Pappas, Aguero propel Morehead State past Presbyterian 38-30

Updated Oct. 9, 2021 6:18 p.m. ET
Associated Press

CLINTON, S.C. (AP) — Mark Pappas passed for 313 yards and two touchdowns and Issiah Aguero ran for 113 yards and two scores to propel Morehead State to a 38-30 victory over Presbyterian in Pioneer Football League action on Saturday.

Morehead State (3-2, 2-0) jumped out to a 17-0 first-quarter lead on Andrew Foster's 33-yard field goal and 1-yard TD runs by Earl Stoudemire and Aguero. After Presbyterian (2-3, 0-2) scored on Ren Hefley's 20-yard TD toss to Jalen Jones, Pappas answered with an 11-yard scoring strike to Matt DeBlaiso and the Eagles took a 24-6 lead into halftime.

Hefley's 17-yard TD throw to Jalyn Witcher and his 2-point conversion pass to Jones was the only scoring in the third quarter and pulled the Blue Hose within 24-14. Pappas and Thomas Campbell-Clay hooked up for a 6-yard TD to push the Eagles' lead back to 17 just 6 seconds into the final quarter. Hefley and Witcher connected for a 92-yard scoring strike and Delvecchio Powell II ran it in for two points to make it 31-22 with 6:14 left to play. Aguero put the finishing touches on Morehead State's victory with a 1-yard TD run with 3:31 remaining. Hefley tossed a 34-yard TD pass to Mack Simmons and Powell ran it in for two points with 1:07 left to cap the scoring.

Hefley, a University of Michigan transfer, set PFL and Blue Hose records with 50 completions in 80 attempts. He passed for 539 yards but threw three interceptions. Hefley had a FCS-record 10 touchdown passes in his first start for Presbyterian. Only Jeremy Moses of Stephen F Austin threw more passes (85 against Sam Houston State in 2008) in an FCS game. Hefley's 50 completions is tied for third all-time in FCS play.

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Pappas completed 26 of 46 passes for 313 yards with one interception for the Eagles. Eleven different players caught passes from Pappas.

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