Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Saturday, November 12
Huntington, WV
6:00 PM
Middle Tennessee
6-4 , 3-3
17
at
42
Marshall University (ASN)
3-7 , 2-4
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Middle Tennessee
10
7
0
0
17
MARSHALL
7
7
7
21
42
Team Stats
MT
MAR
Total Yards
283
453
Pass Yards
220
246
Rushing Yards
63
207
Penalty Yards
42
35
1st Downs
15
29
3rd Downs
5
6
4th Downs
1
2
TOP
27:18
32:42
1st Quarter
MT 0, MAR 7
MAR - FOSTER, Hyleck 3 yd run (CURRAJ, Amoreto kick), 4 plays, 39 yards, TOP 1:12
MT 3, MAR 7
MT - ROOKER, Canon 38 yd field goal 5 plays, 26 yards, TOP 1:50
MT 10, MAR 7
MT - ANDREWS, Dennis 7 yd pass from URZUA, John (ROOKER, Canon kick) 8 plays, 79 yards, TOP 4:15
2nd Quarter
MT 10, MAR 14
MAR - HUNT, Justin 25 yd pass from LITTON, Chase (CURRAJ, Amoreto kick) 14 plays, 80 yards, TOP 6:08
MT 17, MAR 14
MT - MATHERS, I. 1 yd run (ROOKER, Canon kick), 15 plays, 75 yards, TOP 6:21
3rd Quarter
MT 17, MAR 21
MAR - HUNT, Justin 28 yd pass from LITTON, Chase (CURRAJ, Amoreto kick) 9 plays, 74 yards, TOP 3:47
4th Quarter
MT 17, MAR 28
MAR - ANDERSON, A. 15 yd run (CURRAJ, Amoreto kick), 3 plays, 35 yards, TOP 1:17
MT 17, MAR 35
MAR - KNIGHT, Josh 9 yd pass from LITTON, Chase (CURRAJ, Amoreto kick) 3 plays, 31 yards, TOP 1:00
MT 17, MAR 42
MAR - FOSTER, Hyleck 22 yd pass from LITTON, Chase (CURRAJ, Amoreto kick) 9 plays, 49 yards, TOP 5:03
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
25
TD
1
YDS
220
INT
2
Players Mentioned
WR
/ Football
OL
/ Football
DT
/ Football
WR
/ Football
WR
/ Football
RB
/ Football
DT
/ Football
S
/ Football
DE
/ Football
OL
/ Football
PK
/ FootballQB
/ FootballBlue Raiders suffer rare road loss at Marshall
11/12/2016 9:44:00 PM | Football
MT falls to 6-4 overall
HUNTINGTON, W. Va. – Middle Tennessee put together a strong first half in its road encounter at Marshall, but the Herd dominated the second half to take a 42-17 win here Saturday night.
The Blue Raiders (6-4, 3-3) lead 17-14 at intermission, but they were outscored 28-0 in the second half as Marshall pulled away for the win. Four Middle Tennessee turnovers hurt the cause as the Herd was able to convert them into 21 points. Three of the four turnovers came in the second half.
Middle Tennessee's offense was throttled with 283 yards total offense. The Blue Raiders rushed for just 63 net yards and had 220 yards through the air. Marshall was able to rack up 453 yards total offense.
Quarterback John Urzua made his first career start and finished completing 25-of-37 passes for 220 yards. He connected with Dennis Andrews for his only touchdown pass. Tailback I'Tavius Mathers had Middle Tennessee's other touchdown, when he powered in from 1 yard out to provide the Blue Raiders' halftime cushion. Mathers finished with 45 yards on 15 carries.
Receiver Richie James had another standout performance. The sophomore All-American hauled in 12 catches for 122 yards. It was his sixth straight 100-yard receiving game and seventh of the season.
Marshall took a 7-0 lead on its first possession after the Herd picked off an Urzua pass to set up an short field at the 39.
It was Urzua's only mistake of the opening stanza. He finished the quarter 10-of-14 for 119 yards and 7-yard touchdown pass to Dennis Andrews to stake the Blue Raiders to a 10-7 advantage at the end of the first quarter.
Middle Tennessee had pulled to within 7-3 earlier in the quarter when Canon Rooker connected for a 38-yard field goal after a fumbled punt by Marshall was recovered by the Blue Raiders. It kept Rooker perfect in nine tries against C-USA competition this season.
After Marshall regained the lead, Middle Tennessee answered again when Mathers powered in from the 1 to give the Blue Raiders a 17-14 advantage, It was Mathers' 13th rushing touchdown of the season, which is fifth all-time by a Middle Tennessee tailback.
The lead would stand until the half.
Middle Tennessee's defense came up big in the first half, allowing one sustained drive to help preserve the first-half advantage.
The third quarter also proved to be a defensive battle with Marshall winning the quarter 7-0 to carry a 21-17 lead into the fourth quarter. The Herd scored on the opening drive of the second half but was shut out by the Middle Tennessee defense the remainder of the third frame.
Marshall started the fourth quarter in the same fashion as the third, scoring on its first possession to go on top 28-17. Marshall recovered a Blue Raider fumble on the first play of their drive and converted the miscue into a touchdown to push the lead to 35-17 with 12:03 remaining.
Any chances of a Middle Tennessee comeback were pretty much dashed when Marshall collected its fourth turnover of the game when it picked off Urzua for the second time. The Herd cashed in once again to take a 42-17 lead with less than seven minutes remaining.
