Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
North Texas (ASN)
Players Mentioned
BOWL ELIGIBLE!!!
11/21/2015 3:07:00 PM | Football
MT powers past North Texas, 41-7
With its sixth win of the season, Middle Tennessee (6-5) reached bowl eligibility for the seventh time in 10 years under Head Coach Rick Stockstill, including four straight years. The Blue Raiders also improved to 11-1 at home against C-USA teams with 11 straight wins.
It was a day where Middle Tennessee won an important football game, and records fell in the process. Senior Kevin Byard set the all-time interception record at Middle Tennessee with his 18th career pick in the third quarter, breaking the previous mark of 17 by James Griffin (1979-82) that had stood 33 years.
Freshman quarterback Brent Stockstill also got into the record-breaking act.
Stockstill threw for three touchdown passes to break the single-season record. Stockstill now has 26 touchdowns, besting the previous mark of 23 by Dwight Dasher in 2009. Stockstill also threw for 322 yards for his seventh game this season of 300-plus yards, which is 10th on the career list.
It didn't stop there. Stockstill also set a new C-USA freshman record. With 3,421 yards this season, Stockstill broke the previous mark of 3,128 yards set by former Southern Miss and current Cleveland Browns QB Austin Davis in 2008.
Freshman receiver Richie James also became the top freshman pass catcher in C-USA history. James had 11 receptions for 98 yards against North Texas, giving him 93 for the season. That is the most receptions by a freshman in C-USA history.
Middle Tennessee piled up 494 yards total offense with 329 through the air and 165 on the ground. Stockstill was 27-for-38 for the 322 yards. Jordan Parker led the ground attack with 55 yards on 11 carries and a touchdown. Shane Tucker ran for 43 yards.
Defense was also sound. The Blue Raiders held North Texas to 324 yards total offense and just the one touchdown. In addition to his interception, Byard also had six tackles and a pass break-up. Trey Wafford led the stop squad with nine tackles, including two tackles for loss. Michael Minter had seven totals and one tackle for loss. T.T. Barber also added six tackles. Cavellis Luckett and D.J. Sanders recovered fumbles.
The Blue Raiders jumped out to a 21-0 lead and never looked back.
Austin Grammer capped a great opening drive with a 19-yard touchdown run to put the Blue Raiders on top 7-0 with 10:59 remaining in the first quarter. Stockstill was 5-for-5 on the drive for 41 yards with James hauling in three of the passes for 20 yards. Stockstill set the C-USA freshman record for passing yards on the drive when he connected with Shane Tucker for 12 yards. It gave Stockstill 3,129, besting the previous mark of 3,128 yards by former Southern Miss and current Cleveland Browns quarterback Austin Davis in 2008.
Stockstill and the Blue Raiders then went to the air to do their damage.
The Blue Raiders went on top 14-0 when Stockstill connected with Christian Collis for an 11-yard touchdown pass with 2:57 remaining in the first quarter. Middle Tennessee pushed the advantage to 21-0 after Stockstill rifled a 12-yard scoring strike to Demetrius Frazier with 13:59 remaining in the first half.
After North Texas broke up the shutout and got on the board midway through the second quarter, Middle Tennessee answered when Stockstill threw his third touchdown of the half, this one a 2-yard pass to Ed Batties to give the Blue Raiders a 28-7 lead with 3:32 remaining in the half.
Cody Clark's 35-yard field goal as time expired sent Middle Tennessee into the half with a 31-7 cushion.
Clark started the scoring in the third quarter when he booted a 40-yard field goal to give the Blue Raiders a 34-7 lead. Parker added a 3-yard touchdown run at the end of the third quarter as the Blue Raiders took a commanding 41-7 lead.
The Blue Raiders will close out the regular season at UTSA Saturday. Kickoff is 1:30 p.m.
POSTGAME NOTES:
CAPTAINS: Today's game captains were RB Shane Tucker, DL Raynard Felton, and DS William Eads.
STRONG AT HOME VS C-USA: With today's win over North Texas, the Blue Raiders are now 11-1 at home all-time against C-USA opponents. MT has won 11 straight over C-USA foes at Floyd Stadium.
GOOD IN NOVEMBER: Under Rick Stockstill, the Blue Raiders have enjoyed success down the final stretch of the season in November. Over its last 30 games in the month of November, the Blue Raiders are 21-9 and have won 11 of its last 14. Overall under Stockstill MT carries a 23-13 mark in November.
BOWL ELIGIBILITY: With today's win over North Texas, Middle Tennessee reached bowl eligibility for the seventh time in 10 years under Rick Stockstill, including the last four years in a row. The Blue Raiders would also be in a tie with Southern Miss for the most among Conference USA members during those 10 years.
STATE OF TENNESSEE BOWL UPDATE: Since 2009, the Blue Raiders have now been bowl eligible six of the last seven years which is more than any other FBS program in the state of Tennessee during that span. Tennessee can claim four, Vanderbilt three, and Memphis two.
STOCKSTILL SETS C-USA RECORD: With 322 passing yards against North Texas today, quarterback Brent Stockstill set a new Conference USA freshman record. Stockstill, who now has 3,421 yards on the season, broke the previous mark of 3,128 yards set by former Southern Miss and current Cleveland Browns QB Austin Davis in 2008.
STOCKSTILL OWNS TD MARK: With his touchdown pass to Christian Collis in the first quarter, Brent Stockstill now owns the single-season school record outright. Stockstill, who had three for the game, now has 26 TD passes on the year to break the previous mark of 23 set by Dwight Dasher in 2009.
STOCKSTILL TIES CAREER RECORD: Middle Tennessee QB Brent Stockstill turned in his seventh 300-yard passing game of the season with 322 yards against North Texas. That ties Stockstill for the ALL-TIME record at MT with Wes Counts in just one season. Stockstill now has four straight games with 300 or more yards.
BYARD GETS RECORD: Senior Kevin Byard set a new career interception record at Middle Tennessee when he hauled in number 18 in the third quarter against North Texas. Byard broke the previous record of 17 set by James Griffin (1979-82). Byard now has three on the season to share the team lead with Jeremy Cutrer.
QUICK HITTERS: Dating back to end of FAU game and start of NT game, QB Brent Stockstill completed 14 straight passes which ranks 3rd best all-time (record is 19) … R-JR Demetrius Frazier recorded his first collegiate TD when he hauled in a 12-yard pass in the second quarter … MT scored a TD on its opening drive of the game for the first time this season … WR Richie James' 93 receptions this season is the most ever recorded by a freshman in Conference USA history … MT is now 7-3 under Rick Stockstill on Senior Day and have won four straight … James Roberson played in his team leading 47th career game today … LB T.T. Barber made his team-high 39th straight start today … LB Cavellis Luckett recorded his third career fumble recovery in the second quarter.
