Senior quarterback Austin Gahafer threw for 258 yards and three touchdowns as Morehead State football rolled past Linoln (Pa.) during family weekend, 56-6, Saturday at Jayne Stadium.
With the win, the Eagles improved their record to 1-2 on the young season.
"I'm really pleased to win the way we did tonight," said head coach Rob Tenyer. "I thought we were playing a really physical brand of football, which I'm most proud of. Overall, I think we were just in better position to make plays on both sides of the ball. We're being tough, and I really like that about our team."
Freshman tailback Trevor Jones got the scoring started midway through the first quarter when he returned a punt 39 yards for the touchdown. The punt return touchdown marked the first for Morehead State since 2005.
At the end of the first quarter, sophomore running back Ryan Watkins rushed in from a yard out for the first of his two rushing touchdowns. Gahafer then threw two touchdown passes in the final two minutes of the first half, the first a 21-yard strike to freshman wideout Jalen Elliott and the second a 49-yard pass to senior slot receiver Jake Raymond as time ran out. Raymond got free and dashed down the home sideline before slipping into the end zone as the half expired.
Gahafer later found junior tight end Joby Embrey from four yards out with 3:23 to go in the third, giving the Eagles a 42-6 lead.
Overall, seven different Eagles scored touchdowns, including sophomore quarterback Lawson Page, who rushed it in from six yards out for his first career score in the fourth quarter.
Lincoln's lone scoring drive came after a fumble on a long pass play set up a first-and-goal situation at the one-yard line for the Lions. Three plays later, Stephen Scott scored from a yard out to put the visitors on the board.
Gahafer completed 22-of-35 passes for 258 yards en route to tying current Morehead State quarterback coach Zach Lewis' school career record of 1,499 pass attempts.
The Eagles finished with 514 total yards and 28 first downs, compared to the Lions' 119 total yards and six first downs.
"Defensively, we did a really nice job up front, and our backers were playing down hill. It's just toughness and being stingy," said Tenyer. "We didn't have a lot of sacks, but we were getting pressure, even on quick throws, and I really like to see that as well."
Senior tailback Adarius Barnett led the rushing attack with a career-high 83 yards on just 10 attempts - all in the second half. Watkins finished with 66 yards, and junior running back Lawrence Jones added 66. Raymond caught five balls for 68 yards, and junior wideout Christian Robinson had five catches for 71 yards.
Defensively, the Eagles recorded three sacks as freshman lineman Patrick Rice and senior lineman Dustin Casey had a sack each. Senior safety Dominic Iori also finished with an interception.
Next week, Morehead State opens PFL play at Drake on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. ET.
