Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Saturday, December 16
7:00 PM
Middle Tennessee
vs
Arkansas State University
What to watch for in the Camillia Bowl
12/15/2017 4:05:00 PM | Football
Kickoff set for 7:05 PM Saturday
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – A rocky 6-6 season has led Middle Tennessee to the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl, where the Blue Raiders will meet old rival Arkansas State on Saturday with a kickoff set for 7 p.m.
It will be the fourth playing of the Camellia Bowl, held at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama, and first meeting since 2012 between MT and the Red Wolves (7-4).
Middle Tennessee leads the all-time series against its old Sun Belt Conference rival 9-5.
"It's something that we're excited to be here, we're excited to play Arkansas State, who had a wonderful year this year," MT head coach Rick Stockstill said at the Camellia Bowl press conference on Tuesday. "Our players are truly, truly excited and anxious to play this game and represent our university and our football team and honor you guys, the City of Montgomery and the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl in this game."
After falling 38-10 at home against Marshall on Oct. 20, the Blue Raiders went into their bye week just 3-5 on the season with bowl hopes waning.
But, they used the bye week to heal some wounds, and redshirt junior quarterback Brent Stockstill returned after missing the previous six weeks due to a sternum injury.
The offense came alive with the younger Stockstill under center against some of Conference USA's bottom feeders and rival WKU, and after a win over Old Dominion to finish the season, MT held a 6-6 record, going 3-1 in the last four weeks.
Arkansas State goes into its seventh bowl in as many seasons fresh off a 32-25 loss to Troy in the Sun Belt Championship.
The Red Wolves are just 2-2 in their last four games after a 5-2 start. Their Week 2 contest against Miami (FL) was cancelled.
Here's what to watch for on Saturday:
Strap in for an air ride
Middle Tennessee's defense has been one of the most improved units in the country this season under first-year defensive coordinator Scott Shafer. It finished the year ranked 30th in total defense (348.6 yards per game allowed) after being 96th in 2016.
The Blue Raiders will have their hands full on Saturday, though, with a Red Wolves offense ranked 11th in the country in total offense (497.7 total yards per game) and sixth in passing (340.7 yards per game).
"They can throw the ball," MT junior safety Jovante Moffatt said. "They have a big receiving corps, and their quarterback is one of the best in the country. That will be a challenge, but we accept it."
While MT may not be able to hold Arkansas State's offense down completely, there's no doubt it will have its own chances against a questionable A-State defense corps.
Just as the Red Wolves will want to lean on redshirt junior quarterback Justice Hansen – the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year – and its passing attack, Brent Stockstill and the MT air assault will have to take advantage of an A-State defense that gave up 41 points and 350 passing yards per game the last two weeks.
Since Stockstill's return against UTEP, Middle Tennessee has averaged 36 points per game in four contests with a 468.5-yard average.
"We'll have a good plan going in, and I know our offensive line will play great," the QB said. "We'll be prepared."
If recent history says anything, Stockstill could be in for a big night. In his two previous bowl games, he's thrown for a combined 759 yards on 56 of 90 passing and seven touchdowns.
Watch out for the pressure
With two potent passing attacks featured, it's likely Hansen and Stockstill will drop back to throw more times than not. That means there will be plenty of opportunities for both teams to use pressure, something they've been good at this season.
Arkansas State ranks 10th in the nation in sacks per game (3.09) behind redshirt senior defensive end Ja'Von Rolland-Jones, a two-time Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year. He's second in the FBS with 13 sacks this season, and with 43.5 for his career, he needs just one more to break Terrell Suggs' all-time NCAA record of 44.
On the flip side, Middle Tennessee has enjoyed its own success getting into the backfield. The Blue Raiders have 26 sacks this season and are tied for 18th in the nation in tackles for loss per game with 7.3, led by redshirt sophomore Khalil Brooks' 15.
Both offensive lines will have their hands full, and at times this season that's proven to be troublesome for both teams.
A-State has given up 27 sacks, while MT has given up 24. However, only six of the Blue Raiders' have come in the last four games, while the Red Wolves have given up six in the last two.
"They're a really good defense and take pride in being physical," Brent Stockstill said. "We've played some good linemen before … we'll have a plan for them."
Blue Raiders better keep an eye on Taylor
In bowl games, it's often said teams have to key in on special teams more than any other game during the season, because coaches have a few weeks to implement tricks and fakes.
Against Arkansas State, Middle Tennessee will have to keep a keen eye on a master trickster, senior Blaise Taylor.
The return specialist is the program's all-time leader in career punt return yards (1,089), and he's second all-time in the Sun Belt Conference in punt return yards and touchdowns (four). He's also currently second among NCAA active players in punt return yards.
He's only 5-foot-9 and 166 pounds, but when he gets into space he's tough to corral and can make you pay for six. The Blue Raiders have been good in punt coverage this season, only giving up seven returns for 20 yards, but Taylor may be the best returner they've seen.
