Blue Raiders drop home contest to Marshall

Friday, October 20

Murfreesboro, TN

6:00 PM

Middle Tennessee

3-5 , 1-3

Marshall University

6-1 , 3-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Marshall

Middle Tennessee

10/20/2017 10:23:00 PM | Football

Box Score MT Cumulative Stats MT vs. Marshall Game Book MT Postgame Notes Photo Gallery Highlights

James, Trent injured in setback

By: JOSH VARDAMAN, MT Athletic Communications

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – It was a tough Blackout night for Middle Tennessee, as the Blue Raiders fell to the Marshall Thundering Herd at Floyd Stadium Friday, 38-10.

"Obviously, it's disappointing," MT Head Coach Rick Stockstill said. "Give Marshall credit, they did a great job and whooped us pretty good."

It looked like an instant classic was brewing in the first quarter, as Marshall (6-1, 3-0) took its opening drive 75 yards for a touchdown, then Middle Tennessee (3-5, 1-3) followed with an eight play, 51-yard drive that ended with a 50-yard Canon Rooker field goal.

After the first quarter, the score stood at 7-3, and things looked even on both sides.

Things changed quickly when the Blue Raiders took the field for their first possession of the second quarter, though.

On the third play of the drive, redshirt sophomore quarterback John Urzua was hit as he was throwing, and the wobbly pass fell right into the arms of an awaiting Marshall linebacker, who returned it 17 yards for a pick-six.

Then, on the first play of MT's ensuing possession, Urzua hit sophomore receiver CJ Windham down the left sideline, and after the wideout picked up a few yards a Herd defender knocked the ball free and Marshall returned the fumble to the Middle Tennessee 18-yard line.

The Thundering Herd would score two plays later on the third of their four rushing TDs, making the score 21-3 in the blink of an eye.

Turnovers have been the Blue Raiders' bugaboo all season. They now sit at -11 in turnover margin with 16 giveaways.

"That's just things that we need to work on in practice," Urzua said. "We say it every week when things go wrong … but you just have to work at it in practice."

Middle Tennessee tried to make things interesting again later in the second quarter when Urzua hit redshirt junior receiver Richie James for a 9-yard TD to cap an eight play, 80-yard drive.

The TD catch was the 23^rd of his career, moving James into sole possession of first on the program's career list. He finished with five catches for 37 yards and the TD.

Sophomore Ty Lee was the leader in the receiving department for MT with four receptions for 95 yards. Urzua finished 14-of-30 for 220 yards, one TD and one INT.

James' TD made the score 21-10, but it wouldn't stay that close for long. Marshall took the ensuing possession for a TD and added a field goal before the half closed, then put on the finishing touches with a TD in the fourth quarter.

"We've got to find a way to get this thing turned," Stockstill said. "Since that Syracuse game, we haven't been the same … you can't just single out one group."

Senior linebacker D.J. Sanders led the way for Middle Tennessee defensively with seven tackles, and three others added six tackles.

The Blue Raiders have a bye next week, giving them two weeks to mend and fix things before taking the field again when UTEP travels to MT on Nov. 4 for a 6:30 p.m. kickoff.

"Hopefully we'll get some guys back who've been injured and guys who've been hurt back to 100 percent instead of 80 or 90 percent," Sanders said. "The bye week will really help us."

MT POSTGAME NOTES:
CAPTAINS: Today's game captains were RB Terelle West, CB Mike Minter, Jr. and PK Canon Rooker.

ROOKER GOES DEEP: PK Canon Rooker connected on a career long 50-yard field goal early in the first quarter. It went down as tied for the seventh longest in school history and the second longest in the FBS era. Rooker's three-pointer was the longest by a Blue Raider since Alan Gendreau hit a 55 yarder against Louisiana on Sept. 25, 2010.

JAMES SETS RECORD: Wide receiver Richie James became the Blue Raiders' all-time leader in touchdown receptions when he hauled in his 23rd against Marshall. James surpassed Kendall Newson (22) for the new mark.

INFIRMARY REPORT: Already without the services of starting QB Brent Stockstill for the sixth straight game, Middle Tennessee lost the services of OL Conner Trent at the end of the first half. WR Richie James, who just returned from injury last week against UAB, also was injured early in the third quarter against Marshall. Neither Trent, nor James returned to action against Marshall.

QUICK HITTERS: PK Canon Rooker played in his team-high 47th game tonight … LB DJ Sanders made his team-leading 21st straight start … WR Tavonn Salter made his first career catch with a 33 yarder against Marshall … This marked the first time in the series the visiting team won.