RSSO.         
            
FR   17         
SO   8         
JR   11         
SR   9         

[usc4valpo]

Valpo 38, Dick Fick U. 31

[talksalot]

Stetson (2-6,1-4) vs. Morehead State (3-5,2-3)
Date: Oct 21, 2017 • Site: Morehead, Ky. • Stadium: Jayne
Attendance: 8987

Score by Quarters 1234 Total
Stetson 0 10 10 6 26
Morehead State 14 7 0 8 29

Qtr Time Scoring Play V-H
1st 09:54 MOR - SAMES, Nathan 15 yd pass from PAGE, Lawson (MCDONOGH, Sam kick), 5-41 2:44 0 - 7
07:24 MOR - PAGE, Lawson 2 yd run (MCDONOGH, Sam kick), 7-25 2:24 0 - 14
2nd 14:54 STET - Gordon Stetson 9 yd pass from Colin McGovern (Jonny Messina kick), 14-79 7:25 7 - 14
07:53 STET - Jonny Messina 27 yd field goal, 8-45 4:27 10 - 14
01:38 MOR - HURST, Landon 26 yd pass from PAGE, Lawson (MCDONOGH, Sam kick), 8-48 2:58 10 - 21
3rd 12:38 STET - Eddie Curry 31 yd interception return (Jonny Messina kick) 17 - 21
05:18 STET - Jonny Messina 24 yd field goal, 12-55 5:20 20 - 21
4th 03:24 STET - Bryce Blackmon 1 yd run (Colin McGovern pass failed), 7-52 3:09 26 - 21
00:30 MOR - HURST, Landon 15 yd pass from PAGE, Lawson (HIGGINBOTHAM, Jarin pass from PAGE, L.), 11-63 2:50 26 - 29

- 10 Different Morehead receivers had positive yardage in receiptions
- they had 9 TFL's by 7 different players for losses of 22 yards.
- Always critical ... The Hatters won Time of Possession 30:49 to 29:11

[VULB#62]

Stetson (2-6,1-4) vs. Morehead State (3-5,2-3)
Date: Oct 21, 2017 • Site: Morehead, Ky. • Stadium: Jayne
Attendance: 8987

MSU homecoming.  Stadium capacity is 10,000.  I think they use to play OVC football, so that accounts for the stadium size, but they decided to drop the scholarships a while ago.

[covufan]

Continue our winning ways!

Valpo   41
MSU     27

[JD24]

I don't think either defense will be able to stop either offense. I know I won't be comfortable if, with a few minutes to go, Valpo is up a few points and MSU is at their end preparing to start a drive. Coach Moore has had three shots at this scenario and it hasn't worked in Valpo's favor yet.

I'll be optimistic and go with a Valpo 36 - MSU 33 final.

[VULB#62]

That analysis has a lot of merit. But there is one additional variable - Valpo's additional prep time during the bye week. It could give the D a bit more to work with going into the contest. It will, in all likelihood, help the O in finding more ways to score. I'll go with the 36-33 also, but IMO the 33 is the last MSU score as time runs out. Regardless it should be up and down the field most of the day and I am looking forward to being there.

The forecast is supposed to be cloudy with a high of 49 and a 20% chance of a shower or two in the region.

[VULB#62]

Here's the look back and Morehead preview.  Not much detail to chew on, but Dave alludes to the winner coming out of the last two possessions.  Hope it's us.

<iframe width="854" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1X-QcoAWrEI" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[VULB#62]

LATEST PFL NEWS AND NOTES

FEAR THE KICK RETURNERS | The PFL boasts four kick returners that have proven to be dangerous in 2017. Morehead State's Jaunyea Tarver (1st, 895 yards), Valparaiso's Bailey Gessinger (9th, 656), Dayton's Christian Searles (13th, 591), Davidson's Williams Wicks (19th, 493) and Butler's Cam Cooper (29th, 458) are each ranked among the FCS Top 30 in Combined Kick Return Yardage (punt and kick returns).

Based on this, we need to be aware of Tarver's kick return skills.  But those total yards are a bit deceiving.  Morehead's defense has given up 333 points overall and is the worst in the PFL at 192.  All those points given up mean a ton more KO returns over 8 games.

Tarver has 38 KO returns for an average of 23.55 yds/att. and no punt returns.  Bailey, OTOH, has 25 KO returns for an average of 23.64 yds./att. and 9 punt returns for 102 and an 11.3 yds./att average.

Speaking of stats, in conference play, despite getting beaten pretty badly by Drake and Campbell, Valpo's PFL scoring defense is ranked 5th overall after 5 games.  Our PFL scoring offense is 8th, which is a bit surprising in that our program is an O-minded program.

Other noteworthy stats so far:  In a total of 8 games, the O has given up only 5 sacks - good.  Conversely, the D has registered exactly 1 sack - bad.  The D has registered 23 Tackles for Losses (TFL) for 63 yards while our O has given up aproximately double that (40 for 143).  We have 9 picks to our opponents' 10.  Finally, while we have fumbled 5 times but only lost only 2 fumbles; we have forced 10 opponent fumbles and have recovered 5.  We have committed 42 penalties for 399 yards to our opponents 50 for 550. Overall, we have demonstrated the ability to avoid a lot of those costly penalties, fumbles and picks - pretty mistake-free considering that includes the UMT and Duquesne games.

[VUOR63]

I hope the players took care of themselves during the bye week.  I remember back when I played, the bye week was an excuse to drink excessively while attending a Notre Dame game that I don't remember much of...

I'll assume they took care of business and will be well-prepared.  Valpo wins a close one by a field goal.

[vu84v2]

OK, so I turned on the game on ESPN3 briefly and saw something that I have NEVER seen before: a 0-yard punt return for a touchdown. Morehead State had 4th and 9 on their own 2 and was punting. The punter, hurried and punting into a strong wind, hit the punt straight up and it never carried out of the end zone. A Valpo player fell on it for a touchdown. Bizarre.

[JD24]

snoozer so far

[valpofb16]

Let's get Dave his well deserved extension this summer, that way when we only lose 7 seniors this year and take the next step to contention next year, there's a large buy out clause

[VU2014]

The guys look really good! Also love that we can catch these games on ESPN3 now!