Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Saturday, November 24
2:00 PM
Middle Tennessee
vs
UAB
Looking ahead to MT and UAB
11/23/2018 9:00:00 AM | Football
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – A chance at a conference championship game berth will be on the line Saturday at Floyd Stadium when Middle Tennessee hosts UAB.
While the Blazers (9-2, 7-0) have already clinched the Conference USA West Division title and berth in the Globe Life Conference USA Championship Game, plenty is still to be decided in the East Division. The Blue Raiders (7-4, 6-1) find themselves thick in the race.
With a 6-1 C-USA record, MT is tied atop the East with FIU. The Panthers hold the tiebreaker between the teams, though, thanks to a 24-21 win on Oct. 13 against the Raiders.
FIU will host current East Division third-place holder Marshall on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT, and the Panthers will have to fall to the Thundering Herd if the Blue Raiders want a title game berth.
That makes Saturday's 2 p.m. game against the Blazers a must-win for Middle Tennessee, and it'll have to get some help, too.
"It's our final home game and final regular season game," MT head coach Rick Stockstill said. "UAB comes to town and they're really good. … We've got a big challenge this week, and we have to be ready to go."
Where can you watch or listen?
TV: ESPN3, espn.com/watch
Radio: 102.5 FM, 89.5 FM, 100.5 FM, 101.9 FM, 1450 AM, Sirius XM 191 and 962
Search 'Middle Tennessee' on the TuneIn app.
Series history
The teams have only met six times before, three coming since Middle Tennessee entered Conference USA in 2013, and they've split three games apiece.
The games have been just as close as the series record, with each being decided by two possessions or less. The widest margin was a 15-point Blue Raider victory in 1995, the first game between the programs.
MT has won two out of the last three meetings and both contests in Murfreesboro all-time, including a 34-22 contest in 2014.
Last meeting
The Blue Raiders traveled to Birmingham last season in the first year of the comeback tour for UAB's football program after it took a two-year hiatus in 2015 and 2016.
While the Blazers were just six games into their return, they didn't play like it against the Blue Raiders. They looked more like a team filled with seasoned veterans.
UAB took a 22-20 score into halftime, and it looked through two quarters like a shootout was brewing. Both defenses had other plans, though.
Both teams managed just a field goal apiece in the second half, with Middle Tennessee's coming in the third quarter to give the Blue Raiders a 23-22 lead going into the final frame.
The Blazers knocked home a 33-yarder with 8:16 remaining in the game for the eventual game-winner, but MT had a chance at a last-minute drive to take the victory. It was too little, too late, though, as time ran out on the Blue Raiders while they were stranded at midfield.
Quarterback John Urzua made the start for Middle Tennessee with Brent Stockstill recovering from an injury. Urzua completed 23-of-42 passes for 268 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, the last coming with 2:14 left in the game to halt a potential game-sealing drive.
Brad Anderson was the offensive leader for the Blue Raiders, racking up 81 rushing and 137 receiving yards with a touchdown.
Let's get defensive
Going into Saturday, the teams may be expecting more of a defensive game like last year's second half, rather than the first half when the teams combined for 42 points.
UAB has featured the best defense in Conference USA all season, giving up a league-low 173 total points and 61 in conference play. The Blazers are also fifth nationally in total defense (277.5 yards allowed per game) and sixth in scoring allowed (15.7 per game), and they're first in the country in both third down and fourth down defense and third in sacks.
Middle Tennessee's offense has been playing well of late, averaging 173 rushing yards over the last four weeks and leading C-USA in conference-only play with 32.7 points per game. Its passing attack has also been stellar behind redshirt senior quarterback Brent Stockstill, who became the 25th player in NCAA history to eclipse 100 career passing touchdowns last week.
The Blue Raiders will have their hands full with the Blazer stoppers, though.
"They're really good and have a lot of experienced players," Brent Stockstill said. "We'll have a great plan, and it'll be four quarters of competitive football. We just need to focus on finishing drives and scoring touchdowns."
UAB won't have the only defense in the game Saturday that's been hot.
Over the last four conference games, Middle Tennessee has forced 12 turnovers compared to just five in its first three league contests. In total, the Blue Raiders have a plus-nine turnover margin in their seven C-USA games, and they've capitalized for 60 points off the miscues compared to just 11 points off turnovers for the opposition.
