Morehead State Defeats Marist With Late Touchdown

By Mike Ferraro

POUGHKEEPSIE – The Marist football team was defeated by Morehead State, 27-24, in a Pioneer Football League game at Tenney Stadium on Saturday.

Mark Pappas’ 25-yard touchdown pass to Matt Guilfoil with 1:02 remaining proved to be the game-winning score. There were six lead changes.

Morehead State scored on its opening drive, which was punctuated by a one-yard touchdown run by Issiah Aguero. The PAT was blocked by Marist’s Jacob Abill.

On the ensuing drive, Austin Day scrambled to his left and took off down the sideline for a 32-yard touchdown run. Marist led 7-6 after the first quarter.

Luke Paladino’s 39-yard field goal put the Red Foxes up 10-6 early in the second quarter.
Pappas’ 25-yard touchdown pass to BJ Byrd with 53 seconds left in the first half put the

Eagles back in front. They took a 13-10 lead to the locker room.

On the opening drive of the third quarter, Day connected with Dwayne Menders for a 25-yard touchdown pass, as Marist went up 17-13.

Pappas’ 18-yard touchdown pass to Matt DeBlaiso gave Morehead State a 20-17 edge with 12:29 to go.

Mekhai Johnson’s one-yard plunge Marist back the lead to 24-20 with 4:41 to go.

Morehead State’s ensuing drive, which culminated in the Pappas-Guilfoil touchdown, was 12 plays and 76 yards. The Eagles converted a 4th-and-10 on the drive.

Marist did not convert a first down on its final drive.

Marist is now 3-3 overall and 3-1 in the PFL.

Marist travels to Minnesota for its meeting with St. Thomas in program history on Saturday, Oct. 30