Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Blue Raiders looking for big C-USA start at FAU
9/25/2017 4:00:00 PM | Football
15th all-time meeting
BOCA RATON, Fla. – With a 24-13 win over Bowling Green in Week 4, Middle Tennessee wrapped up its non-conference slate with a .500 record. Now, Florida Atlantic enters the Blue Raiders' crosshairs.
The Raiders will take their 2-2 record to Boca Raton, where they've shown dominance over the Owls (1-3) in recent seasons. Middle Tennessee owns an 11-3 overall record in the series and 5-1 mark at FAU, and it's won nine straight dating back to 2008, the longest active winning streak by a C-USA team over another C-USA team.
"Obviously, it's a critical game, our first conference game and the first conference game for both of us," MT head coach Rick Stockstill said. "I've always felt FAU is one of the most talented teams in the conference, and this year is no doubt the same."
If Saturday's matchup is anything like 2016's, stats junkies will want to tune in.
In the 2016 regular season finale for both teams, they combined for 133 points and 1,346 total yards (794 rushing) in the 77-56 MT win.
The Blue Raiders' record-setting day was made even more impressive by the fact that quarterback Brent Stockstill was out with a broken collarbone and backup John Urzua was lost in the first quarter with a concussion.
Despite playing most of the game without a quarterback, single-game program highs were set in total offense (757 yards), points scored (77) and rushing touchdowns (nine), and a C-USA record was set with 495 rushing yards. The Raiders also had two 200-yard rushers (I'Tavius Mathers and Richie James) in the same game for the first time in school history.
"Last year was a scoring fest on both sides of the ball," Coach Stockstill said. "I know both defenses are going to be motivated to put a better product on the field than we did last year in that game."
A replica of last year's offensive display may not be necessary for a Blue Raider win Saturday, thanks in large part to an improved defense this season.
The revitalized MT defense under new coordinator Scott Shafer has held all four of its opponents under 400 yards of total offense. The Raiders currently rank 33rd in the nation in total defense (325.5 yards per game), 24th in rushing defense (104.8 yards per game) and 29th in sacks (11). That, against a schedule that has included three Power 5 schools.
If they want to continue their successful start to the season, the Blue Raider stoppers will have to limit a good FAU ground game. The Owls currently rank 38th in the country in rushing (211.8 yards per game) behind running back Devin Singletary (358 rushing yards, five touchdowns). The sophomore gashed MT for 235 yards and three TDs in 2016.
Middle Tennessee will try to carry over momentum from only allowing 1 yard rushing to Bowling Green last week, the third fewest allowed in a game in program history.
"I was really surprised that we only gave up 1 yard," junior safety Jovante Moffatt said. "Coach Shafer's main motto is to stop the run. As a defense, you want to stop the run and force teams to pass … that's going to help us be successful along the way."
A strong defensive display could go a long way in helping the MT offense stay unpressured and effective.
Without several key offensive pieces against Bowling Green, including Brent Stockstill, James and offensive lineman Chandler Brewer, the Blue Raiders had their best output of the season with 533 total yards.
In his first career start, freshman running back Brad Anderson led the way with 104 rushing and 98 receiving yards, and he scored his first collegiate TD on a 64-yard reception. Redshirt sophomore Jocquez Bruce, in his first game as a running back, had 115 yards rushing and his first TD, while sophomore receiver Ty Lee added 80 receiving yards and a score.
Urzua was also effective, having the best day of his career by completing 24-of-32 passes for 290 yards and two TDs. The redshirt sophomore did turn the ball over twice (a fumble and interception), bringing his season total to four.
He'll have to prove he can better take care of the ball against an Owls defense that's hard to evaluate. They rank 121st in the nation against the rush and 18th against the pass, but their statistics could be construed by their competition. They took on heavy rushing attacks in Navy, Wisconsin and Buffalo in their three losses.
"Their stats are a little misconstrued," Coach Stockstill said. "It can be misleading in a lot of ways. I think they're a lot better defensively against the run than statistically what it shows."
There may be some unknowns for Middle Tennessee going into Saturday with FAU having a new coaching staff this season led by Lane Kiffin.
One thing Coach Stockstill is counting on, though, is a tough game. Seven of the 14 contests between the teams have ended in one score or less.
"This is going to be a tough, hard-fought game," he said. "Most conference games are, and this has every bit of the makings of being a tight ballgame."
Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. and fans can watch the action on local television stations WNAB 58.2 or WUXP 30.1. It will also be streamed at WatchStadium.com.
The Raiders will take their 2-2 record to Boca Raton, where they've shown dominance over the Owls (1-3) in recent seasons. Middle Tennessee owns an 11-3 overall record in the series and 5-1 mark at FAU, and it's won nine straight dating back to 2008, the longest active winning streak by a C-USA team over another C-USA team.
"Obviously, it's a critical game, our first conference game and the first conference game for both of us," MT head coach Rick Stockstill said. "I've always felt FAU is one of the most talented teams in the conference, and this year is no doubt the same."
If Saturday's matchup is anything like 2016's, stats junkies will want to tune in.
In the 2016 regular season finale for both teams, they combined for 133 points and 1,346 total yards (794 rushing) in the 77-56 MT win.
The Blue Raiders' record-setting day was made even more impressive by the fact that quarterback Brent Stockstill was out with a broken collarbone and backup John Urzua was lost in the first quarter with a concussion.
Despite playing most of the game without a quarterback, single-game program highs were set in total offense (757 yards), points scored (77) and rushing touchdowns (nine), and a C-USA record was set with 495 rushing yards. The Raiders also had two 200-yard rushers (I'Tavius Mathers and Richie James) in the same game for the first time in school history.
"Last year was a scoring fest on both sides of the ball," Coach Stockstill said. "I know both defenses are going to be motivated to put a better product on the field than we did last year in that game."
A replica of last year's offensive display may not be necessary for a Blue Raider win Saturday, thanks in large part to an improved defense this season.
The revitalized MT defense under new coordinator Scott Shafer has held all four of its opponents under 400 yards of total offense. The Raiders currently rank 33rd in the nation in total defense (325.5 yards per game), 24th in rushing defense (104.8 yards per game) and 29th in sacks (11). That, against a schedule that has included three Power 5 schools.
If they want to continue their successful start to the season, the Blue Raider stoppers will have to limit a good FAU ground game. The Owls currently rank 38th in the country in rushing (211.8 yards per game) behind running back Devin Singletary (358 rushing yards, five touchdowns). The sophomore gashed MT for 235 yards and three TDs in 2016.
Middle Tennessee will try to carry over momentum from only allowing 1 yard rushing to Bowling Green last week, the third fewest allowed in a game in program history.
"I was really surprised that we only gave up 1 yard," junior safety Jovante Moffatt said. "Coach Shafer's main motto is to stop the run. As a defense, you want to stop the run and force teams to pass … that's going to help us be successful along the way."
A strong defensive display could go a long way in helping the MT offense stay unpressured and effective.
Without several key offensive pieces against Bowling Green, including Brent Stockstill, James and offensive lineman Chandler Brewer, the Blue Raiders had their best output of the season with 533 total yards.
In his first career start, freshman running back Brad Anderson led the way with 104 rushing and 98 receiving yards, and he scored his first collegiate TD on a 64-yard reception. Redshirt sophomore Jocquez Bruce, in his first game as a running back, had 115 yards rushing and his first TD, while sophomore receiver Ty Lee added 80 receiving yards and a score.
Urzua was also effective, having the best day of his career by completing 24-of-32 passes for 290 yards and two TDs. The redshirt sophomore did turn the ball over twice (a fumble and interception), bringing his season total to four.
He'll have to prove he can better take care of the ball against an Owls defense that's hard to evaluate. They rank 121st in the nation against the rush and 18th against the pass, but their statistics could be construed by their competition. They took on heavy rushing attacks in Navy, Wisconsin and Buffalo in their three losses.
"Their stats are a little misconstrued," Coach Stockstill said. "It can be misleading in a lot of ways. I think they're a lot better defensively against the run than statistically what it shows."
There may be some unknowns for Middle Tennessee going into Saturday with FAU having a new coaching staff this season led by Lane Kiffin.
One thing Coach Stockstill is counting on, though, is a tough game. Seven of the 14 contests between the teams have ended in one score or less.
"This is going to be a tough, hard-fought game," he said. "Most conference games are, and this has every bit of the makings of being a tight ballgame."
Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. and fans can watch the action on local television stations WNAB 58.2 or WUXP 30.1. It will also be streamed at WatchStadium.com.
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