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Mark Lister makes a point Saturday (Examiner.com/Brockman)
COOKEVILLE, TENN. - An onside kick may have told the story of more than a play and more than a game Saturday for the Murray State Racers against Tennessee Tech.
Hoping to add to momentum after tieing the game at 7-7 late in the first quarter, the Racers gambled with an onside kick.
Murray was in position, the ball bounced into a no-man's land on the Tucker Stadium turf and two MSU players had a shot at the ball. But slippery fingers and a bad bounce gave Tech the ball when it scooted out of bounds.
So went Saturday. So did a disappointing 2009 season that ended with a 45-14 loss to Tennessee Tech. Murray State finished 3-8 on the year and fired coach Matt Griffin on Monday.
"We just bobbled the ball and two guys were just standing there. It was going slow motion in my mind," defensive coordinator Mark Lister, who was acting head coach for the Racers on Saturday, said.
"Those types of things that happened all year. We've had opportunities to change the momentum and change the direction of games, and we just didn't close on those opportunities."
Casey Brockman throws downfield Saturday in Cookeville (Examiner.com/Brockman)
Murray State also had two drives deep into Tech territory in the first half that stalled when they couldn't convert on third downs. The Racers were just 3 of 9 on third down and lost the time of possesion battle to Tech 35:02 to 24:58.
Tech opened the game with a 10-play, 65 yard drive that Henry Sailes finished with a five-yard TD run. But Murray answered with a nice 9-play, 80-yard drive that Charlie Jordan finished with a nine-yard TD run to tie the game at 7-7.
After the onside kick failed, Tech made short work, scoring in 2:23 to go up 14-7. Murray then moved to the Tech 36, but had a pass dropped on third down and then failed to convert on fourth. Tech added another TD score before the half and then scored three TDs in the third quarter.
Murray also lost linebacker Tamar Butler for most of the second half and Lister said the Racers were banged up and forced to play undermanned.
Tech rolled up 441 yards in total offense. The Golden Eagles finished the season at 6-5, their first winning mark since 2004.
Charlie Jordan rushed for 90 yards and a score in his final game as a Racer. Freshman quarterback Casey Brockman was 12 of 22 for 122 yards with a TD. He hit Marcus Harris six times for 61 yards and also hit his brother Tyler Brockman for two completions - which is believed to be the first time in Murray State football history that a quarterback completed a pass to his brother.
Murray State will now move into a transition period as a new head coach will be named.
"There are some really good football players here and hopefully this thing can get back on the right track," Lister said. "And I know that these guys are going to contribute to the next championship that is won here. I have no doubt about that."
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