Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
4-2 , 2-1
Western Kentucky University (ESPN3)
4-3 , 2-1
Team Stats
WKU 0, MT 3
MT - ROOKER, Canon 36 yd field goal 8 plays, 54 yards, TOP 3:28
WKU 3, MT 3
WKU - SIMCOX, Skyler 42 yd field goal 7 plays, 51 yards, TOP 3:55
WKU 3, MT 10
MT - MATHERS, I. 2 yd run (ROOKER, Canon kick), 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 4:01
WKU 10, MT 10
WKU - WALES, Anthony 1 yd run (SIMCOX, Skyler kick), 12 plays, 60 yards, TOP 5:18
WKU 10, MT 13
MT - ROOKER, Canon 41 yd field goal 11 plays, 51 yards, TOP 3:53
WKU 17, MT 13
WKU - TAYLOR, Taywan 45 yd pass from WHITE, Mike (SIMCOX, Skyler kick) 6 plays, 72 yards, TOP 2:31
WKU 17, MT 20
MT - JAMES, Richie 28 yd pass from STOCKSTILL, B. (ROOKER, Canon kick) 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 1:15
WKU 20, MT 20
WKU - SIMCOX, Skyler 52 yd field goal 4 plays, 0 yards, TOP 0:31
WKU 27, MT 20
WKU - JOHNSON, S. 4 yd pass from WHITE, Mike (SIMCOX, Skyler kick) 9 plays, 86 yards, TOP 3:32
WKU 27, MT 27
MT - JAMES, Richie 38 yd pass from STOCKSTILL, B. (ROOKER, Canon kick) 12 plays, 96 yards, TOP 4:48
WKU 27, MT 30
MT - ROOKER, Canon 25 yd field goal 9 plays, 60 yards, TOP 4:11
WKU 30, MT 30
WKU - SIMCOX, Skyler 18 yd field goal 10 plays, 77 yards, TOP 1:26
WKU 37, MT 30
WKU - WALES, Anthony 25 yd run (SIMCOX, Skyler kick), 1 plays, 25 yards, TOP 0:00
WKU 37, MT 37
MT - MATHERS, I. 3 yd run (ROOKER, Canon kick), 3 plays, 25 yards, TOP 0:00
WKU 37, MT 43
MT - ANDREWS, Dennis 5 yd pass from STOCKSTILL, B. (ROOKER, Canon kickblocked) 6 plays, 25 yards, TOP 0:00
WKU 44, MT 43
WKU - WALES, Anthony 1 yd run (SIMCOX, Skyler kick), 6 plays, 25 yards, TOP 0:00
Players Mentioned
Big offensive day not enough for Blue Raiders
10/15/2016 6:20:00 PM | Football
MT falls to WKU in 2 OTs
The teams came into the game among Conference USA's best in several offensive categories. The Blue Raiders (4-2, 2-1) were ranked second in total offense at 528.4 yards per game while the Hilltoppers (4-3, 2-1) were ranked fourth at 458.3.
Both offenses showed why they are ranked so high, combining for 1,126 total yards (605 for MT, 521 for WKU) in the game.
It was a botched special teams play, though, that gave the Hilltoppers a 44-43 win in double overtime.
The Blue Raiders had just scored a 5-yard touchdown on a reception by redshirt senior Dennis Andrews in the second overtime, and on redshirt junior Canon Rooker's kick attempt the Hilltoppers came up with a block. They then scored and made their extra point to win the game.
"It sucks, I mean we played a great game on offense, defense and special teams," Rooker said. "For the outcome to be like that, it really hurts. Honestly, I did what I do every single time. I thought I made good contact on the ball; the guy just made a great play. You just have to forget about it … that kick has nothing to do with next week."
The overtime game was a snapshot of how close the rivalry has been historically. Middle Tennessee now leads the all-time series 34-31-1, and three of the last five meetings have gone to overtime.
"You look at all of Conference USA, all games are going to be close," MT head coach Rick Stockstill said. "There were two evenly matched teams today, and when you have that it's going to be a close game."