The MT defense will have to contend with C-USA's second-best rushing attack (226.5 yards per game) led by sophomore running back Spencer Brown, who's fifth nationally with 15 rushing TDs and third in the league with 993 rushing yards.
"It'll have to be a team effort," Middle Tennessee senior linebacker Darius Harris said. "We need to be in the right spot, tackle well and communicate well."
Who's at QB?
The Blazers have leaned on Brown all season, giving him 215 carries to rank second in C-USA, and they might have to keep feeding him Saturday with a question mark at the quarterback position.
Redshirt senior A.J. Erdely started the first eight games for UAB and threw for over 1,400 yards with another 305 rushing, but he's missed the last three contests with an injury.
Redshirt freshman Tyler Johnston III has stepped in the last three games and thrown for 761 total yards (253.7 per game) with six touchdowns, but he's been turnover prone with six interceptions.
With a question at signal caller and a redshirt freshman possibly slated to start, expect a heavy dose of Brown Saturday.
Fast success
When UAB quickly overturned its decision to cease football operations following the 2014 season, many football minds weren't quite sure what the Blazers would look like on the gridiron when they returned in 2017.
Now almost two years into the return of UAB football, head coach Bill Clark has proven his Blazers are winners.
They've compiled a 17-7 overall record and 13-2 mark in C-USA play, and with one more win this year will clinch the program's first 10-win season. UAB will also play in its first C-USA Championship on Dec. 1 either at home or at FIU or MT.
Honoring the seniors
Middle Tennessee will honor 23 seniors on Saturday with pregame festivities starting at 1:40 PM.
The class has been one of the best to ever go through the MT football program, posting a 21-10 record in Conference USA play the past four years combined and winning 29 total games.
Middle Tennessee's win at UTEP on Nov. 10 also ensured the Blue Raiders will play in their fourth straight bowl game, making this year's senior class the first to accomplish that feat.
"This is a heck of a class," Rick Stockstill said. "A lot of great players and great men in that class. I'm appreciative of all their sacrifices. I'm extremely proud of this class."
Josh Vardaman is the staff writer for goblueraiders.com. Follow him on Twitter @J_Vardaman and also follow @MTAthletics for more on the Blue Raiders.
While the Blazers (9-2, 7-0) have already clinched the Conference USA West Division title and berth in the Globe Life Conference USA Championship Game, plenty is still to be decided in the East Division. The Blue Raiders (7-4, 6-1) find themselves thick in the race.
With a 6-1 C-USA record, MT is tied atop the East with FIU. The Panthers hold the tiebreaker between the teams, though, thanks to a 24-21 win on Oct. 13 against the Raiders.
FIU will host current East Division third-place holder Marshall on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT, and the Panthers will have to fall to the Thundering Herd if the Blue Raiders want a title game berth.
That makes Saturday's 2 p.m. game against the Blazers a must-win for Middle Tennessee, and it'll have to get some help, too.
"It's our final home game and final regular season game," MT head coach Rick Stockstill said. "UAB comes to town and they're really good. … We've got a big challenge this week, and we have to be ready to go."
Where can you watch or listen?
TV: ESPN3, espn.com/watch
Radio: 102.5 FM, 89.5 FM, 100.5 FM, 101.9 FM, 1450 AM, Sirius XM 191 and 962
Search 'Middle Tennessee' on the TuneIn app.
Series history
The teams have only met six times before, three coming since Middle Tennessee entered Conference USA in 2013, and they've split three games apiece.
The games have been just as close as the series record, with each being decided by two possessions or less. The widest margin was a 15-point Blue Raider victory in 1995, the first game between the programs.
MT has won two out of the last three meetings and both contests in Murfreesboro all-time, including a 34-22 contest in 2014.
Last meeting
The Blue Raiders traveled to Birmingham last season in the first year of the comeback tour for UAB's football program after it took a two-year hiatus in 2015 and 2016.
While the Blazers were just six games into their return, they didn't play like it against the Blue Raiders. They looked more like a team filled with seasoned veterans.
UAB took a 22-20 score into halftime, and it looked through two quarters like a shootout was brewing. Both defenses had other plans, though.
