Marist University Athletics

POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – The Marist football team (4-6 overall, 3-4 Pioneer Football League) wrapped up its home schedule and celebrated Senior Day with a thrilling 38-31 win over Morehead State (3-7, 2-5) on Saturday afternoon at Tenney Stadium.

Summary
The Eagles opened the scoring on an 11-yard touchdown run by Arien Beasley with 7:04 left in the first quarter. Roughly four minutes later, the Red Foxes got on the board with a 32-yard field goal by red-shirt junior Joe Giglio but Morehead State answered with a 61-yard touchdown pass from Lawson Page to Sugar Ray Wyche Jr.
 
Marist took their ensuing possession 79 yards on three plays that was capped off by a two-yard touchdown run by red-shirt senior Marcellus Calhoun. At the end of the first quarter, the score was 14-10 in favor of the Eagles.


Less than a minute into the second quarter, Calhoun picked up his second touchdown of the afternoon, this time from one yard out and the Red Foxes held their first lead at 17-14. Morehead State answered on their ensuing drive with a nine-play, 68-yard drive that culminated in a 24 yard field goal by Sam McDonough to even the score at 17-17.


The Eagles took their opening drive of the third quarter 58 yards on seven plays that was capped off by a 12-yard touchdown pass from Page to Jarin Higginbottom to regain the lead, 24-17. Marist answered on its very next drive when red-shirt junior Mike White found senior Lawrence Dickens in the back of the end zone to even the score at 24 all. The score remained tied until Morehead State again found the end zone on a Page one-yard touchdown rush with 24 seconds left in the quarter to take a 31-24 lead into the final 15 minutes.


The Red Foxes tied it up when White found junior Juston Christian for a 45-yard touchdown pass down the right sideline with 8:29 left in the game. Following a forced fumble and recovery by red-shirt junior Willie Barrett, Marist took the lead on a 20-yard touchdown pass from White to Dickens to give Marist a 38-31 lead. With 1:13 to play, Barrett recovered his second fumble of the quarter after a sack by red-shirt sophomore nose tackle Eddie Zinn-Turner to seal the victory.


Key Stats

• There were 976 yards of total offense in the game (504 for Marist, 472 for Morehead State).
• Marist ran for 189 yards on 43 carries. Morehead State ran for 45 yards on 37 carries.
• Barrett finished with seven tackles, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, two-and-a-half tackles for loss, half-a-sack, and a pass break-up.
• White threw for 315 yards and three touchdowns.
• Calhoun racked up 150 yards of total offense (93 with two touchdowns rushing, 57 receiving).
• Christian led the Red Foxes with 141 yards receiving.
• Morehead State had 26 first downs, while Marist finished with 25
• Marist forced four turnovers, and was plus-2 in turnover ratio.

 
Notes

• Christian has had at least 100 receiving yards in 12 of his 30 career games.
• White now has nine career 300-yard passing games.
• This is the first time the road team has won in five tries in the Marist-Morehead State series.
• The last four Marist-Morehead State meetings have been decided by a total of 22 points.

 
Quote of the Day
"Very happy for the seniors to send them out with a victory on Senior Day," head coach Jim Parady said. "I give our guys a lot of credit. We were down a bunch of times and we could've quit, especially with what we've been going through the last few weeks, and they did not. They showed a lot of grit as they continued to go ahead and battle, and I'm very proud of them."


Up Next
The Red Foxes head west for their season finale at PFL champion San Diego on Saturday, Nov. 18 at 5 p.m.