Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Saturday, October 22
Columbia, MO
3:00 PM
Middle Tennessee
5-2
51
at
45
University of Missouri (SECN)
2-5
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Middle Tennessee
13
21
7
10
51
Missouri
14
14
7
10
45
Team Stats
MT
MU
Total Yards
595
629
Pass Yards
284
281
Rushing Yards
311
348
Penalty Yards
65
114
1st Downs
27
36
3rd Downs
6
5
4th Downs
1
3
TOP
32:14
27:46
1st Quarter
MT 7, MU 0
MT - ANDREWS, Dennis 15 yd pass from STOCKSTILL, B. (ROOKER, Canon kick) 5 plays, 84 yards, TOP 1:55
MT 10, MU 0
MT - ROOKER, Canon 39 yd field goal 4 plays, 4 yards, TOP 1:34
MT 10, MU 7
MU - Crockett, D 4 yd run (McCann, Tucker kick), 9 plays, 79 yards, TOP 2:24
MT 13, MU 7
MT - ROOKER, Canon 28 yd field goal 10 plays, 64 yards, TOP 2:45
MT 13, MU 14
MU - Blanton, K 15 yd pass from Lock, Drew (McCann, Tucker kick) 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 1:49
2nd Quarter
MT 13, MU 21
MU - Crockett, D 4 yd run (McCann, Tucker kick), 8 plays, 53 yards, TOP 2:13
MT 20, MU 21
MT - MATHERS, I. 71 yd run (ROOKER, Canon kick), 2 plays, 75 yards, TOP 0:27
MT 27, MU 21
MT - JAMES, Richie 56 yd pass from STOCKSTILL, B. (ROOKER, Canon kick) 8 plays, 80 yards, TOP 3:13
MT 27, MU 28
MU - Crockett, D 2 yd run (McCann, Tucker kick), 9 plays, 72 yards, TOP 2:51
MT 34, MU 28
MT - JAMES, Richie 7 yd run (ROOKER, Canon kick), 1 plays, 7 yards, TOP 0:08
3rd Quarter
MT 34, MU 35
MU - Crockett, D 21 yd run (McCann, Tucker kick), 5 plays, 61 yards, TOP 1:03
MT 41, MU 35
MT - MATHERS, I. 4 yd pass from STOCKSTILL, B. (ROOKER, Canon kick) 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:10
4th Quarter
MT 41, MU 38
MU - McCann, Tucker 21 yd field goal 13 plays, 66 yards, TOP 4:15
MT 48, MU 38
MT - ANDREWS, Dennis 5 yd pass from STOCKSTILL, B. (ROOKER, Canon kick) 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 3:43
MT 48, MU 45
MU - Wingo, Ray 17 yd pass from Lock, Drew (McCann, Tucker kick) 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 1:47
MT 51, MU 45
MT - ROOKER, Canon 21 yd field goal 5 plays, 72 yards, TOP 2:27
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
1
TD
0
YDS
4
INT
0
Players Mentioned
WR
/ Football
DT
/ FootballWR
/ Football
RB
/ Football
DT
/ Football
LB
/ Football
S
/ Football
DE
/ Football
OL
/ Football
PK
/ Football
OL
/ Football
QB
/ FootballBlue Raiders impressive in SEC road win at Missouri
10/22/2016 7:49:00 PM | Football
MT secures 51-45 victory
Game Book
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Middle Tennessee showed great resiliency and received strong play in all three phases of the game to secure a 51-45 road win against SEC foe Missouri Saturday.
The Blue Raiders (5-2) piled up 584 yards total offense to notch just their fourth win vs. a SEC foe in 26 tries.
It was a sterling performance all around. Middle Tennessee's offense was very efficient and balanced. The defense gave up some yards but came up with the crucial stops necessary to secure victory. The Blue-clad stop squad came away with two turnovers leading to 10 Middle Tennessee points, and kicker Canon Rooker nailed three field goals in the win.
Senior tailback I'Tavius Mathers continued to run roughshod. He had 215 yards on 28 carries, including a 71-yard touchdown. It marked the fifth straight 100-yard game for Mathers, who also had eight receptions for 48 yards and a score.
Quarterback Brent Stockstill was his usual solid self, completing 23 passes for 280 yards and touchdown passes of 15-, 56-, 4-, and 5-yards in the win. Stockstill also rushed for 70 yards on seven carries as the Blue Raiders churned out 300 yards rushing.
Receiver Richie James had stellar game with 129 yards on five catches. He had two touchdowns, one rushing and one receiving.
Defensively, Alex Dale was a beast. Dale had a career-high 18 tackles, 13 solo, and a forced fumble. Chris Melton had 14 tackles and DJ Sanders finished with 11 total tackles, one forced fumble, one pass break-up and one-half sack.
