Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Saturday, September 30
Boca Raton, FL
6:00 PM
Middle Tennessee
at
Florida Atlantic University
What to watch for against FAU
9/29/2017 2:43:00 PM | Football
C-USA opener for both teams
BOCA RATON, Fla. – After skirting through its non-conference slate with a 2-2 record, Middle Tennessee jumps into Conference USA action Saturday at Florida Atlantic for a 6 p.m. kickoff.
Where can you watch or listen?
TV: STADIUM, watchstadium.com
Radio: 102.5 FM, 89.5 FM, 100.5 FM, 101.9 FM, 1450 AM
Search 'Middle Tennessee' on the TuneIn app.
The Blue Raiders (2-2) are trying to win their sixth straight conference opener and 10th contest in a row against the Owls (1-3).
Saturday's matchup will be the 15th all-time between the two schools. All have come since the 2003 season.
While the series has had its close moments, seven times being settled by a touchdown or less, it's been dominated by Middle Tennessee. The Blue Raiders have won nine in a row over FAU and are 5-1 all-time in Boca Raton, winning the last four.
Last season's matchup in Murfreesboro was a strange, offensive explosion.
It was the regular-season finale for both teams, and Middle Tennessee went into the game without quarterback Brent Stockstill, the school's all-time passing TD leader (65), who was injured three games prior against UTSA. Then, on the Blue Raiders' second drive of the contest, backup QB John Urzua was lost to a concussion.
Instead of running out a third-string quarterback, MT offensive coordinator Tony Franklin switched to a Wildcat offense orchestrated by wide receiver Richie James, running back I'Tavius Mathers and receiver Dennis Andrews.
The three led Middle Tennessee to single-game program records in points (77), total offensive yards (757) and rushing touchdowns (nine) in the 77-56 win.
This season, the Blue Raiders are in a similar position. Stockstill is again injured, and Urzua will be under center on Saturday. However, the option of putting James in a wildcat may not be there.
Urzua, a redshirt sophomore, helped guide MT to a 24-13 win over Bowling Green in Week 4. The Raiders torched a poor Falcon defense for season highs in just about every offensive category, including total yards (533), passing yards (290) and rushing yards (243).
FAU traveled to Buffalo in Week 4 and turned a late 10-point disadvantage into a three-point loss, 34-31. The Owls couldn't get their defense off the field, allowing the Bulls to hold the ball for 40 of the 60-minute game thanks to 57 rushing attempts.
Here's what to watch for as Saturday's game unfolds:
Who's healthy for the Raiders offensively?
Middle Tennessee's offense has been bitten hard by the injury bug during the young season.
The already-mentioned injury to Stockstill has kept him out the past two games, while James missed the Bowling Green contest and last half of Week 3's matchup with Minnesota due to a leg injury. Offensive lineman Chandler Brewer, wide receiver Patrick Smith and receiver/running back Shane Tucker also all didn't see time against BG due to injury.
Stockstill and James are still labeled as day-to-day, and while both are getting better and running around some at practice, they may not suit up Saturday. The same can be said for Tucker.
Brewer, Smith and running back Terelle West, who hasn't played this season due to a fall camp injury, all took part in most of practice all week. It's hard to say if West is ready to get back to game action, but Brewer and Smith could very well be ready to go Saturday.
With all of the injuries offensively, the Blue Raiders have had to ask young guys to step up, and they did against Bowling Green.
Every player who recorded a pass, reception or rush for MT against the Falcons was a freshman or sophomore. They may be asked to do the same against FAU.
"I feel really good about this team going forward," head coach Rick Stockstill said. "We've just got to get healthy. If we can get healthy and get all of our guys out there, then we've got a chance to do some special things. And if they don't, I still believe in this team that we can do some special things."
Who wins the turnover battle?
Usually, the old coach's cliché in football is if you lose the turnover battle, you'll probably lose the game.
However, Middle Tennessee has been a bit of an exception to the rule this year, although that doesn't necessarily make its head coach happy.
The Blue Raiders haven't won the turnover battle in any game this season, yet they've overcome a -7 turnover differential to stand at 2-2 through four weeks.
