MOREHEAD, KY – In game filled with big plays, it was the homestanding Morehead State Eagles who came up with the biggest plays late at Jayne Stadium on Saturday, scoring a pair of touchdowns in the final minutes of the game to rally past Stetson 36-35 in Pioneer Football League play.
 
Stetson falls to 3-6 overall on the year with the loss, 2-5 in PFL play, while Morehead State improved to 6-4 on the season, 5-2 in conference play.
 
In a game that featured six lead changes, there were enough big plays to last an entire season. Stetson had 13 offensive plays of at least 15 yards in the game (seven rushes and six passes) while MSU had 11 plays of 15 yards or better, with 10 of those coming through the air.
 
There were also a combined six interceptions in the game – three by each team – and four turnovers on downs, but it was a play on special teams in the fourth quarter that might well have been the biggest in the game.
 
Stetson had just taken the biggest lead of the day for either team, 35-24, when Jalen Leary raced 47 yards for his third touchdown of the day with just 7:04 left to play. The momentum from that score was erased when MSU's Ian Holder returned the ensuing kickoff 66 yards, falling short of a touchdown return thanks to kicker Cameron Gillis, who made a desperation tackle.
 
Five plays and just a minute and 40 seconds later, the Eagles were in the end zone, cutting the Stetson advantage to 35-30, with still 5:15 left on the clock.
 
The Stetson offense, which had a nine-play scoring drive starting the second half to take the lead and also had a 16-play drive late in the third quarter that covered 94 yards but failed to produce points, needed just one more good possession to put the game away.
 
But the Morehead State defense made a stand. After Leary ripped off a 28-yard run on first down, the Hatters gained just two more yards and were forced to punt. Marshall Golick pinned MSU at its own seven with 2:44 left in the game.
 
MSU quarterback Mark Pappas quickly moved the ball into Stetson territory, hitting his primary target, senior BJ Byrd, for a 44-yard gain on the Eagles' third play. Pappas kept the ball moving, converting third down plays for gains of 13 yards twice to get a first and goal with less than 30 seconds left.
 
After his first down pass lost a yard, Pappas went back to Byrd for the winning score with just 20 seconds left on the clock. The four-yard TD reception was Byrd's 12^th catch of the game, giving him 223 yards and four touchdowns on the day.
 
The Hatters tried to run a hook and lateral play as the game clock expired, but the play was unsuccessful.
 
The two teams combined for 1,030 yards of total offense despite the seven turnovers. There was another 288 combined return yards in the game.
 
Stetson finished with 516 yards of total offense, including 308 yards on the ground with Leary piling up a season-high 159 yards while scoring three touchdowns and quarterback Alex Piccirilli running for 114 yards, his second consecutive 100-yard game. Piccirilli also threw for 208 yards, completing 17-of-33 passes with one touchdown, a 38-yard pass to Quinton Lane, and three interceptions.
 
The combination of Pappas and Byrd led the Morehead State attack. Pappas completed 26-of-54 passes for 395 yards with the four touchdowns, all to Byrd – who set new MSU single-season records for receptions, yards and touchdown receptions during the game.
 
Issiah Aguero led the Eagles' ground game with 74 yards on 17 carries.
 
On defense, Majeste' Hansberry had another strong game, recording 10 tackles to lead Stetson while Jaylon Johnson and Alex Alteus had nine stops each. The Hatters were able to get to Pappas for sacks just twice, but they forced him to fumble on one – forced by Ethan Hull – and intercepted him three times. Fermon Reid, who was injured late in the game, had one of the sacks and recovered the fumble.
 
For the third time in his career, sophomore Rassie Littlejohn had two interceptions in the game. Davion Maxwell had the third Stetson pick.
 
Vincent Winey led the MSU defense with 13 tackles, with 3.5 tackles for loss, including a sack. Cooper Krezek had 12 tackles and Camero Barrett had two of the three interceptions.
 
The Hatters will close out their 2021 season next Saturday at Spec Martin Stadium when San Diego visits. It will be Senior Day for Stetson, with 13 players and two support staff members being recognized for their contributions to the Hatters' program.
 
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.