Middle Tennessee scored on its first three drives to set a strong tone offensively.
After the Blue Raider defense came up with a big stop on Missouri's opening drive, Stockstill used his legs to set Middle Tennessee up in scoring position. Stockstill ran for a career-long 63-yard run to put the Blue Raiders in the "Blue Zone." Stockstill capped the drive with a 15-yard pass to Dennis Andrews to take the Blue Raiders to a 7-0 lead with 11:00 remaining in the first quarter.
Chris Melton came away with a fumble recovery on Missouri's second drive, and Middle Tennessee capitalized when Canon Rooker delivered his eighth consecutive field goal with a 39-yard effort to put the Blue Raiders on top 10-0.
Missouri answered to pull to within 10-7 on its next drive, but Rooker came back with a 28-yard field goal to cap a 10-play, 64 yard drive and provide a 13-7 Blue Raider lead.
After Missouri scored on consecutive touchdown drives to go on top 21-13, Mathers got loose along the Blue Raider sideline and motored 71 yards for his 11th rushing touchdown of the season to pull Middle Tennessee to within 21-20 with 12:20 remaining in the first half.
Just when it appeared Missouri was on the verge of extending the lead, the Blue Raider defense came up huge with its second forced turnover. Linebacker DJ Sanders forced a fumble following a reception inside the MT 20, and Darryl Randolph recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchback.
For the second time, Middle Tennessee converted the turnover into points when Stockstill rifled a pass to James, who split three defenders, pivoted at the 30 and raced 56 yards to paydirt to give the Blue Raiders a 27-21 lead with 6:59 remaining in the first half.
Missouri answered to regain the lead, 28-27, but the Blue Raider defense strung together consecutive three-and-outs and Middle Tennessee caught a break when Missouri was called for a procedure penalty following a punt at the end of the second three-and-out.
Middle Tennessee opted to have Missouri punt again. A bad snap on the second attempt set Middle Tennessee up at the Tiger 7. James scored on a reverse to turn the miscue into immediate points and a 34-28 lead, which stood at the half.
Missouri scored on its opening drive to go up 35-34. Just when it appeared a Blue Raider drive had stalled and they would have to go for a field goal, the Tigers were called for a facemask against Stockstill, resulting in moving the ball half the distance to the goal and an automatic first down. One play later Stockstill connected with Mathers for his third TD pass of the game to push the Blue Raiders ahead 41-35 with 11:17 remaining in the third stanza.
Middle Tennessee's defense held Missouri to a field goal as the Tigers sliced the lead to three, 41-38, at the start of the fourth quarter, but the Blue Raiders came back and equaled their largest lead when Stockstill connected with Andrews for a 5-yard touchdown pass. The fourth touchdown pass of the game for Stockstill staked Middle Tennessee to a 48-38 lead with 10:31 remaining.
Missouri stormed back on its next drive and scored a touchdown to close to within 48-45 midway through the fourth quarter.
Middle Tennessee answered with a 21-yard Rooker field goal to push the lead to six, 51-45, with 6:17 remaining to set the stage for the final stretch.
The Blue Raider defense came up big and forced a three-and-out to give the ball back to the offense, protecting a six-point lead. It came up with a final stop as the Blue Raiders notched the big road win.
MT POSTGAME NOTES
CAPTAINS: Today's game captains were OL Daniel Stephens, DL Jimal McBride and WR Richie James.
TOUGH TO GET: Today's win vs. Missouri is Middle Tennessee fourth win against a SEC team in 26 tries and the first against a team other than Vanderbilt. The Blue Raider also have noteworthy wins against Maryland (twice) and Georgia Tech during Head Coach Rick Stockstill's tenure.
JAMES PASSES WRIGHT: Sophomore Richie James hauled in five passes against Missouri to surpass former great Kerry Wright for third on the all-time receptions list. James now has 170 career catches and now chases Tyrone Calico (194 receptions) for second place.
JAMES OVERTAKES MOSTILLER: WR Richie James, one of just five players in school history to amass over 2,000 receiving yards, had 129 yards at Missouri to move past Demetric Mostiller for fourth place. James now has 2,251 and will try to run down Kerry Wright for third place (2,589).
STOCKSTILL PASSES COUNTS: With four touchdowns against Missouri, QB Brent Stockstill moved into second place on the all-time passing touchdowns list at MT. Stockstill, who passed Wes Counts, now has 52 career touchdown passes and needs just two more to break the all-time mark held by Logan Kilgore (53).
DALE SETS PERSONAL MARK: Safety Alex Dale set a new career-high in tackles in Middle Tennessee's game at Missouri. The junior recorded a personal-best 18 tackles to better his previous mark of nine set against Bowling Green earlier this season.
