Murray State University Athletics

The Murray State Racers dropped a 31-14 final to the Northern Iowa Panthers at the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls.

The Racers (0-10) fell to 0-6 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference as they come home next Saturday (Nov. 15) to host North Dakota at 11 a.m. in Roy Stewart Stadium in Murray, Kentucky. Senior Day will be observed on the final home game of the 2025 season.

On a day when starting quarterback Jim Ogle was out with injury, freshmen quarterbacks Caleb Bailey and Baxter Wright took control of the MSU offense.

After falling behind in the first quarter, Bailey hit Darius Cannon on a crossing route that went 54 yards for the Racers' first score of the day and a tie score 7-7 with 12:52 before half.

Late in the second quarter, the Racers were down again by one score and backed up to their own 1-yard line, but went 99 yards in 13 plays to tie it 14-14 with 3:30 before half on a 12-yard touchdown scamper by Jawaun Northington.

Coming out of halftime and a 14-14 game, the Racers couldn't restart their offense and suffered a second half shutout.

GAME NOTES

Murray State captains today were (26) Rett Hemphill (Fr., Jefferson, Ga.), (45) Klayton Ingram (Fr., Carthage, Texas) and (71) Cameron Stancil (Jr., Madison, Miss.).

The Panthers won the coin toss and deferred possession to the beginning of the second half.

Baxter Wright made his first Racer start at quarterback when Jim Ogle was unable to go because of an injury.

Wright hit completions on his first eight passes and finished with 8-of-9 passing for 46 yards.

Bailey had the hotter hand and ended up throwing for 113 yards on 5-of-12 passing with one touchdown and interception.

Bailey also ran for 96 yards on 21 carries, tops on the day for the Racers.

Jawaun Northington ran 10 times for 80 yards and one touchdown.

Darius Cannon caught four passes for 77 yards and one touchdown.

Dylan Rowsey and Conlee Crosno each had 11 tackles to lead the Racers.

Rowsey has 122 tackles and is the MVFC leader with two games to play.

In terms of single-season tackles at MSU, Rowsey's 122 is close to breaking into the top-10 of 131 by Danny Amato (1988), Alfred Caldwell (1974), Sam Tandy (1969).

MSU's late second quarter 99-yard/13-play drive was their best of the season.

MSU's 197 yard rushing today is their season-high for 2025 as they topped the 178 yards last week vs Southern Illinois.

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