One of the most difficult things for any team to do is put an emotional game – win or loss – out of mind and return to business just days later. Such is the task at hand for the Stetson football team this week.

The Hatters, who have won three straight games to improve to 5-5 overall and 3-3 in Pioneer Football League play, will have to put the emotions of last Saturday's 22-14 homecoming victory over Marist behind them and focus on the task at hand when they travel to face Morehead State on Saturday.

Kickoff for the game is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Jayne Stadium in Morehead, Kentucky. It will be Senior Day and Armed Services Day for the Eagles (3-7, 2-5), who come in with second best offensive unit, behind only Jacksonville, in the PFL.

Fans can listen to the game through the Stetson Radio Network with Matt Musgrove and Steve Ostermann on the call. Video streaming of the game will also be available through the Ohio Valley Conference Digital Network.

Hatters coach Roger Hughes said he has been pleased by his squad's ability to get back to business after three consecutive come-from-behind wins.

“The approach has been a lot more business-like this week,” Hughes said. “Last week, we felt a lot of emotion. I am hoping that is a sign of maturity, but I am also hoping that we have enough emotion in the tank, because we have used a lot of emotion in these last three games.”

Watching film of the Eagles' offensive attack, one that is averaging 442.4 yards and 29.7 points per game, should have been enough to get the Hatters focused on the task at hand.

“Offensively, they have a very athletic, very mobile quarterback, much like we have, and they do a great job with their scheme of getting the ball out onto the perimeter where there athletes can do something with it,” Hughes said. “They spread you out, they run the ball effectively, they do a great job of blocking on the perimeter and they score a ton of points.”

MSU is led by sophomore quarterback Austin Gahafer, and the squadron of talented receivers he has at his disposal. Gahafer has thrown for almost 2,400 yards and 18 touchdowns this season and leads the league in pass completions, attempts and completion percentage and has seven receivers averaging 10 yards per catch or better.

The Eagles offense causes problems for opposing defenses because they get the ball out of the hands of the quarterback, and into the hands of their playmakers, very quickly.

“One of the things about their offense is that they don't allow you to blitz,” Hughes said. “The ball is gone so quickly that you can't get there if you do blitz. So, you have to stay out on the perimeter and hope they make a mistake. You have to have people in the second and third levels to make tackles. We have to be able to tackle well this week.”

Tackling is something the Hatters have done a much better job of lately. In particular, dawg safety Donald Payne and defensive end Davion Belk have been playing particularly well. Payne, who leads the PFL and is second in the nation, has recorded 93 tackles in just the last four games.

Belk leads the PFL in both tackles for loss and sacks. Both will be challenged this week.

“It is really just an outside running game where you are tossing the ball outside to keep it away from the Davion Belks or even the Donald Paynes,” Hughes said. “I am sure they will do some things this week to make sure the ball goes away from number 7. I think his ability to get around the ball will be tested this week.

“They do a good job of spreading the ball around and of getting the ball to where you can't use the strength of your defense. You have to be great tacklers on the perimeter and you have to rally to the ball.”

For the Hatters to record a fourth consecutive victory, the pressure will be on the Stetson offense to score points and keep the ball away from the Morehead State offense.

“Obviously, you want to be efficient in your scoring and for us, it is crucial to make sure we keep their offense off the field,” Hughes said. “I don't think we necessarily have to score points every time, although we do have to score more than they do. We have to make sure we don't give them short fields, that when we have the ball we keep it for a sustained amount of time. You don't want to get into a track meet with them.”

For the Hatters, having quarterback Ryan Tentler getting closer to being healthy than he has been in weeks, along with the return of running back A.J. Washington to compliment the efforts of Cole Mazza, gives Stetson more options on the offensive end.

Tentler has rushed for 124 yards in the last three games while throwing for 599 with five touchdowns and three interceptions while Mazza has rushed for 289 yards and six scores. Much of that production has come after the Hatters have spotted their opponents an early lead.

“What we have to do is not allow ourselves to get dug into a hole too far,” Hughes said. “That is what has happened in previous games. While it has taken us a little while to get going offensively, our defense has been in great position to hold us in the game until we could figure things out. We need to have a fast start, offensively, and we need to make sure that our defense keeps us within striking range as the game goes on.”

One part of Saturday's game that will have an impact on both teams is the weather. While the forecast is dry, the high temperature is only supposed to reach the upper 30s.

“As long as the place is dry, it won't affect it much,” Hughes said. “I think it is going to be cold and I think the wind will be blowing, and that could be a factor in the game. You just have to go in there and adjust, block it all out of your mind and understand that you are playing for each other. The cause is greater than the elements we will face.”

Hughes said his three points of emphasis for the team this week start with the same place they always start – turnovers.

“We have to find a way to strip the ball and create turnovers,” Hughes said. “They don't find ways to beat themselves, so the key to it for us is picking our spots. We have to make him think we are doing one thing, and then do another.

“The second was to be where your feet are. The past is the past. You can't look forward to what might happen, you have to be here right now. The last thing will be to be fast and physical. We have to play fast and physical, especially on the perimeter against this offense that can run up and down the field and score a ton of points.”