Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
3-4 , 2-1
Florida International University (FSN)
3-4 , 1-2
Team Stats
FIU 3, MT 0
FIU - TAYLOR, Austin 18 yd field goal 4 plays, 0 yards, TOP 1:22
FIU 3, MT 7
MT - ANDERSON, D. 1 yd run (CLARK, Cody kick), 15 plays, 80 yards, TOP 6:21
FIU 9, MT 7
FIU - GARDNER, Alex 2 yd pass from McGOUGH, Alex (TAYLOR, Austin kickfailed) 8 plays, 63 yards, TOP 3:05
FIU 9, MT 14
MT - ANDERSON, D. 1 yd run (CLARK, Cody kick), 12 plays, 68 yards, TOP 5:10
FIU 16, MT 14
FIU - GARDNER, Alex 2 yd run (TAYLOR, Austin kick), 7 plays, 60 yards, TOP 3:05
FIU 16, MT 21
MT - THOMAS, Kamani 15 yd run (CLARK, Cody kick), 3 plays, 69 yards, TOP 1:07
FIU 16, MT 28
MT - ANDERSON, D. 10 yd run (CLARK, Cody kick), 4 plays, 70 yards, TOP 1:22
FIU 19, MT 28
FIU - TAYLOR, Austin 22 yd field goal 13 plays, 61 yards, TOP 5:15
FIU 19, MT 35
MT - THOMAS, Kamani 26 yd run (CLARK, Cody kick), 9 plays, 74 yards, TOP 2:50
FIU 27, MT 35
FIU - McGOUGH, Alex 1 yd run (SMITH, Jonnu pass), 8 plays, 28 yards, TOP 3:40
FIU 27, MT 42
MT - STOCKSTILL, B. 1 yd run (CLARK, Cody kick), 5 plays, 61 yards, TOP 1:39
FIU 34, MT 42
FIU - OWENS, Thomas 10 yd pass from McGOUGH, Alex (TAYLOR, Austin kick) 9 plays, 68 yards, TOP 2:01
Players Mentioned
What a rush! Blue Raiders win
10/17/2015 3:55:00 PM | Football
MT scores six rushing TDs in victory
The Blue Raiders (3-4, 2-1) turned back FIU, 42-34, in front of 13,227 at Floyd Stadium behind a bruising ground attack that included 200 yards and six rushing touchdowns. It was the most rushing scores in a game since the Blue Raiders collected seven against Austin Peay in 2010.
Such excellence had to bring a smile to Bayless – a hard-nosed, bruising back who toted the pigskin with great success during a four-year career that included more than 4,000 yards rushing.
Pressed into duty because of injuries to the top three tailbacks on the depth chart, true freshman Desmond Anderson enjoyed a breakout performance with 29 carries for 144 yards and three touchdowns. Redshirt sophomore Kamani Thomas added 51 yards on five carries. He turned two of his five carries into touchdowns. Quarterback Brent Stockstill added the sixth rushing touchdown to essentially seal the game in the fourth quarter.
Stockstill completed 17-of-26 passes for 261 yards. The Blue Raiders' offense piled up 461 yards total offense and converted a remarkable 7-of-11 third-down conversions in the win.
The Blue Raider defense also came up big at key times with two goal-line stands and a huge stop late in the game when FIU was driving toward a potential game-tying score.
Kevin Byard led the stop squad with 10 tackles, eight solo and one pass break-up. Quay Watt added seven tackles, six solo. T.T. Barber finished with six tackles, one pass break-up and one hurry. Michael Minter also had a strong line with three solo tackles, one interception, one tackle for loss and one pass break-up.
The game wasn't decided until Stockstill capped the win with a 1-yard rushing touchdown with nine minutes remaining. It was the first rushing score of Stockstill's career and provided Middle Tennessee with a 42-27 advantage.
FIU struck first when Austin Taylor connected on an 18-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead with 11:30 remaining in the first quarter. It was a victory for the Middle Tennessee defense after FIU had intercepted Stockstill on the Blue Raiders' first play from scrimmage.
