HALDEMAN, Ky. (Interstat) — In a stunning reversal of fortune, Thomas Schwartz V drilled a 41-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Morehead State Eagles to a 23-21 victory over the Marist Red Foxes on Saturday at Jayne Stadium, capping a wild fourth-quarter comeback that defied both the game’s momentum and pregame projections.

The Eagles, who were projected as heavy favorites by statistical models, instead found themselves in a desperate fight, needing a last-second heroics to avoid a devastating home loss after surrendering a 13-point second-half lead.

The game was a tale of two halves, dominated early by Morehead State’s methodical offense and late by Marist’s resilient quarterback, Sonny Mannino. The Eagles built their lead with a balanced attack, scoring a touchdown in each of the first three quarters and adding three field goals. The final one, however, was the only one that truly mattered.

Marist’s offense, stymied for much of the first three quarters, erupted for 14 points in the final period to take a late lead. The comeback was spearheaded by Mannino, the 6-foot-4, 235-pound quarterback from Leesburg, Virginia. Mannino was a dual threat, completing 21 of 33 passes for 207 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 49 yards and another score on 17 carries.

His favorite target was Reed Shumpert, who hauled in four catches for 68 yards. The ground game was anchored by Carter James, who rushed for 67 yards and a touchdown and added 32 receiving yards and another score.

Morehead State opened the scoring on its first possession, a 16-play, 61-yard marathon that consumed over 12 minutes of the first quarter and culminated in a 39-yard field goal from Jordan Price. The Eagles extended their lead early in the second quarter when linebacker Isaac Stopke, who was a force on both sides of the ball, plunged into the end zone from a yard out. A 40-yard field goal from Schwartz just before halftime sent the Eagles into the locker room with a 13-0 advantage.

The third quarter saw both teams find the end zone. Morehead State quarterback Carter Cravens connected with Cannon Dinger on a 15-yard touchdown pass, pushing the lead to 20-0 and seemingly putting the game out of reach.

But the Red Foxes finally answered. Mannino engineered a sharp 69-yard drive, capping it with a 12-yard touchdown pass to James with 2:02 left in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to 20-7.

The momentum fully shifted in the fourth quarter. After a fumble recovery by Marist safety Jace Williamson gave the Red Foxes a short field, Mannino willed his team down to the goal line and powered in for a 1-yard touchdown run, making it a one-score game at 20-14 with 5:33 remaining.

Marist’s defense forced a quick punt, and Mannino went back to work. He methodically moved the Red Foxes 58 yards in 10 plays, with James barreling in from a yard out to give Marist its first lead of the game, 21-20, with just 31 seconds left on the clock.

The comeback appeared complete, but a costly penalty on the ensuing kickoff gave Morehead State a crucial advantage. Sidney Webb, who had 120 return yards on the day, returned the kick 45 yards to near midfield, and a Marist personal foul penalty moved the ball to the Marist 24-yard line with 18 seconds to play.

Cravens, the Eagles’ quarterback from Cypress, Texas, calmly completed a 9-yard pass to his top receiver, Ryan Upp, to set up the game-winning attempt. After an incomplete pass stopped the clock with three seconds left, Schwartz trotted onto the field and split the uprights from 41 yards, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

Cravens finished an efficient 11 of 16 for 139 yards and a touchdown, adding 58 rushing yards on nine carries. Upp was his primary weapon, catching eight passes for 109 yards. Stopke was a workhorse out of the backfield, rushing for 88 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries.

The win improves Morehead State’s record to 2-5 overall, while Marist falls to an even 3-3. The Eagles will look to build on the dramatic victory when they travel to face Valparaiso next Saturday. The Red Foxes, left to ponder a heartbreaking loss, return home to host Drake.