Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Saturday, September 12
Tuscaloosa, AL
3:00 PM
Middle Tennessee
1-1
10
at
37
University of Alabama (SEC Network)
2-0
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Middle Tennessee
0
3
0
7
10
Alabama
7
16
14
0
37
Team Stats
MT
UA
Total Yards
275
532
Pass Yards
189
312
Rushing Yards
86
220
Penalty Yards
67
40
1st Downs
15
28
3rd Downs
6
4
4th Downs
1
2
TOP
27:04
32:56
1st Quarter
MT 0, UA 7
UA - Robert Foster 19 yd pass from Jake Coker (Adam Griffith kick) 4 plays, 32 yards, TOP 1:44
2nd Quarter
MT 3, UA 7
MT - CLARK, Cody 20 yd field goal 12 plays, 45 yards, TOP 3:14
MT 3, UA 14
UA - Derrick Henry 2 yd run (Adam Griffith kick), 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 3:46
MT 3, UA 21
UA - Derrick Henry 1 yd run (Adam Griffith kick), 2 plays, 70 yards, TOP 0:24
MT 3, UA 23
UA - TEAM 8 yd safety
3rd Quarter
MT 3, UA 30
UA - Kenyan Drake 14 yd pass from Cooper Bateman (Adam Griffith kick) 4 plays, 55 yards, TOP 1:26
MT 3, UA 37
UA - Derrick Henry 28 yd run (Adam Griffith kick), 11 plays, 97 yards, TOP 4:36
4th Quarter
MT 10, UA 37
MT - DUCKSWORTH, R. 15 yd pass from GRAMMER, Austin (CLARK, Cody kick) 3 plays, 20 yards, TOP 1:15
Game Leaders
CMP
1
TD
1
YDS
15
INT
0
Players Mentioned
RB
/ Football
S
/ Football
PK
/ Football
WR
/ Football
CB
/ Football
WR
/ FootballQB/WR
/ Football
WR
/ Football
RB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
RB
/ FootballBlue Raiders fall at No. 2 Alabama, 37-10
9/12/2015 7:33:00 PM | Football
Turnovers costly in setback
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Middle Tennessee put forth a solid effort before falling to No. 2 Alabama, 37-10, in front of 98,568 at Bryant-Denny Stadium here Saturday.
The Blue Raiders (1-1) trailed 7-3 early in the second quarter before Alabama scored 16 unanswered points to finish the half with a 23-3 advantage. Alabama took control by outscoring the Blue Raiders 14-0 in the third quarter.
Middle Tennessee finished with 275 yards total offense against the Tide defense with 189 yards through the air and 86 on the ground. The Blue Raiders offense was also guilty of four turnovers and a missed field goal to see promising drives stall with no points.
Quarterback Brent Stockstill was 22-of-42 for 174 yards. He also threw one interception. Backup Austin Grammer was 1-for-1 with a 15-yard scoring pass to Rod Ducksworth in the fourth quarter. Redshirt freshman receiver Richie James had a career day with 10 catches for 95 yards and has become a go-to receiver in the early going with 17 grabs through two games.
Stockstill also led the ground game with 29 yards rushing, followed by Jordan Parker (25) and Shane Tucker (18).
Alabama (2-0) finished with 532 yards total offense with 312 coming through the air and 220 on the ground. The Blue Raider defense did a good job managing tough situations following turnovers to keep the game from totally getting away from Middle Tennessee.
Middle Tennessee scored its only touchdown in the fourth quarter after Jeremy Cutrer picked off a pass and returned it 80 yards to the Alabama 20 to set the Blue Raiders up in great field position. Grammer came on for his first action and engineered a three-play, 20-yard drive culminating with the touchdown pass to Ducksworth.
Middle Tennessee played outstanding on offense and defense in the first half; however, the Blue Raiders were their own worst enemy.
The Blue Raiders had three turnovers, a missed field goal and a blocked punt in the first half as Alabama took a 23-3 halftime advantage and scored 14 points off of turnovers.
Moving the ball was not a problem for Middle Tennessee in the first half, but finishing drives was an issue. The Blue Raiders piled up 185 yards total offense in the first half and showed good balance with 133 yards passing and 52 rushing, but they failed to capitalize.
Middle Tennessee's defense got off the field and gave the team a chance but the turnovers and short field eventually proved costly. The Blue Raiders held Alabama to just 39 yards rushing in the first half.
The Blue Raiders got their only points of the first half when Cody Clark nailed a 20-yard field goal with 13:00 remaining in the first half to close the score to 7-3; however, Alabama scored 16 unanswered points to take a 23-3 halftime advantage.
Middle Tennessee will return to action when it plays host to Charlotte in the C-USA opener Saturday, Sept. 19.
MIDDLE TENNESSEE POSTGAME NOTES
CAPTAINS: Today's game captains were WR Christian Collis, DT Pat McNeil and RB Jeremiah Bryson.
CLARK TIES ARRINGTON: PK Cody Clark connected on a 20-yard field goal in the second quarter which went down as the 22nd of his career. The 22 three-pointers ties him with Archie Arrington for eighth place on the all-time list. He needs eight more to tie Colby Smith for seventh place.
JAMES SETS CAREER-HIGH: Redshirt freshman Richie James led the Blue Raiders with a personal-best 10 receptions for a career-high 95 yards against Alabama. James bettered his previous mark of seven catches set in the opener and now has 17 receptions on the season.