It was no secret going into the game what both offenses wanted to do. They went into the game ranked second and third in C-USA in passing offense, and neither air attack disappointed.
The top two receivers for each team – MT redshirt sophomore Richie James and WKU's Taywan Taylor – showed why their team's passing attacks are so dangerous. James broke his own school record with 16 receptions for 223 yards and two touchdowns, while Taylor had 12 catches for 197 yards and one score.
"There were a lot of special players and plays out there. It was just a good football game," Rick Stockstill said.
The quarterbacks for both teams also proved why they are two of the best in the conference. Redshirt sophomore Brent Stockstill completed 42-of-54 passes for 434 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, while WKU redshirt junior Mike White had 391 yards on 29-of-40 passing with two touchdowns and one pick.
Middle Tennessee stayed true to its balanced offensive attack with redshirt senior I'Tavius Mathers. He continued his terrific senior campaign with 143 yards rushing and two touchdowns against a WKU defense that came into the game giving up a Conference USA best 102.8 yards per game.
"It was just doing little things right," the Murfreesboro native said. "The offensive line's blocking was able to let me run."
Even though they weren't able to get the homecoming victory, the season isn't over for Middle Tennessee.
"At the end of the day, we're good," James said. "We can obviously improve, we have a long way to go. We have Missouri next week; we just have to play the next game."
Coach Stockstill said though they weren't able to pull out the win, the loss doesn't change the goals they want to reach this season. At 2-1 in the conference, the Blue Raiders are still in the thick of the East Division race.
"I'm extremely, extremely proud of our team, extremely proud of how hard they competed, how hard they played. They left everything out on that field," he said.
"The thing we have to understand and realize is all of our goals are still out there. We can still attain and achieve the goals that we wanted. This one hurts today, but man up and come back and get ready to go tomorrow. It was a heck of a game."
Middle Tennessee will attempt to overcome the tough loss before travelling to take on Missouri next week.
MIDDLE TENNESSEE POSTGAME NOTES
CAPTAINS: Today's game captains were QB Brent Stockstill, DE Chris Hale and PK Canon Rooker.
FOUR IN A ROW: Running back I'Tavius Mathers recorded his fourth straight 100-yard rushing game against WKU. Mathers rushed for 143 yards and now has a team-leading 725 yards on the season to keep him on pace for 1,000.
JAMES RECORD DAY: Sophomore Richie James turned in a record-setting performance today against WKU. James broke his own school record of 14 receptions with 16 against the Hilltoppers to go with a career-high 223 receiving yards. He is just the second player in school history to have 200 or more receiving yards in a game.
LONG DRIVE: Middle Tennessee put together a season-long 96-yard scoring drive in the third quarter. It goes down as the 21st scoring drive of 90 or more yards under Rick Stockstill and the second this season.
No. 12: Quarterback Brent Stockstill recorded his 12th career 300-yard passing game today against WKU. Stockstill, who has now had 300 or more yards nine times in his last 12 outings, had 434 yards on 42 of 54 throwing. The 12 300-yard games is a Middle Tennessee career record.
JAMES TOPS 100: Sophomore receiver Richie James registered his eighth career 100-yard receiving game when he hauled in 16 passes for 223 yards against WKU. It was his third of the year and second in a row. James' eight 100-yard games ranks third all-time at Middle Tennessee and he needs two more to tie Kerry Wright for second. The all-time record is 14 by Kendall Newson.
STOCKSTILL PASSES DASHER: With 42 completions today against WKU, sophomore Brent Stockstill moved into fourth place on Middle Tennessee's all-time list. Stockstill surpassed Dwight Dasher who had 470 completions from 2007-10 and Kelly Holcomb who had 501 completions from 1991-94. Stockstill now has 508 career completions.
QUICK HITTERS: PK Canon Rooker has now hit seveN straight field goals … Brent Stockstill has now thrown at least one TD in 12 straight games … DT Shaquille Huff started his team-leading 31st straight game today … Steven Rhodes, Shaquille Huff, and Hunter Rogers all played in their team-leading 44th career game today … Max Linder made his first career reception today against WKU … MT is now 5-4 in overtime games since becoming an FBS member in 1999.