"Blaise Taylor is a really good returner, because he's fearless. He doesn't fair catch many, and he's hard to bring down in space," Coach Stockstill said. "We have to do our job and make sure we don't get surprised by anything. You have to be aware for tricks and fakes, especially in bowl games."
How healthy are the Blue Raiders?
The story of Middle Tennessee's season has been the mass amount of injuries across the roster.
Coach Stockstill has been forced to use 12 different starting lineups this season due to injuries, and one player, quarterback John Urzua, was forced to end his career in the middle of the season after a concussion.
With all of the bumps, bruises, breaks and aches, the couple of weeks to rest and heal in between the regular season and Camellia Bowl has been welcomed by the players.
While wide receiver Richie James' availability will be a game-time decision, a handful of other guys could be back in the lineup. It could be the healthiest the team has looked since the start of the season.
"We don't have a lot of time … but they've responded well," Coach Stockstill said. "Some of those guys had pretty significant injuries and aren't 100 percent yet, but I'm proud of our resiliency."
Coaching familiarity
Arkansas State and Middle Tennessee have a little more in common than just being old Sun Belt Conference rivals and Camellia Bowl opponents.
They also have quite a coaching connection.
Four full-time A-State coaches – head coach Blake Anderson, defensive coordinator Joe Cauthen, offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner and special teams coordinator Luke Paschall – have spent time either coaching or playing at MT. Offensive graduate assistant Parks Frazier also went to Jonesboro from Murfreesboro.
Anderson and Paschall have been away from Middle Tennessee for over a decade, but Cauthen and Faulkner went to Arkansas State in 2013 and 2015, respectively. They're still familiar with the Blue Raiders and how they operate, and Coach Stockstill thinks that will be a factor.
"With Buster and Joe, they kind of know our personnel and players a little bit, what they're good at and what they're not so good at," he said. "That will play into it Saturday."
First three-year bowl streak in program history
No matter if they win or lose, this year's Blue Raider team will make history on Saturday.
The Camellia Bowl will be Middle Tennessee's third bowl appearance in as many years and ninth in the last 12 seasons. It will mark the first three-year bowl streak in program history.
"I am excited for this team and our senior class," Coach Stockstill said. "They have fought through a lot of adversity this year and to be rewarded with a bowl game is well deserved."
Where can you watch or listen?
TV: ESPN
Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play)
Andre Ware (analyst)
Olivia Harlan (sideline)
Radio: 102.5 FM, 89.5 FM, 100.5 FM, 101.9 FM, 1450 AM
Sirius XM: Channel 80 (National Broadcast), Channel 84 (Blue Raider Broadcast)
TV: ESPN
Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play)
Andre Ware (analyst)
Olivia Harlan (sideline)
Radio: 102.5 FM, 89.5 FM, 100.5 FM, 101.9 FM, 1450 AM
Sirius XM: Channel 80 (National Broadcast), Channel 84 (Blue Raider Broadcast)
It will be the fourth playing of the Camellia Bowl, held at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama, and first meeting since 2012 between MT and the Red Wolves (7-4).
Middle Tennessee leads the all-time series against its old Sun Belt Conference rival 9-5.
"It's something that we're excited to be here, we're excited to play Arkansas State, who had a wonderful year this year," MT head coach Rick Stockstill said at the Camellia Bowl press conference on Tuesday. "Our players are truly, truly excited and anxious to play this game and represent our university and our football team and honor you guys, the City of Montgomery and the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl in this game."
After falling 38-10 at home against Marshall on Oct. 20, the Blue Raiders went into their bye week just 3-5 on the season with bowl hopes waning.
But, they used the bye week to heal some wounds, and redshirt junior quarterback Brent Stockstill returned after missing the previous six weeks due to a sternum injury.
The offense came alive with the younger Stockstill under center against some of Conference USA's bottom feeders and rival WKU, and after a win over Old Dominion to finish the season, MT held a 6-6 record, going 3-1 in the last four weeks.
Arkansas State goes into its seventh bowl in as many seasons fresh off a 32-25 loss to Troy in the Sun Belt Championship.
The Red Wolves are just 2-2 in their last four games after a 5-2 start. Their Week 2 contest against Miami (FL) was cancelled.
Here's what to watch for on Saturday:
Strap in for an air ride
Middle Tennessee's defense has been one of the most improved units in the country this season under first-year defensive coordinator Scott Shafer. It finished the year ranked 30th in total defense (348.6 yards per game allowed) after being 96th in 2016.
The Blue Raiders will have their hands full on Saturday, though, with a Red Wolves offense ranked 11th in the country in total offense (497.7 total yards per game) and sixth in passing (340.7 yards per game).
"They can throw the ball," MT junior safety Jovante Moffatt said. "They have a big receiving corps, and their quarterback is one of the best in the country. That will be a challenge, but we accept it."
