Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
Troy (ESPN2)
Raiders, Trojans set to battle on ESPN2
10/5/2009 2:44:00 PM | Football
TROY, AL - Middle Tennessee and Troy both posted road wins in their Sun Belt Conference openers last weekend, and will battle Tuesday night before a nationally televised audience on ESPN2. Kickoff is set for 7:04 PM CDT.
Middle Tennessee started fast and took a 37-21 win at North Texas. Troy was even more impressive, winning at Arkansas State, 30-27.
Despite having to play the Trojans on their home field, Middle Tennessee Head Coach Rick Stockstill believes his team will be ready for the three-time conference champions.
"This is the most important game on our schedule because it is the next one," said Stockstill. "We feel like we will be ready to play. We haven't played complete games in our last two outings, and we are due for a good game, which we will need if we are going to win."
While Middle Tennessee holds an 11-5 overall series edge over Troy, Stockstill will be looking for his first win over the Trojans. Troy has won the last three games, including a 31-17 triumph in Murfreesboro last year.
Many observers feel the game will be an offensive shootout. Offensively, the Blue Raiders spread offense is tops in the SBC, averaging 407 yards per games. Troy is not far behind at 375 yd/gm.
Troy and Middle Tennessee rank first and second in the league in passing, with the Trojans having a four-yards-per-game edge in the stats.
Blue Raider quarterback Dwight Dasher is the SBC's total offense leader at 319.8 yards/game, while Troy Quarterback Levi Brown is the most prolific passer at nearly 275 yds/game, with Dasher second at 257.
Middle Tennessee's Red Zone offense is one of the most effective in the league, scoring 14 times on 16 opportunities, with nine touchdowns and five field goals
While the potential to light up the scoreboard is there, Stockstill feels that the game will be won based on how the respective defenses play.
"Troy has been great offensively, but I think it is a misconception that their offense is their strong point. Their defense has been why they have won," said Stockstill. "They have great ends and linebackers, in fact their front seven is as good as anybody in the country. Boris Lee and Bear Woods are very, very good."
In addition to Lee and Woods, Troy placed three other players on the pre-season SBC team, but it has been Middle Tennessee's defense that has surprised most folks.
End Chris McCoy and safety Kevin Brown have been named the league's Defensive Players of the Week for their performances at Maryland and North Texas, respectively.
Also, the Blue Raiders lead the league and are 11th in the nation in what Stockstill believes is one of the keys to winning football games, and that is forcing turnovers. Thru four games, MT has a +6 turnover margin, with seven fumble recoveries and six interceptions. They have also blocked two field goal attempts and one extra point.
While no team in the SBC has been eliminated yet, this game will have a definite impact on the league race. The winner will be in the driver's seat, and the loser will have to have help to win the title.
Along with an ESPN2 audience, the game will also be carried live on the Blue Raider Network, with Chip Walters and Kelly Holcomb. Affiliates are WGNS 1450 AM, 101.9FM and WMOT-FM 89.5 in Murfreesboro, WNSR 560AM in Nashville and 103.9 FM in Bowling Green, KY.
