Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Saturday, December 16
7:00 PM
Middle Tennessee
7-6
35
vs
30
Arkansas State University
7-5
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Middle Tennessee
7
14
7
7
35
Arkansas State
3
7
7
13
30
Team Stats
MT
A-ST
Total Yards
352
462
Pass Yards
232
358
Rushing Yards
120
104
Penalty Yards
87
81
1st Downs
17
30
3rd Downs
6
9
4th Downs
0
2
TOP
29:42
30:18
1st Quarter
MT 0, A-ST 3
A-ST - Williams, S. 20 yd field goal 7 plays, 35 yards, TOP 1:57
MT 7, A-ST 3
MT - WEST, Terelle 45 yd run (ROOKER, Canon kick), 4 plays, 65 yards, TOP 2:21
2nd Quarter
MT 14, A-ST 3
MT - SANDERS, DJ 54 yd fumble recovery (ROOKER, Canon kick)
MT 14, A-ST 10
A-ST - Hansen, Justice 1 yd run (Williams, S. kick), 13 plays, 85 yards, TOP 3:34
MT 21, A-ST 10
MT - GARNETT, Ruben 31 yd pass from STOCKSTILL, B. (ROOKER, Canon kick) 3 plays, 50 yards, TOP 1:05
3rd Quarter
MT 28, A-ST 10
MT - THOMAS, Tavares 2 yd run (ROOKER, Canon kick), 12 plays, 73 yards, TOP 4:38
MT 28, A-ST 17
A-ST - McInnis, Justin 20 yd pass from Hansen, Justice (Williams, S. kick) 10 plays, 58 yards, TOP 2:50
4th Quarter
MT 28, A-ST 23
A-ST - Wand, Warren 2 yd pass from Hansen, Justice (Hansen, Justice passfailed) 9 plays, 58 yards, TOP 2:58
MT 35, A-ST 23
MT - TUCKER, Shane 30 yd pass from STOCKSTILL, B. (ROOKER, Canon kick) 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:16
MT 35, A-ST 30
A-ST - Booker, C. 41 yd pass from Hansen, Justice (Williams, S. kick) 4 plays, 51 yards, TOP 0:48
Players Mentioned
LB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
LB/RB
/ Football
ATH
/ Football
RB
/ Football
WR
/ FootballBlue Raiders cap season with Camellia Bowl victory
12/17/2017 12:42:00 AM | Football
Darius Harris named Camellia Bowl MVP
POST GAME NOTES
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Just as it's done all season, Middle Tennessee showed an incredible amount of resiliency Saturday night in taking down Arkansas State for the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl championship, its first bowl victory since 2009.
Despite a four-hour marathon game, a late A-State comeback, committing three turnovers, suffering a rough outing from their quarterback and injuries keeping some key guys sidelined, the Blue Raiders were undeterred in the 35-30 win.
The victory snapped a four-game bowl losing streak for the Blue Raiders (7-6) and pushed their all-time record against their old Sun Belt Conference rival Red Wolves (7-5) to 10-5.
"It was a very hard-fought, competitive game," MT head coach Rick Stockstill said. "We came into this game and we were the underdog … and that was a little bit of motivation for us.
"This team, the toughness they showed throughout this game and the competitiveness, it was really fun to watch how hard they played and competed. It was just a really, really satisfying and enjoying win."
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Brent Stockstill had a rough outing, but came up big when it mattered most.
With just over 12 minutes remaining and the Blue Raiders nursing a 28-23 lead, he hit senior Shane Tucker over the middle for a 30-yard touchdown two plays after connecting with sophomore CJ Windham for 34 yards.
The TD halted a 13-0 A-State run and essentially put the finishing touches on the win.
"Shane's given so much to this program … and there's nobody I wanted to score a touchdown more tonight than Shane Tucker," Brent Stockstill said. "For me to be able to throw that to him and celebrate with him and see his smile, that was pretty amazing."
Stockstill had thrown just five interceptions in six games played this season going into Saturday, but had three on the night. He finished 19-of-32 for 232 yards and two TDs.
His first pass of the game was off target and picked, then on the Blue Raiders' third drive a questionable call wound up being his second INT in eight pass attempts. Another pass was picked in the third quarter.
Instead of dropping their heads after the turnovers, Middle Tennessee's resilient defense simply went to work against the Red Wolves' nationally 11th-ranked offense.
The Blue Raider stop squad gave up just three points off the first two turnovers, allowing MT to hold a 7-3 lead after the first quarter thanks to a 45-yard rushing score from redshirt sophomore Terelle West. Then, they forced and recovered a red-zone fumble after Stockstill's third-quarter INT, preserving a 28-17 lead.
"I have to take better care of the ball, obviously," Brent Stockstill said, "but every time you throw an interception and the defense can get a three and out or hold them, it gives you that confidence back knowing that they have your back."
Holding tough after the turnovers was far from the end of the story for Middle Tennessee's defense.
The Blue Raider stoppers also forced plenty of takeaways, picking off A-State quarterback Justice Hansen once and coming up with two fumble recoveries.
"I thought the defense was really, really special tonight," Coach Stockstill said. "They played fast, put pressure on the quarterback ... they were just really good."
The most exciting play of the night for MT's defense came in the second quarter.
After a Middle Tennessee punt, the Red Wolves took over looking to turn around a 7-3 MT advantage. On third down in Raider territory, Hansen dropped back to pass but was immediately pressured by a blitzing Darius Harris. The redshirt junior linebacker came up with the sack and got a hand on the ball, forcing a fumble that was scooped up and returned by senior D.J. Sanders 54 yards for a touchdown.
