Raiders close home slate Saturday

Saturday, November 22

Murfreesboro, TN

6:00 PM

Middle Tennessee

Florida Atlantic

11/21/2014 6:00:00 AM | Football

Say farewell to 20 seniors

By: @MTAthletics

MURFREESBORO – Middle Tennessee will host its annual Salute to Armed Services/Veteran's Day on Saturday with a home game against Florida Atlantic University at 6 PM in Floyd Stadium as the Blue Raiders play for one of the remaining slots in a Conference USA-affiliated bowl game.

Saturday is also Senior Day and Middle Tennessee will honor 20 players in a pregame ceremony who will be playing their final home game as a Blue Raider. The seniors being honored are: Isaiah Anderson, Shubert Bastien, Darrell Baptist, Keemem Berry, Khari Burke, Devin Clarke, Leighton Gasque, Christian Henry, Marcus Henry, Patrick Hughes, John Kelly, Zachary Lopez, Sean O'Kane, Chris Perkins, Greg Rein, Tony Rowland, Jonah Sells, Chris Sharpe, Max Ugboaja, and Reggie Whatley.

And what better group to inspire the Blue Raiders to do whatever it takes to win than the group of veterans, many of whom attended Middle Tennessee that will be on hand to cheer them on.

The vets, from all branches of the service, will be honored with a picnic on Saturday afternoon on the Blue Raider Hall of Fame lawn, given tickets to the game provided by Middle Tennessee, and recognized in special halftime activities.

The game will be broadcast live over the Blue Raider Network, with long-time announcer Chip Walters handling play-by-play and former Blue Raider linebacker Dennis Burke doing color commentary. BRN has a number of affiliates in the mid-state area, including WMOT-FM and WGNS AM/FM in Murfreesboro. The game will also be televised over the American Sports Network.

Both MT and FAU come into Saturday night's game hoping to close the season on a high note. The Blue Raiders (5-5 overall, 4-2 in Conference USA) are hoping to send their 20 seniors out with a victory while FAU (3-7 overall, 2-4 in C-USA) simply wants to end their season positively and build momentum for 2015.

After last week's stunning loss at Florida International, a game in which the favored Blue Raiders turned the ball over five times, Coach Rick Stockstill's remarks turned the weekly media briefing on Monday into a clinic on protecting the football. One local beat writer noted that Stockstill, now in his 9^th season at the helm of the Blue Raider football program, used the phrase "protecting the football" more than a dozen times.

"Protecting the football is all about us," Stockstill declared. "It is about us going out and controlling what we can control, and doing the things that we have to do to win and that is protecting the football.

"We stunk last week at doing it. You're not going to beat anybody when you turn the ball over five times."

The stats support Stockstill's feelings on turnovers, and how they can affect a game. In the four games so far this season that the Blue Raiders have won the turnover battle, their record is 4-0. But they are 0-4 in games in which they have lost the turnover battle, and 1-1 in games in which both teams had the same number of turnovers.

Statistics in another area are also very favorable in the Blue Raiders' quest to end the home portion of the schedule on a positive note. Thru the first ten games of the season, the Blue Raiders are 4-1 at home, while FAU is 0-6 on the road.

Sophomore quarterback Austin Grammer continues to pace the Blue Raiders in passing and total offense. In the ten games played so far, Grammer has passed for 2,298 yards and 15 touchdowns. In total offense, Grammer is averaging 258.7 yards per game, which is also 4^th best in Conference USA.

Sophomore running back Shane Tucker has ten touchdowns in ten games, six by rushing and four more on pass receptions.

As a team, the Blue Raiders rank 4^th in total offense, 6^th in passing offense and 6th in scoring.

Defensively, Middle Tennessee is 8^th in rushing defense, 10^th in total defense and last in pass defense.

The Blue Raiders need to make a strong statement against FAU, not only to bounce back from their loss at FIU, but to keep them in bowl consideration. With a 5-5 overall mark, Middle Tennessee still needs one more victory to become bowl eligible.