While Coach Stockstill is happy with his team's ability to be resilient after a turnover, he wants to see his defense come up with more takeaways and, more importantly, his offense take better care of the ball.
"It makes you sick as a coach," he said. "What I pride myself on, what we pride ourselves on, is being a good ball security team. We haven't won the turnover battle in any of these first four games.
"It goes back to us controlling what we can control. We've got to be smarter with the ball. You look at all those three turnovers that we had Saturday … [they were] three things that the defense didn't force us to do. So, we've got to do a better job of protecting the ball, and it's a really disappointing stat where we are right now."
Are Anderson and Bruce the answer at running back?
Middle Tennessee's rushing attack was nonexistent through three games, but last week against Bowling Green the Blue Raiders may have found an answer.
Behind freshman Brad Anderson (16 rushes for 104 yards and six catches for 98 yards and a TD) and redshirt sophomore Jocques Bruce (16 rushes for 115 yards and a TD), MT ran for a season-high 243 yards.
It was Anderson's first career start and Bruce's first collegiate game as a running back after serving as a wide receiver. Their breakout performances could be the answer the Raiders were looking for in the backfield.
Another name that could enter the fold in the coming weeks to add to Bruce and Anderson is Terelle West. The redshirt sophomore suffered a knee injury in fall camp and hasn't played yet for MT this year, but he's back to practicing some and could be up to speed soon.
No matter who's in the backfield against FAU on Saturday, they'll go up against an FAU defense that is hard to get a read on.
In the Owls' three losses, their rushing defense has looked suspect against teams with heavy running attacks in Navy, Wisconsin and Buffalo. But, FAU did hold FCS Bethune-Cookman to just a 1.8-yard rushing average in a Week 3 victory.
Florida Atlantic currently ranks 121st in the country out of 127 teams in rush defense (259.5 yards per game), but Coach Stockstill wants his team to be weary of who they're going against.
"It can be misleading in a lot of ways," he said. "Every opponent you play is different. Navy probably ran the ball 70 out of 80 snaps. Wisconsin is a big, power running football team. Buffalo got a lot of yards rushing Saturday out of the quarterback. We're a different running team than Navy, Wisconsin or Buffalo is.
"I think they are a lot better defensively against the run than it statistically shows."
Can MT's defense have another good showing?
If Middle Tennessee wants to give its offense possession enough to replicate its output from Week 4, its defense will have to be good against an up-tempo FAU attack.
The Owls currently rank third in C-USA in rushing offense behind running backs Devin Singletary (89.8 rushing yards per game, fourth in C-USA) and Greg Howell (68.7 rushing yards per game, seventh in C-USA), and they've had glimpses of being able to put the ball in the air when they need to.
The Blue Raider stoppers will hope to continue momentum from four good showings to start the year. They currently rank 33rd in the country in total defense, 24th in rushing defense and 29th in sacks, and no team has racked up more than 400 yards against MT yet this season.
Middle Tennessee was most impressive defensively last week against Bowling Green, when the Falcons managed just 1 total yard rushing.
"[Defensive coordinator Scott Shaffer's] main motto is to stop the run," junior safety Jovante Moffatt said. "As a defense, you want to stop the run and force teams to pass."
Will Urzua carry over momentum from a career game in Week 4?
With Brent Stockstill out, the keys to the offense fall to John Urzua.
The redshirt sophomore showed he's improving last week, when he threw for a career-best 290 yards and two touchdowns while completing 75 percent (24-32) of his passes.
FAU hasn't played against a heavy passing offense yet this season, so it still remains to be seen how good the Owls are at defending the air attack. They currently rank 18th in the country in pass defense (156.8 yards per game), but teams have only attempted 22 passes per game against them. Middle Tennessee has attempted 35 per game.
"Obviously, [Urzua] played better Saturday than he did against Minnesota," Coach Stockstill said of his QB. "Hopefully that will continue as he plays more.
"He is getting better. He did do some boneheaded things out there Saturday, but he did do a lot of good things, also. He's just got to continue to get better each week, each day, and I think he'll do that."