While MT may not be able to hold Arkansas State's offense down completely, there's no doubt it will have its own chances against a questionable A-State defense corps.
Just as the Red Wolves will want to lean on redshirt junior quarterback Justice Hansen – the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year – and its passing attack, Brent Stockstill and the MT air assault will have to take advantage of an A-State defense that gave up 41 points and 350 passing yards per game the last two weeks.
Since Stockstill's return against UTEP, Middle Tennessee has averaged 36 points per game in four contests with a 468.5-yard average.
"We'll have a good plan going in, and I know our offensive line will play great," the QB said. "We'll be prepared."
If recent history says anything, Stockstill could be in for a big night. In his two previous bowl games, he's thrown for a combined 759 yards on 56 of 90 passing and seven touchdowns.
Watch out for the pressure
With two potent passing attacks featured, it's likely Hansen and Stockstill will drop back to throw more times than not. That means there will be plenty of opportunities for both teams to use pressure, something they've been good at this season.
Arkansas State ranks 10th in the nation in sacks per game (3.09) behind redshirt senior defensive end Ja'Von Rolland-Jones, a two-time Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year. He's second in the FBS with 13 sacks this season, and with 43.5 for his career, he needs just one more to break Terrell Suggs' all-time NCAA record of 44.
On the flip side, Middle Tennessee has enjoyed its own success getting into the backfield. The Blue Raiders have 26 sacks this season and are tied for 18th in the nation in tackles for loss per game with 7.3, led by redshirt sophomore Khalil Brooks' 15.
Both offensive lines will have their hands full, and at times this season that's proven to be troublesome for both teams.
A-State has given up 27 sacks, while MT has given up 24. However, only six of the Blue Raiders' have come in the last four games, while the Red Wolves have given up six in the last two.
"They're a really good defense and take pride in being physical," Brent Stockstill said. "We've played some good linemen before … we'll have a plan for them."
Blue Raiders better keep an eye on Taylor
In bowl games, it's often said teams have to key in on special teams more than any other game during the season, because coaches have a few weeks to implement tricks and fakes.
Against Arkansas State, Middle Tennessee will have to keep a keen eye on a master trickster, senior Blaise Taylor.
The return specialist is the program's all-time leader in career punt return yards (1,089), and he's second all-time in the Sun Belt Conference in punt return yards and touchdowns (four). He's also currently second among NCAA active players in punt return yards.
He's only 5-foot-9 and 166 pounds, but when he gets into space he's tough to corral and can make you pay for six. The Blue Raiders have been good in punt coverage this season, only giving up seven returns for 20 yards, but Taylor may be the best returner they've seen.
"Blaise Taylor is a really good returner, because he's fearless. He doesn't fair catch many, and he's hard to bring down in space," Coach Stockstill said. "We have to do our job and make sure we don't get surprised by anything. You have to be aware for tricks and fakes, especially in bowl games."
How healthy are the Blue Raiders?
The story of Middle Tennessee's season has been the mass amount of injuries across the roster.
Coach Stockstill has been forced to use 12 different starting lineups this season due to injuries, and one player, quarterback John Urzua, was forced to end his career in the middle of the season after a concussion.
With all of the bumps, bruises, breaks and aches, the couple of weeks to rest and heal in between the regular season and Camellia Bowl has been welcomed by the players.
While wide receiver Richie James' availability will be a game-time decision, a handful of other guys could be back in the lineup. It could be the healthiest the team has looked since the start of the season.
"We don't have a lot of time … but they've responded well," Coach Stockstill said. "Some of those guys had pretty significant injuries and aren't 100 percent yet, but I'm proud of our resiliency."
Coaching familiarity
Arkansas State and Middle Tennessee have a little more in common than just being old Sun Belt Conference rivals and Camellia Bowl opponents.
They also have quite a coaching connection.
Four full-time A-State coaches – head coach Blake Anderson, defensive coordinator Joe Cauthen, offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner and special teams coordinator Luke Paschall – have spent time either coaching or playing at MT. Offensive graduate assistant Parks Frazier also went to Jonesboro from Murfreesboro.
Anderson and Paschall have been away from Middle Tennessee for over a decade, but Cauthen and Faulkner went to Arkansas State in 2013 and 2015, respectively. They're still familiar with the Blue Raiders and how they operate, and Coach Stockstill thinks that will be a factor.
"With Buster and Joe, they kind of know our personnel and players a little bit, what they're good at and what they're not so good at," he said. "That will play into it Saturday."
First three-year bowl streak in program history
No matter if they win or lose, this year's Blue Raider team will make history on Saturday.
The Camellia Bowl will be Middle Tennessee's third bowl appearance in as many years and ninth in the last 12 seasons. It will mark the first three-year bowl streak in program history.
"I am excited for this team and our senior class," Coach Stockstill said. "They have fought through a lot of adversity this year and to be rewarded with a bowl game is well deserved."
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