HURTING THEMSELVES: Middle Tennessee's offense had several impressive first-half drives and spent much of the opening half in Alabama territory, but the Blue Raiders' inability to finish drives proved detrimental. Middle Tennessee had three turnovers (two fumbles, one interception) and missed a field goal in the first half against the Tide. Alabama scored 14 points off of those miscues on their way to a 23-3 halftime lead.
HAPPY HOMECOMING: QB Austin Grammer came into the game in the fourth quarter after an interception set the Blue Raiders up at the Alabama 20. The Tuscaloosa, Ala., native engineered a three-play drive culminating with a 15-yard TD pass to Rod Ducksworth.
NO. 16: Senior Kevin Byard notched his 16th career interception late in the first half against Alabama. Byard is now one shy of equalling the school record of 17 set by James Griffin (1979-82).
QUICK HITTERS: Kevin Byard and James Roberson played in their team leading 39th career game today … Kevin Byard made his 39th straight start to lead the Raiders … The announced crowd of 98,568 marked the second largest crowd MT has ever played in front of during its history.
The Blue Raiders (1-1) trailed 7-3 early in the second quarter before Alabama scored 16 unanswered points to finish the half with a 23-3 advantage. Alabama took control by outscoring the Blue Raiders 14-0 in the third quarter.
Middle Tennessee finished with 275 yards total offense against the Tide defense with 189 yards through the air and 86 on the ground. The Blue Raiders offense was also guilty of four turnovers and a missed field goal to see promising drives stall with no points.
Quarterback Brent Stockstill was 22-of-42 for 174 yards. He also threw one interception. Backup Austin Grammer was 1-for-1 with a 15-yard scoring pass to Rod Ducksworth in the fourth quarter. Redshirt freshman receiver Richie James had a career day with 10 catches for 95 yards and has become a go-to receiver in the early going with 17 grabs through two games.
Stockstill also led the ground game with 29 yards rushing, followed by Jordan Parker (25) and Shane Tucker (18).
Alabama (2-0) finished with 532 yards total offense with 312 coming through the air and 220 on the ground. The Blue Raider defense did a good job managing tough situations following turnovers to keep the game from totally getting away from Middle Tennessee.
Middle Tennessee scored its only touchdown in the fourth quarter after Jeremy Cutrer picked off a pass and returned it 80 yards to the Alabama 20 to set the Blue Raiders up in great field position. Grammer came on for his first action and engineered a three-play, 20-yard drive culminating with the touchdown pass to Ducksworth.
Middle Tennessee played outstanding on offense and defense in the first half; however, the Blue Raiders were their own worst enemy.
The Blue Raiders had three turnovers, a missed field goal and a blocked punt in the first half as Alabama took a 23-3 halftime advantage and scored 14 points off of turnovers.
Moving the ball was not a problem for Middle Tennessee in the first half, but finishing drives was an issue. The Blue Raiders piled up 185 yards total offense in the first half and showed good balance with 133 yards passing and 52 rushing, but they failed to capitalize.
Middle Tennessee's defense got off the field and gave the team a chance but the turnovers and short field eventually proved costly. The Blue Raiders held Alabama to just 39 yards rushing in the first half.
The Blue Raiders got their only points of the first half when Cody Clark nailed a 20-yard field goal with 13:00 remaining in the first half to close the score to 7-3; however, Alabama scored 16 unanswered points to take a 23-3 halftime advantage.
Middle Tennessee will return to action when it plays host to Charlotte in the C-USA opener Saturday, Sept. 19.
MIDDLE TENNESSEE POSTGAME NOTES
CAPTAINS: Today's game captains were WR Christian Collis, DT Pat McNeil and RB Jeremiah Bryson.
CLARK TIES ARRINGTON: PK Cody Clark connected on a 20-yard field goal in the second quarter which went down as the 22nd of his career. The 22 three-pointers ties him with Archie Arrington for eighth place on the all-time list. He needs eight more to tie Colby Smith for seventh place.
JAMES SETS CAREER-HIGH: Redshirt freshman Richie James led the Blue Raiders with a personal-best 10 receptions for a career-high 95 yards against Alabama. James bettered his previous mark of seven catches set in the opener and now has 17 receptions on the season.
HURTING THEMSELVES: Middle Tennessee's offense had several impressive first-half drives and spent much of the opening half in Alabama territory, but the Blue Raiders' inability to finish drives proved detrimental. Middle Tennessee had three turnovers (two fumbles, one interception) and missed a field goal in the first half against the Tide. Alabama scored 14 points off of those miscues on their way to a 23-3 halftime lead.
HAPPY HOMECOMING: QB Austin Grammer came into the game in the fourth quarter after an interception set the Blue Raiders up at the Alabama 20. The Tuscaloosa, Ala., native engineered a three-play drive culminating with a 15-yard TD pass to Rod Ducksworth.
NO. 16: Senior Kevin Byard notched his 16th career interception late in the first half against Alabama. Byard is now one shy of equalling the school record of 17 set by James Griffin (1979-82).
QUICK HITTERS: Kevin Byard and James Roberson played in their team leading 39th career game today … Kevin Byard made his 39th straight start to lead the Raiders … The announced crowd of 98,568 marked the second largest crowd MT has ever played in front of during its history.
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