5 IN A ROW: With 215 rushing yards against Missouri, I'Tavius Mathers recorded his fifth straight game with 100 or more yards. The five straight games equals the second longest streak in school history and the record is seven by Vince Hall (1983).
CAREER DAY FOR I-TRAIN: Senior I'Tavius Mathers, who has five straight 100-yard rushing games, set a new career-high against Missouri Saturday. Mathers rushed for 215 yards on 28 carries to better his previous mark of 163 yards set against Louisiana Tech earlier this season. For the year, Mathers now has 940 yards rushing and needs just 60 more to become the first running back at MT to top 1,000 yards since Dwone Hicks in 2002.
JAMES TOPS 100: For the fourth time this season, sophomore Richie James went over the 100-yard mark in receiving. James finished with 129 yards on five grabs to record his ninth one all-time to rank third all-time and just one behind Kerry Wright for second.
QUICK HITTERS: Brent Stockstill had a career long 63-yard run in the first quarter which was the longest for the team all season at the time … I'Tavius Mathers had a 71-yard TD run in the second quarter which was the longest run by a Blue Raider since Reggie Whatley went 75 yards against FAU on Nov. 22, 2014 … Brent Stockstill has now thrown at least one TD in 13 straight games … DT Shaquille Huff started his team-leading 32nd straight game today … Steven Rhodes, Shaquille Huff, and Hunter Rogers all played in their team-leading 45th career game today … MT scored a TD on its opening drive for just the second time this season and first since the opening game against Alabama A&M … Mathers had a career-high eight receptions today
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Middle Tennessee showed great resiliency and received strong play in all three phases of the game to secure a 51-45 road win against SEC foe Missouri Saturday.
The Blue Raiders (5-2) piled up 584 yards total offense to notch just their fourth win vs. a SEC foe in 26 tries.
It was a sterling performance all around. Middle Tennessee's offense was very efficient and balanced. The defense gave up some yards but came up with the crucial stops necessary to secure victory. The Blue-clad stop squad came away with two turnovers leading to 10 Middle Tennessee points, and kicker Canon Rooker nailed three field goals in the win.
Senior tailback I'Tavius Mathers continued to run roughshod. He had 215 yards on 28 carries, including a 71-yard touchdown. It marked the fifth straight 100-yard game for Mathers, who also had eight receptions for 48 yards and a score.
Quarterback Brent Stockstill was his usual solid self, completing 23 passes for 280 yards and touchdown passes of 15-, 56-, 4-, and 5-yards in the win. Stockstill also rushed for 70 yards on seven carries as the Blue Raiders churned out 300 yards rushing.
Receiver Richie James had stellar game with 129 yards on five catches. He had two touchdowns, one rushing and one receiving.
Defensively, Alex Dale was a beast. Dale had a career-high 18 tackles, 13 solo, and a forced fumble. Chris Melton had 14 tackles and DJ Sanders finished with 11 total tackles, one forced fumble, one pass break-up and one-half sack.
Middle Tennessee scored on its first three drives to set a strong tone offensively.
After the Blue Raider defense came up with a big stop on Missouri's opening drive, Stockstill used his legs to set Middle Tennessee up in scoring position. Stockstill ran for a career-long 63-yard run to put the Blue Raiders in the "Blue Zone." Stockstill capped the drive with a 15-yard pass to Dennis Andrews to take the Blue Raiders to a 7-0 lead with 11:00 remaining in the first quarter.
Chris Melton came away with a fumble recovery on Missouri's second drive, and Middle Tennessee capitalized when Canon Rooker delivered his eighth consecutive field goal with a 39-yard effort to put the Blue Raiders on top 10-0.
Missouri answered to pull to within 10-7 on its next drive, but Rooker came back with a 28-yard field goal to cap a 10-play, 64 yard drive and provide a 13-7 Blue Raider lead.
After Missouri scored on consecutive touchdown drives to go on top 21-13, Mathers got loose along the Blue Raider sideline and motored 71 yards for his 11th rushing touchdown of the season to pull Middle Tennessee to within 21-20 with 12:20 remaining in the first half.
Just when it appeared Missouri was on the verge of extending the lead, the Blue Raider defense came up huge with its second forced turnover. Linebacker DJ Sanders forced a fumble following a reception inside the MT 20, and Darryl Randolph recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchback.
For the second time, Middle Tennessee converted the turnover into points when Stockstill rifled a pass to James, who split three defenders, pivoted at the 30 and raced 56 yards to paydirt to give the Blue Raiders a 27-21 lead with 6:59 remaining in the first half.
Missouri answered to regain the lead, 28-27, but the Blue Raider defense strung together consecutive three-and-outs and Middle Tennessee caught a break when Missouri was called for a procedure penalty following a punt at the end of the second three-and-out.