Keep an eye out for Coach to Cure MD patches
Middle Tennessee's coaching staff will wear Coach to Cure MD patches to help raise awareness and funding for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy research. Fans are encouraged to donate at www.CoachtoCureMD.org or donate $10 by texting CURE to 50555
Where can you watch or listen?
TV: STADIUM, watchstadium.com
Radio: 102.5 FM, 89.5 FM, 100.5 FM, 101.9 FM, 1450 AM
Search 'Middle Tennessee' on the TuneIn app.
The Blue Raiders (2-2) are trying to win their sixth straight conference opener and 10th contest in a row against the Owls (1-3).
Saturday's matchup will be the 15th all-time between the two schools. All have come since the 2003 season.
While the series has had its close moments, seven times being settled by a touchdown or less, it's been dominated by Middle Tennessee. The Blue Raiders have won nine in a row over FAU and are 5-1 all-time in Boca Raton, winning the last four.
Last season's matchup in Murfreesboro was a strange, offensive explosion.
It was the regular-season finale for both teams, and Middle Tennessee went into the game without quarterback Brent Stockstill, the school's all-time passing TD leader (65), who was injured three games prior against UTSA. Then, on the Blue Raiders' second drive of the contest, backup QB John Urzua was lost to a concussion.
Instead of running out a third-string quarterback, MT offensive coordinator Tony Franklin switched to a Wildcat offense orchestrated by wide receiver Richie James, running back I'Tavius Mathers and receiver Dennis Andrews.
The three led Middle Tennessee to single-game program records in points (77), total offensive yards (757) and rushing touchdowns (nine) in the 77-56 win.
This season, the Blue Raiders are in a similar position. Stockstill is again injured, and Urzua will be under center on Saturday. However, the option of putting James in a wildcat may not be there.
Urzua, a redshirt sophomore, helped guide MT to a 24-13 win over Bowling Green in Week 4. The Raiders torched a poor Falcon defense for season highs in just about every offensive category, including total yards (533), passing yards (290) and rushing yards (243).
FAU traveled to Buffalo in Week 4 and turned a late 10-point disadvantage into a three-point loss, 34-31. The Owls couldn't get their defense off the field, allowing the Bulls to hold the ball for 40 of the 60-minute game thanks to 57 rushing attempts.
Here's what to watch for as Saturday's game unfolds:
Who's healthy for the Raiders offensively?
Middle Tennessee's offense has been bitten hard by the injury bug during the young season.
The already-mentioned injury to Stockstill has kept him out the past two games, while James missed the Bowling Green contest and last half of Week 3's matchup with Minnesota due to a leg injury. Offensive lineman Chandler Brewer, wide receiver Patrick Smith and receiver/running back Shane Tucker also all didn't see time against BG due to injury.
Stockstill and James are still labeled as day-to-day, and while both are getting better and running around some at practice, they may not suit up Saturday. The same can be said for Tucker.
Brewer, Smith and running back Terelle West, who hasn't played this season due to a fall camp injury, all took part in most of practice all week. It's hard to say if West is ready to get back to game action, but Brewer and Smith could very well be ready to go Saturday.
With all of the injuries offensively, the Blue Raiders have had to ask young guys to step up, and they did against Bowling Green.
Every player who recorded a pass, reception or rush for MT against the Falcons was a freshman or sophomore. They may be asked to do the same against FAU.
"I feel really good about this team going forward," head coach Rick Stockstill said. "We've just got to get healthy. If we can get healthy and get all of our guys out there, then we've got a chance to do some special things. And if they don't, I still believe in this team that we can do some special things."
Who wins the turnover battle?
Usually, the old coach's cliché in football is if you lose the turnover battle, you'll probably lose the game.
However, Middle Tennessee has been a bit of an exception to the rule this year, although that doesn't necessarily make its head coach happy.
The Blue Raiders haven't won the turnover battle in any game this season, yet they've overcome a -7 turnover differential to stand at 2-2 through four weeks.
While Coach Stockstill is happy with his team's ability to be resilient after a turnover, he wants to see his defense come up with more takeaways and, more importantly, his offense take better care of the ball.
