The 2019 football season will come to a close for the Stetson Hatters on Saturday in Morehead, Ky., when the Hatters square off against Morehead State in Pioneer Football League action.
 
The game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start from Jayne Stadium and will be available on ESPN+ with Tanner Hesterberg, Jim Tom Trent and Tom Lewis on the call. Stetson fans can also tune into the Stetson Hatters radio network to head the game with Kenny Schierlinger and former Hatters' standout Davion Belk calling the action.
 
Stetson (6-4, 3-4) comes into the game looking for a second consecutive victory over MSU and to prevent a three-game losing skid to end the season. A victory would also guarantee the Hatters a spot in the top half of the final standings of the PFL for a second straight season.
 
Morehead State (5-6, 3-4) is looking to close with six wins in a season for just the second time since 2008 and also to jump ahead of Stetson in the final PFL standings.
 
Like the Hatters, who have lost three of their last four games after opening the season with a 5-1 record in the first half of the year, Morehead State has struggled of late. The Eagles have dropped three of the last four, including losses to Drake, Dayton and San Diego. The only win during that stretch came at Valparaiso.
 
While the overall series between the teams is tied 2-2, Stetson will be trying to get its first road win in the series. The weather will likely have an impact on the game as the forecast calls for a game-time temperature of 47 degrees and a 90 percent chance of rain.
 
The weather will likely put an emphasis on the running game for both teams. The Hatters will continue to lean heavily on freshman Jalen Leary to carry the load with sophomore Jareem Westcott not expected to play.
 
Leary, a semifinalist for the FCS Jerry Rice Award as the top freshman player in all FCS football, is within easy striking distance of a number of milestones. He needs just six yards to surpass the modern Stetson record for rushing yards in a season, set by Cole Mazza in 2014. He also needs 84 rushing yards to become the first Stetson runner in the modern era with 1,000 rush yards in a season. He is also 44 all-purpose yards away from 1,000 for the year.
 
Redshirt junior Chase Blackmon who, like Leary, is averaging 5.7 yards per carry this year, will join Leary in the backfield. Quarterbacks Gaven DeFilippo (386 yards) and Alex Piccirilli (197) also give the Hatters extra running threats.
 
Junior Issiah Aguero, a transfer from Palomar College in California, leads Morehead State this year with 835 total rush yards while averaging 6.0 yards per carry. He is one of 13 Eagles players who has had a rush attempt this year, which combines with the 23 different players who have recorded at least one pass reception for MSU this year.
 
The Eagles use two quarterbacks with regularity, but have had five different players complete passes. Sophomore Mark Pappas is the primary thrower with junior DeAndre Clayton more of a runner, with more rush attempts than pass attempts.
 
Junior Landon Hurst is the primary receiver, having recorded 53 receptions for 642 yards and six touchdowns this year.
 
On the defensive side of the ball, the Eagles are aggressive with their pass rush, leading the PFL with 18 sacks. Kansas transfer Vaughn Taylor leads the way with 5.5 sacks among his 16.5 tackles for loss, both of which are best in the PFL.
 
MSU has also recorded 11 interceptions, recovered 10 fumbles and blocked four kicks this year.
 
Stetson comes into the game minus four in turnovers this year, not counting the three kicks the Hatters have had blocked. One of those was a punt last week against Davidson that was blocked and returned for a touchdown.
 
Series History

• The series between Stetson and Morehead State dates back to 1953 when the Hatters hosted the Eagles and posted a 41-0 victory.
• The programs did not meet again until the 2014 season when Morehead State took a 41-18 victory on its home field thanks to the arm of Eagles QB Austin Gahafer, who threw for 314 yards and four touchdowns.
• The programs did not play again until 2017 when the Hatters dropped a three-point decision, 29-26, at Jayne Stadium when MSU scored the winning touchdown with just 30 seconds left to play.
• The Hatters got their first win over MSU in the modern era last year with a 48-24 victory thanks to the passing of Colin McGovern (398 yards, 4 TD) and receiving of Donald Parham (9-187-2) and Steven Burdette (4-109-1).

 
Stetson Notes

• The Hatters come into the season finale averaging 32.1 points per game for the year, but just 14.5 points per game over the last four weeks. MSU is averaging 29.9 points per game, but the Eagles are allowing 34.9 points per outing.
• Expect to see some young players who either haven't played this year, or have played very little, get playing time in the game. Young players on the trip include linebacker Jordan Williams, tight end Dominic Carlucci, receiver Mason Proch and defensive end Hunter Smallback. A total of 16 true freshmen are on the 58-man travel squad for the game.
• Seniors who will be playing their final game for the Hatters on Saturday include: defensive backs Jalon Scott, Peter Katz and Reggie Gantt, linebackers Colby Duncan, Jamieson Craske and Tarren Smith, quarterback Gavin DeFilippo, tight ends Max Draper and Tony Gilotti and receiver Austin Perlman.
• Freshman Jaylon Johnson broke the Stetson season record for kickoff return yards with his five returns for 140 yards against Davidson. He now has 650 KO return yards this season, which is already good for second on the Stetson career list behind the 931 yards in returns by Ja'Vonta Swinton from 2014-17.
• Johnson also owns the season record for punt return yards with 132 and trails only JJ Henderson (159) on the Hatters career list.
• In addition to Leary's statistical quest, there are several other milestones to watch for during the game this week.
  • QB Gaven DeFilippo needs seven rush yards for 500 in his career, needs 240 passing yards for 3,500 in his career, is two TD passes away from 30 in his career and also needs 248 yards of total offense for 4,000 in his career. DeFilippo is also 21 completions shy of 200 for the season and 185 passing yards away from 2,000 for the year.
  • Kicker Jonny Messina needs two points to break the Stetson season scoring record. He needs three PATs to tie his own season mark from last year and he is seven points shy of 200 for his career.

 
About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program has a vision of developing a culture of champions athletically, academically and within the community. This vision is accomplished through a mission of recruiting and developing student-athletes, coaches and staff, creating a culture of champions, within and outside of competition. The department operates with five core values: Championship Culture, Integrity, Excellence, Pride/Tradition and Leadership. To learn more about the Vision, Mission and Core Values for Stetson Athletics, visit GoHatters.com and click on Mission Statement under the Inside Athletics tab.