Middle Tennessee Postgame Notes
CAPTAINS: Today's game captains were OL Chandler Brewer, DL Jimal McBride and WR Max Linder.
SIX IN A ROW FOR JAMES: WR Richie James turned in his sixth straight 100-yard receiving game and seventh of the season when he tallied 122 yards on 12 catches against Marshall. James' six straight 100 yards games is a school record. He now has 12 for his career and needs three more to break the school mark of 14 set by Kendall Newson.
ROOKER TIES SMITH: PK Canon Rooker connected on his 15th field goal of the season when he made one in the first quarter. The 15 field goals ties Colby Smith (2004) for the fourth most three-pointers made in a single-season. The school record is 18 set by Alan Gendreau in 2009.
CAREER NIGHT FOR URZUA: It was only his third career game played and first start but QB John Urzua turned in a career performance. The redshirt freshman threw for a personal-best 220 yards while also setting career bests in completions (25) and attempts (37).
QUICK HITTERS: Darryl Randolph finished with a career-high 15 tackles … QB John Urzua made his first collegiate start tonight … DT Shaquille Huff started his team-leading 35th straight game today … Steven Rhodes, Shaquille Huff, and Hunter Rogers all played in their team-leading 48th career game today … The home team is still undefeated in the series … MT was held to its lowest rushing total of the season.
The Blue Raiders (6-4, 3-3) lead 17-14 at intermission, but they were outscored 28-0 in the second half as Marshall pulled away for the win. Four Middle Tennessee turnovers hurt the cause as the Herd was able to convert them into 21 points. Three of the four turnovers came in the second half.
Middle Tennessee's offense was throttled with 283 yards total offense. The Blue Raiders rushed for just 63 net yards and had 220 yards through the air. Marshall was able to rack up 453 yards total offense.
Quarterback John Urzua made his first career start and finished completing 25-of-37 passes for 220 yards. He connected with Dennis Andrews for his only touchdown pass. Tailback I'Tavius Mathers had Middle Tennessee's other touchdown, when he powered in from 1 yard out to provide the Blue Raiders' halftime cushion. Mathers finished with 45 yards on 15 carries.
Receiver Richie James had another standout performance. The sophomore All-American hauled in 12 catches for 122 yards. It was his sixth straight 100-yard receiving game and seventh of the season.
Marshall took a 7-0 lead on its first possession after the Herd picked off an Urzua pass to set up an short field at the 39.
It was Urzua's only mistake of the opening stanza. He finished the quarter 10-of-14 for 119 yards and 7-yard touchdown pass to Dennis Andrews to stake the Blue Raiders to a 10-7 advantage at the end of the first quarter.
Middle Tennessee had pulled to within 7-3 earlier in the quarter when Canon Rooker connected for a 38-yard field goal after a fumbled punt by Marshall was recovered by the Blue Raiders. It kept Rooker perfect in nine tries against C-USA competition this season.
After Marshall regained the lead, Middle Tennessee answered again when Mathers powered in from the 1 to give the Blue Raiders a 17-14 advantage, It was Mathers' 13th rushing touchdown of the season, which is fifth all-time by a Middle Tennessee tailback.
The lead would stand until the half.
Middle Tennessee's defense came up big in the first half, allowing one sustained drive to help preserve the first-half advantage.
The third quarter also proved to be a defensive battle with Marshall winning the quarter 7-0 to carry a 21-17 lead into the fourth quarter. The Herd scored on the opening drive of the second half but was shut out by the Middle Tennessee defense the remainder of the third frame.
Marshall started the fourth quarter in the same fashion as the third, scoring on its first possession to go on top 28-17. Marshall recovered a Blue Raider fumble on the first play of their drive and converted the miscue into a touchdown to push the lead to 35-17 with 12:03 remaining.
Any chances of a Middle Tennessee comeback were pretty much dashed when Marshall collected its fourth turnover of the game when it picked off Urzua for the second time. The Herd cashed in once again to take a 42-17 lead with less than seven minutes remaining.
Middle Tennessee Postgame Notes
CAPTAINS: Today's game captains were OL Chandler Brewer, DL Jimal McBride and WR Max Linder.
SIX IN A ROW FOR JAMES: WR Richie James turned in his sixth straight 100-yard receiving game and seventh of the season when he tallied 122 yards on 12 catches against Marshall. James' six straight 100 yards games is a school record. He now has 12 for his career and needs three more to break the school mark of 14 set by Kendall Newson.
ROOKER TIES SMITH: PK Canon Rooker connected on his 15th field goal of the season when he made one in the first quarter. The 15 field goals ties Colby Smith (2004) for the fourth most three-pointers made in a single-season. The school record is 18 set by Alan Gendreau in 2009.
CAREER NIGHT FOR URZUA: It was only his third career game played and first start but QB John Urzua turned in a career performance. The redshirt freshman threw for a personal-best 220 yards while also setting career bests in completions (25) and attempts (37).
QUICK HITTERS: Darryl Randolph finished with a career-high 15 tackles … QB John Urzua made his first collegiate start tonight … DT Shaquille Huff started his team-leading 35th straight game today … Steven Rhodes, Shaquille Huff, and Hunter Rogers all played in their team-leading 48th career game today … The home team is still undefeated in the series … MT was held to its lowest rushing total of the season.
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