Raiders to open C-USA schedule Saturday

Saturday, September 24

6:00 PM

Middle Tennessee

Louisiana Tech (ASN)

Tickets

9/23/2016 7:00:00 AM | Football

Big challenge awaits with LA Tech

By: @MTAthletics

MURFREESBORO – Middle Tennessee returns to Murfreesboro for its second home game of the season to face league foe Louisiana Tech. It marks the C-USA opener for both teams and the Bulldogs' first visit to Floyd Stadium since 2000.

A big day is in store for all as it will be the annual Hall of Fame weekend with the induction ceremony taking place at 3:30 PM at the Hall of Fame lawn. It will also be the traditional Blackout game and halftime will feature the Freshman Walk, the Band of Blue and then a fireworks show.

Kickoff is set for 6:06 PM and the game will be televised on the American Sports Network.

The Bulldogs lead the overall series, 4-1.

MT COACHING STAFF WILL BE WEARING SIDELINE PATCHES TO SUPPORT THE COACH TO CURE MD PROGRAM

For the ninth year in a row, college football coaches nationwide will join together in support of the Coach to Cure MD program, which will be held during games this Saturday. The annual effort has raised more than a $1.2 million dollars to battle Duchenne muscular dystrophy (Duchenne).

American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) members will wear a Coach To Cure MD logo patch on the sidelines and college football fans will be asked to donate to research projects supported by Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD), the largest, most comprehensive nonprofit organization in the U.S. focused entirely on Duchenne.

Football fans can help support the fight to end Duchenne by either going online to www.CoachtoCureMD.org or by texting the word CURE to 90999 (a $5 donation will automatically be added to your next phone bill).

TV LISTINGS
Comcast Nashville: 14/1014 & 228
Direct TV: 640
Dish: 432
AT&T U-Verse: 1030
Campus: 58.2

GAME INFORMATION
(FULL GAME NOTES)

(GAMEDAY CENTRAL)

Hashtag: #BeatLATECH, #BlueRaiders
Twitter: MT_FB
Instagram: @MTAthletics
Facebook: Blue Raider Athletics

Game Captains: OL Maurquice Shakir, DL Shaquille Huff, P Matt Bonadies.

Date: Saturday, Sept. 24
Time: 6:06 PM
Teams: Middle Tennessee (2-1) vs Louisiana Tech (1-2)
Location: Murfreesboro, TN
Stadium: Floyd Stadium (30,788)
Raider Walk: 3:45 PM
Gates Open: 4:30 PM
Weather Forecast: Sunny and 93 degrees
TV: ASN
Radio: WMOT-FM (89.5), WGNS (1450 AM/100.5 FM/101.9 FM), Game 2 (102.5/94.9/95.1)
Play-by-Play: Chip Walters
Analysis: Wes Counts

Live Streaming | Live Stats | Live Audio

SERIES HISTORY
Overall: LT leads 4-1
At Middle Tennessee: 1-1
At Ruston: LT leads 3-0
At Neutral Site: 0-0
Rick Stockstill vs LA Tech: 0-1
Skip Holtz vs MT: 1-0
Last MT Win: 2000 (49-21 in Murfreesboro)
Last LT Win: 2015 (45-16 in Ruston)

QUICK HITTERS

The 2016 season is the 102nd for Blue Raider football and the 18th at the FBS level.
A win over LA Tech would make the Blue Raiders 3-1 for this first time since 2013 and the fourth time under Stockstill.
Rick Stockstill and Skip Holtz were on the same
staff at South Carolina during the 2004 season.
Offensive Coordinator Tony Franklin served in the same role at LA Tech from 2010-2012.
In the first quarter this season, Brent Stockstill has completed 41 of 50 passes combined.
In MT's last eight wins it has averaged 536.1 yards of total offense and allowed just 316.5.
Dating back to last season, WR Richie James has 81 receptions over his last nine games combined.
QB Brent Stockstill has thrown for 300 or more yards in seven of his last nine outings.
Middle Tennessee is 18-3 in its last 21 home games.
The Blue Raiders have been bowl eligible seven times in 10 years and partcipated in five bowls during the FBS era.
Middle Tennessee has 10 players competing this season with a degree in hand. The Blue Raiders also have seven more who will earn degrees this December (Josh Chester, Jeremy Cutrer, William Eads, Myles Harges, Shaquille Huff, Brent Stockstill (Undergraduate) and Kamani Thomas).
MT averaged 44.3 points a game at home and 25.1 on the road in 2015.
Middle Tennessee saw its streak of 213 consecutive made extra points come to an end against Bowling Green. It was the third longest current streak in the nation.
In their last 32 conference games, the Blue Raiders have a mark of 23-9.
Over the last 46 games, the Blue Raider defense has come up with 57 interceptions. The team had 15 picks in 2013 by eight different players, 13 in 2014 and 17 in 2015.
Consecutive Starts Leaders: Shaquille Huff (28), Daniel Stephens (21) and Steven Rhodes (19).
Under Rick Stockstill, the Blue Raiders have been involved in 18 games that were decided in the final minute of regulation or overtime. The team is 11-7 in those games and have won seven of the last eight.
Head Coach Rick Stockstill is third on the school's all-time wins list with 66 victories.
In 128 games under Rick Stockstill, the Blue Raiders are +22 in turnover margin.
Middle Tennessee has scored 30 or more points 54 times under Rick Stockstill. The most 30-point games in a season under Stockstill is nine (2009)..