It was Sanders' fourth career defensive score to add to three pick sixes.
"It was an inside blitz for me … and I guess their guard and tackle had some miscommunication," Harris said. "He put the ball down and didn't have anywhere to throw, and I got the fumble and D.J. was there for the scoop and score."
Harris was named the game's Most Valuable Player after racking up a game-high and career-high-tying 12 tackles with the sack and forced fumble. He also had two pass breakups.
Sanders finished with 10 tackles and a sack in his final collegiate game.
On the offensive side, running backs West and Tavares Thomas were a two-headed attack. West had 65 yards and a TD on 10 carries, while Thomas finished with 49 yards and a TD on 16 attempts.
Tucker led the way in the receiving department with four catches for 63 yards and a score, while Windham also had 63 yards on three receptions.
Sanders and Tucker were just two of the 14 seniors who leave this year's team being bowl eligible all four years, or five for some.
"That's special for those seniors, because you always remember your last game," Coach Stockstill said. "But, it wasn't just about the seniors. It was about sending this team off.
"They're Camellia Bowl champions for the rest of their lives."
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Just as it's done all season, Middle Tennessee showed an incredible amount of resiliency Saturday night in taking down Arkansas State for the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl championship, its first bowl victory since 2009.
Despite a four-hour marathon game, a late A-State comeback, committing three turnovers, suffering a rough outing from their quarterback and injuries keeping some key guys sidelined, the Blue Raiders were undeterred in the 35-30 win.
The victory snapped a four-game bowl losing streak for the Blue Raiders (7-6) and pushed their all-time record against their old Sun Belt Conference rival Red Wolves (7-5) to 10-5.
"It was a very hard-fought, competitive game," MT head coach Rick Stockstill said. "We came into this game and we were the underdog … and that was a little bit of motivation for us.
"This team, the toughness they showed throughout this game and the competitiveness, it was really fun to watch how hard they played and competed. It was just a really, really satisfying and enjoying win."
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Brent Stockstill had a rough outing, but came up big when it mattered most.
With just over 12 minutes remaining and the Blue Raiders nursing a 28-23 lead, he hit senior Shane Tucker over the middle for a 30-yard touchdown two plays after connecting with sophomore CJ Windham for 34 yards.
The TD halted a 13-0 A-State run and essentially put the finishing touches on the win.
"Shane's given so much to this program … and there's nobody I wanted to score a touchdown more tonight than Shane Tucker," Brent Stockstill said. "For me to be able to throw that to him and celebrate with him and see his smile, that was pretty amazing."
Stockstill had thrown just five interceptions in six games played this season going into Saturday, but had three on the night. He finished 19-of-32 for 232 yards and two TDs.
His first pass of the game was off target and picked, then on the Blue Raiders' third drive a questionable call wound up being his second INT in eight pass attempts. Another pass was picked in the third quarter.
Instead of dropping their heads after the turnovers, Middle Tennessee's resilient defense simply went to work against the Red Wolves' nationally 11th-ranked offense.
The Blue Raider stop squad gave up just three points off the first two turnovers, allowing MT to hold a 7-3 lead after the first quarter thanks to a 45-yard rushing score from redshirt sophomore Terelle West. Then, they forced and recovered a red-zone fumble after Stockstill's third-quarter INT, preserving a 28-17 lead.
"I have to take better care of the ball, obviously," Brent Stockstill said, "but every time you throw an interception and the defense can get a three and out or hold them, it gives you that confidence back knowing that they have your back."
Holding tough after the turnovers was far from the end of the story for Middle Tennessee's defense.
The Blue Raider stoppers also forced plenty of takeaways, picking off A-State quarterback Justice Hansen once and coming up with two fumble recoveries.
"I thought the defense was really, really special tonight," Coach Stockstill said. "They played fast, put pressure on the quarterback ... they were just really good."
The most exciting play of the night for MT's defense came in the second quarter.
After a Middle Tennessee punt, the Red Wolves took over looking to turn around a 7-3 MT advantage. On third down in Raider territory, Hansen dropped back to pass but was immediately pressured by a blitzing Darius Harris. The redshirt junior linebacker came up with the sack and got a hand on the ball, forcing a fumble that was scooped up and returned by senior D.J. Sanders 54 yards for a touchdown.
It was Sanders' fourth career defensive score to add to three pick sixes.
"It was an inside blitz for me … and I guess their guard and tackle had some miscommunication," Harris said. "He put the ball down and didn't have anywhere to throw, and I got the fumble and D.J. was there for the scoop and score."
Harris was named the game's Most Valuable Player after racking up a game-high and career-high-tying 12 tackles with the sack and forced fumble. He also had two pass breakups.
Sanders finished with 10 tackles and a sack in his final collegiate game.
On the offensive side, running backs West and Tavares Thomas were a two-headed attack. West had 65 yards and a TD on 10 carries, while Thomas finished with 49 yards and a TD on 16 attempts.
Tucker led the way in the receiving department with four catches for 63 yards and a score, while Windham also had 63 yards on three receptions.
Sanders and Tucker were just two of the 14 seniors who leave this year's team being bowl eligible all four years, or five for some.
"That's special for those seniors, because you always remember your last game," Coach Stockstill said. "But, it wasn't just about the seniors. It was about sending this team off.
"They're Camellia Bowl champions for the rest of their lives."
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