Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
1-2
University of Minnesota
3-0
Team Stats
MT 0, MINN 3
MINN - Carpenter,Emmit 24 yd field goal 12 plays, 68 yards, TOP 6:31
MT 3, MINN 3
MT - ROOKER, Canon 45 yd field goal 7 plays, 43 yards, TOP 1:54
MT 3, MINN 6
MINN - Carpenter,Emmit 47 yd field goal 5 plays, 31 yards, TOP 1:33
MT 3, MINN 13
MINN - McCrary, Kobe 14 yd run (Carpenter,Emmit kick), 5 plays, 45 yards, TOP 2:55
MT 3, MINN 20
MINN - Huff, Jacob 67 yd interception (Carpenter,Emmit kick)
MT 3, MINN 27
MINN - McCrary, Kobe 1 yd run (Carpenter,Emmit kick), 16 plays, 56 yards, TOP 8:06
MT 3, MINN 34
MINN - McCrary, Kobe 5 yd run (Carpenter,Emmit kick), 3 plays, 55 yards, TOP 1:22
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
Blue Raiders fall at Minnesota
9/16/2017 6:34:00 PM | Football
The Blue Raiders (1-2) fought well early, and found themselves tied 3-3 with the Gophers (3-0) after a 45-yard Canon Rooker field goal with 10:53 left in the second quarter.
From there, it was all Minnesota. The home team rattled off 31 straight points thanks to a stingy defense and unrelenting rushing attack.
The Gophers, who average 211 yards per game rushing to rank 42nd in the nation, finished with 221 yards on 47 carries for a 4.7-yard average.
Middle Tennessee tried to make things interesting in the second quarter behind its defense before a turnover all but put things out of reach.
The Blue Raider defenders forced three three-and-outs in a row to end the first quarter and begin the second, but the offense couldn't find rhythm.
After the first of three rushing touchdowns for Minnesota's Kobe McCrary, the Raiders trailed 13-3 with six minutes left in the second quarter and put together a four-minute drive and entered Gopher territory. The score threat was wiped out, though, when redshirt sophomore quarterback John Urzua's pass was intercepted for a 67-yard TD, bringin the halftime score to 20-3.
Urzua finished 19-of-34 passing for 135 yards and two INTs. He was thrust in the starting lineup for the injured Brent Stockstill, who was forced out due to an ailment from Week 2 against Syracuse.
Not only was the Blue Raider offense missing its starting quarterback, but redshirt junior wide receiver Richie James, the school's all-time leader in receiving yards and co-leader in TDs, also was limited.
Redshirt junior wideout Patrick Smith led the way in the receiving corps, hauling in six catches for 46 yards.
Middle Tennessee's defense was led by 13 total tackles by safety Jovante Moffatt and Darrius Harris, who had 10 tackles, one tackle for loss and a sack.
The Blue Raiders will return home in Week 4 against Bowling Green. It will be the annual Family Day and Hall of Fame game, where new members are enshrined in the Blue Raider Hall of Fame.
POSTGAME NOTES:
CAPTAINS: Today's game captains were WR Richie James, OL Chandler Brewer, and DL Malik Manciel.
STOCKSTILL NO GO: Redshirt junior QB Brent Stockstill did not start against Minnesota due to an injury suffered last week at Syracuse. Stockstill's status is day-to-day.
URZUA UNDER CENTER: Sophomore QB John Urzua made his fourth career start vs. Minnesota in place of Brent Stockstill. Urzua finished the game, 19-of-34 for 135 yards.
TOUGH ODDS: Middle Tennessee played Minnesota without two of its chief offensive weapons for most of the game. Stockstill did not dress, and redshirt junior receiver Richie James did not return after exiting the game early in the second quarter.
MOFFATT HAS CAREER DAY: Safety Jovante Moffatt had a career-high 13 tackles against Minnesota. His previous career high was 10 vs. Marshall in 2016. Of his 13 tackles, nine were solo takedowns, which is also a new career high. Moffatt's previous career high for solo stops was six vs. Vanderbilt in 2016.
BLANKENSHIP SHINES: Freshman defensive back Reed Blankenship continued his strong start to his rookie campaign. Blankenship earned his second straight start and finished with four tackles, including a 5-yard tackle for loss in the first quarter.
WILD RAIDER: Redshirt junior receiver Richie James saw action at quarterback for parts of the game vs. Minnesota. James' longest run was a 22-yard scamper in the first quarter. His 25-yard scamper was the longest run from scrimmage for the Blue Raiders, and he also led the ground game with 25 yards on two carries.
GETTING HIS KICKS: Senior kicker Canon Rooker connected for his first field goal of the season when he booted a 45-yarder through the goalposts to tie the score 3-3 in the first quarter. The Lou Groza Award Watch List kicker was just one yard shy of his career high of 46 yards. Rooker has made 14 of his last 15 field goals dating back to 2016.
QUICK HITTERS: Richie James has now caught at least one pass in 29 straight games … DB Mike Minter made his team-leading 28th straight start … Punter Matt Bonadies unloaded a career-high 64-yard punt in the second quarter … Urzua perfectly executed a pooch punt of 36 yards from his QB position to pin the Gophers inside their 1 in the second quarter … LB Darius Harris provided a second-quarter sack and he established a new career high with eight solo tackles … Redshirt freshman QB Kyle Banks made his Blue Raider debut in the fourth quarter.
