Racers match South Dakota in first half, but fall 48-20 at Homecoming

A fast start was not enough for the Murray State Racers to hold off the No. 9 South Dakota Coyotes on Homecoming at Roy Stewart Stadium.

Despite outgaining the Coyotes 351-327, the Racers fell 48-20 on a day that saw three different Racers haul in passing touchdowns, the most pass TDs in a game for the Racers since 2024.

The Racer defense opened the game with a bang when Dylan Rowsey hauled in his first interception of the season on the opening drive. The offense followed with an 8-play, 80-yard drive that ended with an 11-yard pass from Baxter Wright to Dimitri Howard for an early 7-0 lead.

After South Dakota took a 14-7 lead, the Racers tied the game with another long drive with just 2:14 left in the first half. The Racers went on an 8-play, 75-yard drive, highlighted by a 45-yard carry by Dimitri Howard. Baxter Wright capped off the drive with his second touchdown pass of the first half, hitting Malachi Williams and tying the game 14-14.

The Racers didn't score again until the fourth quarter. Taking over for an injured Baxter Wright, Collin Shannon drove the Racers 71 yards in 10 plays and hit Trey Firestone from 20 yards out to cut the deficit to 41-20. 

The Racers ended the game with 351 total yards, including 206 yards through the air and 145 on the ground. Starting quarterback Wright went 10-of-17 for 56 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Shannon went 10-of-17 for 150 yards and a touchdown. Wright led the team with 59 rushing yards on 8 carries, while Howard added 54 yards on 4 carries. Jaxon Potter led the team with 69 receiving yards on 6 catches, while Howard, Firestone and Williams each had a touchdown catch.

Rett Hemphill led the Racers defense with a career-high 18 tackles. Rowsey, Ryan McCall and Klayton Ingram each had 8 tackles.

Austyn Modrzewski threw three touchdown passes and added a rushing touchdown for South Dakota (6-2, 3-1 Missouri Valley Football Conference).

The Racers have lost four in a row. Murray State plays next Saturday at South Dakota State.


(Photo: David Eaton/MSU Athletics)