CONFERENCE OPENERS
Dating back to 1952 when Middle Tennessee began Ohio Valley Conference play, the Blue Raiders own a mark of 42-19-1 in conference openers. MT was 33-13-1 in OVC openers and 6-6 in Sun Belt openers. The Blue Raiders are 3-0 in C-USA openers and own a mark of 21-5-1 when playing a league opener at home and stand 21-14 on the road.

RAIDERS AT FLOYD STADIUM
Since Floyd Stadium opened in 1933, the Blue Raiders have compiled an overall mark of 285-116-13 (.700), including a record 31-game win streak from 1987-94.

Under Rick Stockstill, the Blue Raiders are 37-19 overall at Floyd Stadium and 24-12 in conference games (11-1 vs C-USA). MT has a 18-3 record at home in its last 21 games.
Since 2007, MT has had home games against Virgini, Maryland, Mississippi State, Minnesota, Georgia Tech, BYU and Vandy. MT will host Vandy in 2017, Duke in 2019 and Missouri in 2022.

MATHERS SECOND 100-100 GUY
Senior I'Tavius Mathers, playing his first and final season for MT after transferring from Ole Miss, became just the second player in school history to total at least 100 yards rushing and 100 yard receiving in the same game. The first player to also do this in the NCAA this year, Mathers finished with 157 yards on the ground and 103 in receiving against Bowling Green. Don Calloway was the first player at MT to accomplish the feat (2000 vs ULL).

NATIONAL PRESENCE
The season is only three games old but quarterback Brent Stockstill is making his presence known nationally. The sophomore enters the LA Tech game ranked in the Top 10 nationally in six different statistical categories. The lefty is 4th in touchdown passes, 7th in completions per game, 8th in passing yards, 7th in points responsible for, 9th in passing yards per game and 8th in points responsible for per game.

JAMES SETS SCHOOL RECORD
It was only a year old, but sophomore receiver Richie James broke Middle Tennessee's single-game receptions record when he hauled in 14 passes at Vanderbilt. James broke the previous mark of 13 set by Ed Batties last season against Illinois. James finished with 14 catches for 183 yards and a touchdown. The yards also went down as the fifth most in school history.

STOCKSTILL SETS NEW COMPLETIONS, ATTEMPTS RECORD
Quarterback Brent Stockstill broke his own completions and attempts mark with another eye-opening statistical performance at Vanderbilt. The lefty completed 38 of 65 passes for 399 yards and three touchdowns. The completions and attempts were new single-game records at MT and his yardage went down as the fifth highest in school history.

DEPLETED RECEIVER CORPS
The 2016 season is only three games old but the Blue Raiders' depth at receiver has been severely tested. In preseason camp, MT lost preseason starters Shane Tucker and Jocquez Bruce, along with backup and integral pass catcher Terry Pettis (3rd leading receiver). In the season opener, the Blue Raiders lost starter Demetrius Frazier in the first quarter. To fill-in gaps, MT moved RB Desmond Anderson to receiver late in fall camp and week before opener brought freshman Tyshawn Brown from safety to receiver.

IMPORTANCE OF WINNING THE TURNOVER BATTLE
Winning the turnover battle is critical in collecting victories in football. Under Rick Stockstill, MT has a mark of 44-13 when winning the turnover battle and is 35-5 during bowl eligible years (2006, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015). Over the last 52 games (since 2012), MT is 19-2 when winning the turnover battle.