Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Saturday, October 14
Birmingham, AL
5:30 PM
Middle Tennessee
3-4 , 1-2
23
at
25
University of Alabama at Birmingham
4-2 , 2-1
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Middle Tennessee
10
10
3
0
23
UAB
9
13
0
3
25
Team Stats
MT
UAB
Total Yards
394
434
Pass Yards
263
174
Rushing Yards
131
260
Penalty Yards
88
73
1st Downs
26
21
3rd Downs
4
5
4th Downs
0
0
TOP
29:58
30:02
1st Quarter
MT 7, UAB 0
MT - ANDERSON, Brad 27 yd pass from URZUA, John (ROOKER, Canon kick) 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:58
MT 7, UAB 7
UAB - LEE, D. 23 yd run (VOGEL, N. kick), 12 plays, 75 yards, TOP 4:03
MT 7, UAB 9
UAB - JONES, S. 4 yd safety
MT 10, UAB 9
MT - ROOKER, Canon 47 yd field goal 10 plays, 37 yards, TOP 3:44
2nd Quarter
MT 10, UAB 16
UAB - BROWN, S. 8 yd run (VOGEL, N. kick), 5 plays, 75 yards, TOP 1:34
MT 17, UAB 16
MT - STRIBLING, K. 20 yd blocked punt return (ROOKER, Canon kick)
MT 17, UAB 22
UAB - WILSON, A. 19 yd pass from ERDELY, A.J. (COPELAND, S. passfailed) 3 plays, 75 yards, TOP 0:46
MT 20, UAB 22
MT - ROOKER, Canon 46 yd field goal 7 plays, 57 yards, TOP 1:40
3rd Quarter
MT 23, UAB 22
MT - ROOKER, Canon 41 yd field goal 9 plays, 51 yards, TOP 4:30
4th Quarter
MT 23, UAB 25
UAB - VOGEL, N. 33 yd field goal 12 plays, 70 yards, TOP 3:49
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
Players Mentioned
RB
/ Football
S
/ Football
DE
/ Football
OL
/ Football
WR
/ FootballWR
/ Football
DE
/ Football
DT
/ Football
LB
/ Football
S
/ Football
PK
/ Football
WR
/ Football
CB
/ FootballQB
/ Football
RB
/ FootballBlue Raiders drop hard-fought battle at UAB
10/14/2017 9:55:00 PM | Football
Anderson nets 218 yards total offense
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Middle Tennessee's strong all-around effort did not produce a positive result as the Blue Raiders dropped a 25-23 decision against UAB in Birmingham Saturday night.
The Blue Raiders (3-4, 1-2) had a final drive for a potential game-winning drive but time ran out on Middle Tennessee with the ball near midfield.
UAB's go-ahead 33-yard field goal with 8:16 remaining erased a 23-22 Middle Tennessee lead and was the Blazers' only score of the second half against a Blue Raider defense that put forth a solid effort and provided the team with a chance to win.
Canon Rooker continued his sterling senior season with three more field goals. He was 3-for-3 on kicks of 47-, 46-, and 41-yards. His 47-yarder to close the scoring in the first quarter was a career high and provided Middle Tennessee with a 10-9 lead at the time.
Quarterback John Urzua finished 23-of-42 for 268 yards and one touchdown. He also threw two interceptions.
Freshman Brad Anderson continued his breakout season. He led the Blue Raiders on the ground and through the air. Anderson finished with 81 yards rushing on 15 carries for 5.4 yards per rush. Anderson also led the Blue Raiders in receptions and receiving yards, finishing with nine catches for a career-high 137 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown. He caught nine of his 10 targets and averaged 15.2 yards per reception.
The game also marked the return of heralded receiver Richie James for the first time since the first quarter against Minnesota. James had seven receptions for 47 yards and became the program's all-time receptions leader in the process.
Jovante Moffatt led the Blue Raider defense with nine tackles, seven solo. Walter Brady had six tackles, all solo.
MT POSTGAME NOTES
CAPTAINS: Today's game captains were WR Patrick Smith, OL Chandler Brewer and DL Malik Manciel.
JAMES SETS RECORD: With seven catches tonight against the Blazers, junior wide receiver Richie James became Middle Tennessee's all-time leader in receptions with 239. James, who is already the career leader in yardage, surpassed Kendall Newson (1998-2001) who had 238 grabs.
JAMES RETURNS: After missing the last three full games and all but 10 snaps against Minnesota, receiver Richie James made his return against UAB. James responded with seven receptions for 47 yards. James also ran some Wildcat, rushing twice and passing once.
BLOCK TIME: Middle Tennessee backup receiver and special teamer, Ruben Garnett, recorded his first career blocked kick when he rejected a UAB punt in the second quarter. CB Kylan Stribling picked it up and raced into the endzone for his first career TD. It went down as the second blocked kick of the season for MT and the 39th under Rick Stockstill (20 FGs, 15 punts, 4 PATs).
EVERYONE IN ON ACT: Four different Blue Raiders registered TFLs with defensive end Jahmal Jones leading the way with 2.5, but getting several players into the act is nothing new for MT's aggressive defense. The Blue Raiders have had 19 different players register a TFL this season and they have 47 for the season after collecting six against the Blazers. In addition to Jones, Reed Blankenship (2), Chris Melton (1) and Charvarious WArd (.5) also were credited with TFLs against UAB.