Middle Tennessee opted to have Missouri punt again. A bad snap on the second attempt set Middle Tennessee up at the Tiger 7. James scored on a reverse to turn the miscue into immediate points and a 34-28 lead, which stood at the half.
Missouri scored on its opening drive to go up 35-34. Just when it appeared a Blue Raider drive had stalled and they would have to go for a field goal, the Tigers were called for a facemask against Stockstill, resulting in moving the ball half the distance to the goal and an automatic first down. One play later Stockstill connected with Mathers for his third TD pass of the game to push the Blue Raiders ahead 41-35 with 11:17 remaining in the third stanza.
Middle Tennessee's defense held Missouri to a field goal as the Tigers sliced the lead to three, 41-38, at the start of the fourth quarter, but the Blue Raiders came back and equaled their largest lead when Stockstill connected with Andrews for a 5-yard touchdown pass. The fourth touchdown pass of the game for Stockstill staked Middle Tennessee to a 48-38 lead with 10:31 remaining.
Missouri stormed back on its next drive and scored a touchdown to close to within 48-45 midway through the fourth quarter.
Middle Tennessee answered with a 21-yard Rooker field goal to push the lead to six, 51-45, with 6:17 remaining to set the stage for the final stretch.
The Blue Raider defense came up big and forced a three-and-out to give the ball back to the offense, protecting a six-point lead. It came up with a final stop as the Blue Raiders notched the big road win.
MT POSTGAME NOTES
CAPTAINS: Today's game captains were OL Daniel Stephens, DL Jimal McBride and WR Richie James.
TOUGH TO GET: Today's win vs. Missouri is Middle Tennessee fourth win against a SEC team in 26 tries and the first against a team other than Vanderbilt. The Blue Raider also have noteworthy wins against Maryland (twice) and Georgia Tech during Head Coach Rick Stockstill's tenure.
JAMES PASSES WRIGHT: Sophomore Richie James hauled in five passes against Missouri to surpass former great Kerry Wright for third on the all-time receptions list. James now has 170 career catches and now chases Tyrone Calico (194 receptions) for second place.
JAMES OVERTAKES MOSTILLER: WR Richie James, one of just five players in school history to amass over 2,000 receiving yards, had 129 yards at Missouri to move past Demetric Mostiller for fourth place. James now has 2,251 and will try to run down Kerry Wright for third place (2,589).
STOCKSTILL PASSES COUNTS: With four touchdowns against Missouri, QB Brent Stockstill moved into second place on the all-time passing touchdowns list at MT. Stockstill, who passed Wes Counts, now has 52 career touchdown passes and needs just two more to break the all-time mark held by Logan Kilgore (53).
DALE SETS PERSONAL MARK: Safety Alex Dale set a new career-high in tackles in Middle Tennessee's game at Missouri. The junior recorded a personal-best 18 tackles to better his previous mark of nine set against Bowling Green earlier this season.
5 IN A ROW: With 215 rushing yards against Missouri, I'Tavius Mathers recorded his fifth straight game with 100 or more yards. The five straight games equals the second longest streak in school history and the record is seven by Vince Hall (1983).
CAREER DAY FOR I-TRAIN: Senior I'Tavius Mathers, who has five straight 100-yard rushing games, set a new career-high against Missouri Saturday. Mathers rushed for 215 yards on 28 carries to better his previous mark of 163 yards set against Louisiana Tech earlier this season. For the year, Mathers now has 940 yards rushing and needs just 60 more to become the first running back at MT to top 1,000 yards since Dwone Hicks in 2002.
JAMES TOPS 100: For the fourth time this season, sophomore Richie James went over the 100-yard mark in receiving. James finished with 129 yards on five grabs to record his ninth one all-time to rank third all-time and just one behind Kerry Wright for second.
QUICK HITTERS: Brent Stockstill had a career long 63-yard run in the first quarter which was the longest for the team all season at the time … I'Tavius Mathers had a 71-yard TD run in the second quarter which was the longest run by a Blue Raider since Reggie Whatley went 75 yards against FAU on Nov. 22, 2014 … Brent Stockstill has now thrown at least one TD in 13 straight games … DT Shaquille Huff started his team-leading 32nd straight game today … Steven Rhodes, Shaquille Huff, and Hunter Rogers all played in their team-leading 45th career game today … MT scored a TD on its opening drive for just the second time this season and first since the opening game against Alabama A&M … Mathers had a career-high eight receptions today
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Derek Mason LIVE: Presented by The Boulevard Bar & Grille Week 4 (Video)
Monday, September 15
MTSU Football Weekly Press Conference 9/15/25
Monday, September 15
MTSU Football at Nevada highlights – 9/13/25
Sunday, September 14
