CLINTON, S.C. (Interstat) — The Presbyterian Blue Hose, fueled by a dominant first-half performance and a relentless ground attack, remained undefeated Saturday by overwhelming the Morehead State Eagles 41-0 in a nonconference football game at Bailey Memorial Stadium.

Presbyterian, now 4-0, needed just over two quarters to put the game out of reach, scoring on five of its first six possessions while its defense completely stifled the Eagles’ offense. Morehead State, which entered the game with a 2-1 record, fell to 2-2 and was shut out for the first time this season.

The game was a stark contrast to the pregame projections. Interstat’s game simulator had forecast a nail-biter, predicting a 37-36 victory for Presbyterian, while its ELO system gave the Blue Hose a 64.40 percent chance to win. Instead, the contest was a lopsided affair from the opening drive.

Presbyterian set the tone immediately. On the Eagles’ first offensive play from scrimmage, Blue Hose defensive back Caleb Francis of Jacksonville, Florida, intercepted Morehead State quarterback Carter Cravens, giving Presbyterian the ball at the Morehead State 40-yard line. Six plays later, quarterback Collin Hurst connected with running back Zach Switzer on a 1-yard touchdown pass to open the scoring.

The Blue Hose defense forced a quick punt on the ensuing drive, and Hurst went back to work. The junior from Davie, Florida, engineered another efficient drive, capping it with a 10-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Dominic Kibby of Catonsville, Maryland, to extend the lead to 14-0 with 11:37 still remaining in the first quarter.

The second quarter was more of the same, with Presbyterian’s offense exploding for 21 points. Running back Justin Montgomery of Davie, Florida, broke free for a 14-yard touchdown run early in the period. The highlight of the half, however, belonged to Switzer. After a Morehead State punt, Switzer took a handoff and raced 66 yards for a touchdown, showcasing the big-play ability that would define the day for the Blue Hose backfield.

Just before halftime, Switzer struck again, this time on a 79-yard scoring run that put an exclamation point on a dominant first half and sent the Blue Hose into the locker room with a 35-0 lead. Switzer finished the game with 158 rushing yards on just six carries, averaging a staggering 26.3 yards per attempt, and scored two touchdowns. Montgomery complemented him with 106 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries.

Hurst was efficient in managing the offense, completing 11 of 17 passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns before giving way to reserves in the second half. He also added a 12-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter for the game’s final points.

The story of the game was equally about the Presbyterian defense. The unit harassed Morehead State’s quarterbacks all afternoon, recording multiple sacks and forcing three interceptions. In addition to Francis’ early pick, defensive back Will Ferrell of Homestead, Florida, grabbed an interception just before halftime, and Francis secured his second interception of the game in the fourth quarter to snuff out Morehead State’s deepest drive of the day.

The Eagles’ offense, led primarily by Cravens and later by backup Bryce Patterson, could never find a rhythm. Cravens, from Cypress, Texas, completed 10 of 24 passes for 120 yards and was intercepted twice. The Eagles’ rushing attack was held to just 95 yards on 41 carries, a 2.3-yard average. Their best opportunity came late in the third quarter and spilled into the fourth, as Patterson led a 14-play drive that reached the Presbyterian 1-yard line. But on first-and-goal, Patterson’s pass was intercepted in the end zone by Francis for a touchback, preserving the shutout.

Patterson, from Versailles, Kentucky, provided a brief spark for Morehead State, completing 5 of 9 passes for 34 yards and rushing for 37 yards on three carries, but it was not enough to overcome the early deficit. Wide receiver Anthony Ice of Parkersburg, West Virginia, was a bright spot, catching three passes for 68 yards.

Presbyterian’s special teams also contributed, with BJ Atkins of Greenville, South Carolina, returning a punt 56 yards to set up a scoring opportunity.

The victory keeps Presbyterian perfect as it looks ahead to Pioneer Football League play. The Blue Hose travel to face Butler on Oct. 11. Morehead State, meanwhile, will attempt to rebound next Saturday when it returns home to open its PFL schedule against Dayton.

The result solidifies Presbyterian’s strong start to the 2025 season, which includes close road wins over Mercer and Furman, and demonstrates a potent offensive capability that far exceeded expectations in this contest. For Morehead State, the loss highlights areas for improvement, particularly on offense, as it enters the heart of its conference schedule.