Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
3-1 , 1-0
Louisiana Tech (ASN)
1-3 , 0-1
Team Stats
LATECH 7, MT 0
LATECH - HENDERSON, C. 70 yd pass from HIGGINS, Ryan (BARNES, J. kick) 2 plays, 92 yards, TOP 0:47
LATECH 7, MT 7
MT - MATHERS, I. 38 yd run (ROOKER, Canon kick), 5 plays, 85 yards, TOP 1:54
LATECH 10, MT 7
LATECH - BARNES, J. 20 yd field goal 18 plays, 79 yards, TOP 6:03
LATECH 13, MT 7
LATECH - BARNES, J. 49 yd field goal 12 plays, 63 yards, TOP 4:41
LATECH 20, MT 7
LATECH - TAYLOR, Trent 17 yd pass from HIGGINS, Ryan (BARNES, J. kick) 6 plays, 61 yards, TOP 0:53
LATECH 27, MT 7
LATECH - TAYLOR, Trent 9 yd pass from HIGGINS, Ryan (BARNES, J. kick) 11 plays, 80 yards, TOP 5:45
LATECH 27, MT 14
MT - MATHERS, I. 37 yd pass from STOCKSTILL, B. (ROOKER, Canon kick) 5 plays, 75 yards, TOP 1:35
LATECH 27, MT 17
MT - ROOKER, Canon 33 yd field goal 12 plays, 67 yards, TOP 4:59
LATECH 27, MT 24
MT - MATHERS, I. 7 yd run (ROOKER, Canon kick), 9 plays, 86 yards, TOP 2:33
LATECH 27, MT 31
MT - MATHERS, I. 3 yd run (ROOKER, Canon kick), 7 plays, 58 yards, TOP 2:35
LATECH 34, MT 31
LATECH - MCKNIGHT, K. 1 yd run (BARNES, J. kick), 8 plays, 82 yards, TOP 3:02
LATECH 34, MT 38
MT - LEE, Ty 23 yd pass from STOCKSTILL, B. (ROOKER, Canon kick) 5 plays, 75 yards, TOP 1:20
Players Mentioned
C-USA win caps Raiders' riveting comeback vs. LA Tech
9/24/2016 11:02:00 PM | Football
MT overcomes 20-point deficit
The Blue Raiders (3-1, 1-0) fell down 27-7 to the Bulldogs (1-3, 0-1) early in the third quarter before finding their mojo on both sides of the ball. They climbed all the way back into the game, gaining a 31-27 lead with 6:58 left in the contest, but LA Tech cut the bleeding just in time and answered with a touchdown to grab a 34-31 lead with just 3:56 left.
Middle Tennessee wouldn't be denied, though. The Blue Raiders shook off the score and marched back down the field with a five-play, 75-yard drive capped by a Ty Lee 23-yard TD reception to go back on top 38-34 with 2:36 left in the game.
That was all the Blue Raider defense needed. Louisiana Tech moved all the way down to the MT 6-yard line but failed on fourth-and-goal when redshirt junior Michael Minter batted down a pass in the end zone, giving Middle Tennessee the 38-34 win.
"Heck of a game, man. Heck of a game," MT head coach Rick Stockstill said. "I'm really proud of this football team. We talked all week about competing and competitiveness and talked to them last night about what competitive greatness is and to go out and compete for 60 minutes. Those guys did it."
It was the biggest comeback win for the Blue Raiders under Stockstill.
Redshirt senior running back I'Tavius Mathers led the comeback charge. The Murfreesboro native gained 163 yards on the ground on 21 carries and got into the end zone four total times (three rushing, one receiving). He also caught five balls for 74 yards.
"It's a big time win," he said. "The offensive line did a great job blocking and making my job easy once again."
Mathers' big game followed up a Week 3 performance against Bowling Green in which he became the second-ever Blue Raider to record over 100 yards both rushing and receiving in a single game.
He also scored the first four touchdowns of the game Saturday, giving him seven straight Blue Raider scores going back to the Bowling Green game.
"I can't take all of the credit," Mathers said. "That's the offensive line – they've done a good job of blocking … and making it easy for me to run in for touchdowns."
Middle Tennessee's defense also stepped up in the comeback. After the Bulldogs scored to go up 27-7, they gained just 174 yards on offense the rest of the game and scored one time.
"We just fought hard, one play at a time," sophomore linebacker Chris Melton, who led the team with 13 tackles in his first start for MT, said. "It was just recuperation. When we came in for halftime we just let each other know we have each other's back. We knew we were going to win."
The Blue Raiders' pass defense, which led Conference USA going into the game by giving up just 98.7 yards per game, had issues containing the Louisiana Tech attack through the air.
Redshirt senior quarterback Ryan Higgins threw for 504 yards on 36-of-59 passing with three touchdowns. His favorite target was Conference USA receiving yards leader Trent Taylor, who torched Middle Tennessee for 210 yards on 17 receptions. He had two TD catches.
"He didn't do anything that got us off guard, he's just a good player," Rick Stockstill said. "We played some man coverage to kind of make sure we stopped the run … but he's a good player. They didn't do anything that they haven't done that we were surprised by, he's just a tough, good player."
The win moves the Blue Raiders to the top of the Conference USA standings at 1-0. They are tied with Southern Miss, North Texas and Old Dominion at the top of the conference.
More importantly, the win may give Middle Tennessee plenty of confidence heading into Week 5's contest against North Texas.
"To come back and win a game like that is special," Rick Stockstill said. "There are a bunch of special guys that played that game tonight. Their competitive spirit is unmatched – I can't say enough good things about those guys."
MT Postgame Notes
CAPTAINS: Today's game captains were OL Maurquice Shakir, DL Shaquille Huff and P Matt Bonadies.
PERFECT IN C-USA OPENERS: In the Blue Raiders' fourth year of Conference USA football, Middle Tennessee improved to 4-0 all-time in league openers with the win against LA Tech.
HOME STREAK INTACT: The Blue Raiders boast a 12-1 home Conference USA record after tonight's game against LA Tech. In fact, MT has won 12 straight after defeating the Bulldogs. The only loss was the very first C-USA home game in 2013 against East Carolina.
MATHERS SCORES … AGAIN: After scoring four touchdowns last week at Bowling Green, senior I'Tavius Mathers continued his scoring burst against LA Tech. Mathers, who leads the team with nine touchdowns, scored four more times against the Bulldogs.
BACK-TO-BACK FOR I-TRAIN: For the first time in his collegiate career, senior I'Tavius Mathers topped the 100-yard rushing mark in back-to-back games. Mathers rushed for 157 yards in a win at Bowling Green last week to go with 103 receiving yards and responded with a career-high 163 rushing yards tonight against LA Tech to go with 74 yards in receptions.
NO. 11: Quarterback Brent Stockstill recorded his 11th career 300-yard passing game tonight against LA Tech. Stockstill, who has now had 300 or more yards eight times in his last 10 outings, had 356 yards on 27 of 46 throwing. The 11 300-yard games is a Middle Tennessee career record.
QUICK HITTERS: WR Patrick Smith hauled in a career-high seve passes tonight against LA Tech … Brent Stockstill has now thrown at least one TD in 10 straight games … DT Shaquille Huff started his team-leading 29th straight game today … Steven Rhodes, Shaquille Huff, and Hunter Rogers all played in their team-leading 42nd career game today … LB Chris Melton made his first collegiate start tonight and responded with a career-high 13 tackles