Stockstill chased Richard Leonard down at the 1 to prevent the touchdown. The Middle Tennessee defense didn't allow a yard and forced the field goal. Michael Minter, Trey Wafford, Chris Hale and Cavellis Luckett all came up big on the goal-line stand.
After a miscue on its first possession, Middle Tennessee's offense went to work on its longest drive of the season in terms of plays and time of possession. Desmond Anderson capped an 80-yard, 15-play drive that consumed 6:21 when he plunged in from the 1 to give the Blue Raiders a 7-3 lead with 5:09 remaining in the frame.
Anderson made his presence felt once again in the second quarter when he scored his second touchdown to erase a 9-7 FIU lead. Anderson's 1-yard score capped a 12-play, 68-yard drive and provided Middle Tennessee with a 14-9 advantage with 11:54 remaining.
After FIU went on top 16-14 with 8:49 remaining in the first half, Middle Tennessee came back to regain the lead in quick fashion. Sophomore tailback Kamani Thomas' first carry of the season resulted in a 15-yard touchdown run. It was also just the fourth carry of his career and put the Blue Raiders ahead 21-16 midway through the second quarter.
Minter's first career interception thwarted a FIU drive and helped Middle Tennessee extend its lead on the Golden Panthers' next possession. The Blue Raiders turned the miscue into points when Anderson scored his third touchdown of the half on a 10-yard run to provide the Blue Raiders with a 28-16 lead with 1:15 remaining before intermission.
FIU pulled to within 28-19 on a Taylor 22-yard field goal with 7:37 remaining, but Thomas' second rushing touchdown of the game – and his career – gave Middle Tennessee a 35-19 lead with time running down in the third quarter. Thomas scored from 26 yards out to cap a nine-play, 74-yard drive and put the Blue Raiders in good shape for the final 15 minutes.
Middle Tennessee will play at Louisiana Tech Saturday, Oct. 24. Kickoff is 2:30 p.m.
POSTGAME NOTES
CAPTAINS: Today's game captains were OL Maurquice Shakir, LB Cavellis Luckett, and LB DJ Sanders.
CAREER DAY FOR ANDERSON: True freshman Desmond Anderson, seeing his first extended action of the season due to all the injuries at running back, made the most of his opportunity on Saturday. Anderson set personal-bests in rushing attempts, yards and touchdowns with 144 yards on 29 carries against FIU. Anderson also added three touc hdowns. The 144 yards rushing are the most by a Blue Raider tailback this season. It marked the second 100-yard rushing game of the season for MT and Anderson became the ninth different back to top 100 yards under offensive Coordinator Buster Faulkner.
DUCKSWORTH'S DAY: WR Rod Ducksworth enjoyed a career day against FIU. The junior hauled in three passes for 76 yards and both were personal highs.
JAMES REACHES TOP 10: WR Richie James has found his way into the record books following Middle Tennessee's win over FIU. James had six catches for 104 yards to give him 55 receptions on the season. His 55 catches puts him in 10th place on the single-season receptions list.
THIRD FOR JAMES: Freshman receiver Richie James registered his third 100-yard receiving game of the season and his third in the last four games. James had six receptions for 104 yards to help MT to its third victory of the year.
HIGH OCTANE: Middle Tennessee continued to put up gaudy offensive numbers at home this season. The Blue Raiders scored 40-plus at home for the third time this season against FIU, and the unit piled up 461 yards total offense. The Blue Raiders are averaging 49.5 points and 511.3 yards per game at Floyd Stadium through four games.
QUICK HITTERS: RB Kamani Thomas scored on a 15-yard run in the second quarter and it was his first carry of the season and just the fourth of his career … Austin Grammer's 20-yard reception in second quarter was the longest of his career … Kevin Byard and James Roberson played in their team leading 43rd career game today … LB T.T. Barber made his team-high 35th straight start today … Shaquille Huff came up with his first sack of the season in the first half and the fifth of his career … Mike Minter had the first interception of his career late in the first half … MT is now 46-3 under Stockstill when scoring 40 or more points