"It makes you sick as a coach," he said. "What I pride myself on, what we pride ourselves on, is being a good ball security team. We haven't won the turnover battle in any of these first four games.
"It goes back to us controlling what we can control. We've got to be smarter with the ball. You look at all those three turnovers that we had Saturday … [they were] three things that the defense didn't force us to do. So, we've got to do a better job of protecting the ball, and it's a really disappointing stat where we are right now."
Are Anderson and Bruce the answer at running back?
Middle Tennessee's rushing attack was nonexistent through three games, but last week against Bowling Green the Blue Raiders may have found an answer.
Behind freshman Brad Anderson (16 rushes for 104 yards and six catches for 98 yards and a TD) and redshirt sophomore Jocques Bruce (16 rushes for 115 yards and a TD), MT ran for a season-high 243 yards.
It was Anderson's first career start and Bruce's first collegiate game as a running back after serving as a wide receiver. Their breakout performances could be the answer the Raiders were looking for in the backfield.
Another name that could enter the fold in the coming weeks to add to Bruce and Anderson is Terelle West. The redshirt sophomore suffered a knee injury in fall camp and hasn't played yet for MT this year, but he's back to practicing some and could be up to speed soon.
No matter who's in the backfield against FAU on Saturday, they'll go up against an FAU defense that is hard to get a read on.
In the Owls' three losses, their rushing defense has looked suspect against teams with heavy running attacks in Navy, Wisconsin and Buffalo. But, FAU did hold FCS Bethune-Cookman to just a 1.8-yard rushing average in a Week 3 victory.
Florida Atlantic currently ranks 121st in the country out of 127 teams in rush defense (259.5 yards per game), but Coach Stockstill wants his team to be weary of who they're going against.
"It can be misleading in a lot of ways," he said. "Every opponent you play is different. Navy probably ran the ball 70 out of 80 snaps. Wisconsin is a big, power running football team. Buffalo got a lot of yards rushing Saturday out of the quarterback. We're a different running team than Navy, Wisconsin or Buffalo is.
"I think they are a lot better defensively against the run than it statistically shows."
Can MT's defense have another good showing?
If Middle Tennessee wants to give its offense possession enough to replicate its output from Week 4, its defense will have to be good against an up-tempo FAU attack.
The Owls currently rank third in C-USA in rushing offense behind running backs Devin Singletary (89.8 rushing yards per game, fourth in C-USA) and Greg Howell (68.7 rushing yards per game, seventh in C-USA), and they've had glimpses of being able to put the ball in the air when they need to.
The Blue Raider stoppers will hope to continue momentum from four good showings to start the year. They currently rank 33rd in the country in total defense, 24th in rushing defense and 29th in sacks, and no team has racked up more than 400 yards against MT yet this season.
Middle Tennessee was most impressive defensively last week against Bowling Green, when the Falcons managed just 1 total yard rushing.
"[Defensive coordinator Scott Shaffer's] main motto is to stop the run," junior safety Jovante Moffatt said. "As a defense, you want to stop the run and force teams to pass."
Will Urzua carry over momentum from a career game in Week 4?
With Brent Stockstill out, the keys to the offense fall to John Urzua.
The redshirt sophomore showed he's improving last week, when he threw for a career-best 290 yards and two touchdowns while completing 75 percent (24-32) of his passes.
FAU hasn't played against a heavy passing offense yet this season, so it still remains to be seen how good the Owls are at defending the air attack. They currently rank 18th in the country in pass defense (156.8 yards per game), but teams have only attempted 22 passes per game against them. Middle Tennessee has attempted 35 per game.
"Obviously, [Urzua] played better Saturday than he did against Minnesota," Coach Stockstill said of his QB. "Hopefully that will continue as he plays more.
"He is getting better. He did do some boneheaded things out there Saturday, but he did do a lot of good things, also. He's just got to continue to get better each week, each day, and I think he'll do that."
Keep an eye out for Coach to Cure MD patches
Middle Tennessee's coaching staff will wear Coach to Cure MD patches to help raise awareness and funding for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy research. Fans are encouraged to donate at www.CoachtoCureMD.org or donate $10 by texting CURE to 50555
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