CAREER LONG FOR ROOKER: Senior Canon Rooker nailed a career long 47-yard field goal in the first quarter and later added a 46 and 41 yarder to give him 26 for his career. He is now a perfect 6-for-6 this season from over 40 yards. Rooker has now hit 23 of his last 25 attempts.
ANDERSON TOPS 100: Freshman running back Brad Anderson registered his first career 100-yard receiving game tonight against UAB. Anderson hauled in nine passes (in 10 targets) for 137 yards to lead the Raiders. Anderson averaged 15.2 yards per catch. His previous high was a 98-yard effort against Bowling Green.
QUICK HITTERS: PK Canon Rooker played in his team-high 46th game tonight … LB DJ Sanders made his team-leading 20th straight start … MT won the toss tonight for the fifth straight game … MT has now scored on its opening possession of the game four straight weeks … RB Brad Anderson, who has yet to record a rushing TD this season, now has three receiving scores … DE Jahmal Jones had a career-high 2.5 TFL … Richie James has now caught at least one pass in 30 straight games which ranks fourth longest all-time at MT … RB Terelle West had his second career reception tonight.
The Blue Raiders (3-4, 1-2) had a final drive for a potential game-winning drive but time ran out on Middle Tennessee with the ball near midfield.
UAB's go-ahead 33-yard field goal with 8:16 remaining erased a 23-22 Middle Tennessee lead and was the Blazers' only score of the second half against a Blue Raider defense that put forth a solid effort and provided the team with a chance to win.
Canon Rooker continued his sterling senior season with three more field goals. He was 3-for-3 on kicks of 47-, 46-, and 41-yards. His 47-yarder to close the scoring in the first quarter was a career high and provided Middle Tennessee with a 10-9 lead at the time.
Quarterback John Urzua finished 23-of-42 for 268 yards and one touchdown. He also threw two interceptions.
Freshman Brad Anderson continued his breakout season. He led the Blue Raiders on the ground and through the air. Anderson finished with 81 yards rushing on 15 carries for 5.4 yards per rush. Anderson also led the Blue Raiders in receptions and receiving yards, finishing with nine catches for a career-high 137 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown. He caught nine of his 10 targets and averaged 15.2 yards per reception.
The game also marked the return of heralded receiver Richie James for the first time since the first quarter against Minnesota. James had seven receptions for 47 yards and became the program's all-time receptions leader in the process.
Jovante Moffatt led the Blue Raider defense with nine tackles, seven solo. Walter Brady had six tackles, all solo.
MT POSTGAME NOTES
CAPTAINS: Today's game captains were WR Patrick Smith, OL Chandler Brewer and DL Malik Manciel.
JAMES SETS RECORD: With seven catches tonight against the Blazers, junior wide receiver Richie James became Middle Tennessee's all-time leader in receptions with 239. James, who is already the career leader in yardage, surpassed Kendall Newson (1998-2001) who had 238 grabs.
JAMES RETURNS: After missing the last three full games and all but 10 snaps against Minnesota, receiver Richie James made his return against UAB. James responded with seven receptions for 47 yards. James also ran some Wildcat, rushing twice and passing once.
BLOCK TIME: Middle Tennessee backup receiver and special teamer, Ruben Garnett, recorded his first career blocked kick when he rejected a UAB punt in the second quarter. CB Kylan Stribling picked it up and raced into the endzone for his first career TD. It went down as the second blocked kick of the season for MT and the 39th under Rick Stockstill (20 FGs, 15 punts, 4 PATs).
EVERYONE IN ON ACT: Four different Blue Raiders registered TFLs with defensive end Jahmal Jones leading the way with 2.5, but getting several players into the act is nothing new for MT's aggressive defense. The Blue Raiders have had 19 different players register a TFL this season and they have 47 for the season after collecting six against the Blazers. In addition to Jones, Reed Blankenship (2), Chris Melton (1) and Charvarious WArd (.5) also were credited with TFLs against UAB.
CAREER LONG FOR ROOKER: Senior Canon Rooker nailed a career long 47-yard field goal in the first quarter and later added a 46 and 41 yarder to give him 26 for his career. He is now a perfect 6-for-6 this season from over 40 yards. Rooker has now hit 23 of his last 25 attempts.
ANDERSON TOPS 100: Freshman running back Brad Anderson registered his first career 100-yard receiving game tonight against UAB. Anderson hauled in nine passes (in 10 targets) for 137 yards to lead the Raiders. Anderson averaged 15.2 yards per catch. His previous high was a 98-yard effort against Bowling Green.
QUICK HITTERS: PK Canon Rooker played in his team-high 46th game tonight … LB DJ Sanders made his team-leading 20th straight start … MT won the toss tonight for the fifth straight game … MT has now scored on its opening possession of the game four straight weeks … RB Brad Anderson, who has yet to record a rushing TD this season, now has three receiving scores … DE Jahmal Jones had a career-high 2.5 TFL … Richie James has now caught at least one pass in 30 straight games which ranks fourth longest all-time at MT … RB Terelle West had his second career reception tonight.
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