Both teams managed just a field goal apiece in the second half, with Middle Tennessee's coming in the third quarter to give the Blue Raiders a 23-22 lead going into the final frame.
The Blazers knocked home a 33-yarder with 8:16 remaining in the game for the eventual game-winner, but MT had a chance at a last-minute drive to take the victory. It was too little, too late, though, as time ran out on the Blue Raiders while they were stranded at midfield.
Quarterback John Urzua made the start for Middle Tennessee with Brent Stockstill recovering from an injury. Urzua completed 23-of-42 passes for 268 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, the last coming with 2:14 left in the game to halt a potential game-sealing drive.
Brad Anderson was the offensive leader for the Blue Raiders, racking up 81 rushing and 137 receiving yards with a touchdown.
Let's get defensive
Going into Saturday, the teams may be expecting more of a defensive game like last year's second half, rather than the first half when the teams combined for 42 points.
UAB has featured the best defense in Conference USA all season, giving up a league-low 173 total points and 61 in conference play. The Blazers are also fifth nationally in total defense (277.5 yards allowed per game) and sixth in scoring allowed (15.7 per game), and they're first in the country in both third down and fourth down defense and third in sacks.
Middle Tennessee's offense has been playing well of late, averaging 173 rushing yards over the last four weeks and leading C-USA in conference-only play with 32.7 points per game. Its passing attack has also been stellar behind redshirt senior quarterback Brent Stockstill, who became the 25th player in NCAA history to eclipse 100 career passing touchdowns last week.
The Blue Raiders will have their hands full with the Blazer stoppers, though.
"They're really good and have a lot of experienced players," Brent Stockstill said. "We'll have a great plan, and it'll be four quarters of competitive football. We just need to focus on finishing drives and scoring touchdowns."
UAB won't have the only defense in the game Saturday that's been hot.
Over the last four conference games, Middle Tennessee has forced 12 turnovers compared to just five in its first three league contests. In total, the Blue Raiders have a plus-nine turnover margin in their seven C-USA games, and they've capitalized for 60 points off the miscues compared to just 11 points off turnovers for the opposition.
The MT defense will have to contend with C-USA's second-best rushing attack (226.5 yards per game) led by sophomore running back Spencer Brown, who's fifth nationally with 15 rushing TDs and third in the league with 993 rushing yards.
"It'll have to be a team effort," Middle Tennessee senior linebacker Darius Harris said. "We need to be in the right spot, tackle well and communicate well."
Who's at QB?
The Blazers have leaned on Brown all season, giving him 215 carries to rank second in C-USA, and they might have to keep feeding him Saturday with a question mark at the quarterback position.
Redshirt senior A.J. Erdely started the first eight games for UAB and threw for over 1,400 yards with another 305 rushing, but he's missed the last three contests with an injury.
Redshirt freshman Tyler Johnston III has stepped in the last three games and thrown for 761 total yards (253.7 per game) with six touchdowns, but he's been turnover prone with six interceptions.
With a question at signal caller and a redshirt freshman possibly slated to start, expect a heavy dose of Brown Saturday.
Fast success
When UAB quickly overturned its decision to cease football operations following the 2014 season, many football minds weren't quite sure what the Blazers would look like on the gridiron when they returned in 2017.
Now almost two years into the return of UAB football, head coach Bill Clark has proven his Blazers are winners.
They've compiled a 17-7 overall record and 13-2 mark in C-USA play, and with one more win this year will clinch the program's first 10-win season. UAB will also play in its first C-USA Championship on Dec. 1 either at home or at FIU or MT.
Honoring the seniors
Middle Tennessee will honor 23 seniors on Saturday with pregame festivities starting at 1:40 PM.
The class has been one of the best to ever go through the MT football program, posting a 21-10 record in Conference USA play the past four years combined and winning 29 total games.
Middle Tennessee's win at UTEP on Nov. 10 also ensured the Blue Raiders will play in their fourth straight bowl game, making this year's senior class the first to accomplish that feat.
"This is a heck of a class," Rick Stockstill said. "A lot of great players and great men in that class. I'm appreciative of all their sacrifices. I'm extremely proud of this class."
Josh Vardaman is the staff writer for goblueraiders.com. Follow him on Twitter @J_Vardaman and also follow @MTAthletics for more on the Blue Raiders.
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