Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Saturday, December 15
New Orleans, LA
8:00 PM
Middle Tennessee
vs
Appalachian State
Looking ahead to MT and App State
12/14/2018 1:00:00 PM | Football
NEW ORLEANS – For the program-record fourth year in a row, Middle Tennessee's football season will end with a bowl game when the Blue Raiders battle Appalachian State Saturday in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.
It's been a season with plenty of firsts in Murfreesboro, as the Raiders (8-5) reached their first Conference USA Championship and captured the first C-USA East Division title in program history.
The Mountaineers (10-2), the three-time defending champion of the Sun Belt Conference, won't provide an easy opponent for MT to end the season with, though.
Even though six-year head coach Scott Satterfield departed for the vacant Louisville job and won't be on the sidelines Saturday, interim coach Mark Ivey has a talented squad that won 10 games and has the Raiders' full attention.
"They're a really good football team," Stockstill said. "They're very talented and fast and have one of the best defenses we've faced this year.
"It's a 10-win team … and App State has a great tradition. We understand how talented this team is that we're playing."
Where can you watch or listen?
TV: ESPN
Radio: 102.5 FM, 89.5 FM, 100.5 FM, 101.9 FM, 1450 AM, ESPN Radio
Search 'Middle Tennessee' on the TuneIn app.
Series history
The teams have met three times before, all coming in Division I-AA play before they both upgraded to the FBS.
All three previous meetings came in the NCAA I-AA Playoffs, with Middle Tennessee winning two.
The series started in 1974, when the Blue Raiders traveled to App State's home of Boone, North Carolina and left an 18-7 loser.
In the next two matchups, in the I-AA first round in 1989 and 1992, the Mountaineers made the trip to Murfreesboro, and the home Raiders won both, 24-21 and 35-10.
Former DI-AA powers
Two of the three previous meetings coming in the I-AA Playoffs symbolizes the success both programs had before moving to the FBS, MT in 1999 and App State in 2014.
The Blue Raiders went to the playoffs four times between 1985-1992 and went to the second round in three of them, while the Mountaineers captured three straight national championships from 2005-07.
Good fortune in FBS
While both programs fared well in I-AA, since moving up to the FBS, the traditions of success have continued.
Middle Tennessee has been bowl eligible 10 times in the last 13 years (seven straight), playing in eight bowl games in that span. App State will play in its fourth bowl game, making it a perfect four-for-four since becoming bowl-eligible following an ineligible season in 2014.
Since moving to Conference USA in 2013, the Blue Raiders have compiled a 33-15 record in league play with an East Division championship and C-USA title game berth this season.
The conference MT left in 2013, the Sun Belt, has been dominated by the Mountaineers of late. Since entering the league in 2015, they've won three straight titles, including the inaugural Sun Belt Conference Championship Game.
App State has a total of 40 wins since the 2015 season began, tied for seventh nationally and first among Group of 5 teams. It also earned its first Top 25 ranking this season when it was 25th in the Associated Press poll on Oct. 21.
New Orleans Bowl history
Saturday's appearance won't be Middle Tennessee's first in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.
In 2009, in their fourth season under Stockstill, the Blue Raiders captured their first bowl win in the FBS era by beating future C-USA foe Southern Miss 42-32.
The Golden Eagles raced to a 14-0 lead at the end of the first quarter, but Middle Tennessee came storming back, scoring two touchdowns each in the second and third quarters to take a 28-20 advantage into the fourth quarter.
Southern Miss added a touchdown and failed 2-point conversion in the final frame, but a Benny Cunningham rushing score followed by an interception and Dwight Dasher rushing touchdown secured things for the Raiders.
Dasher was awarded MVP honors after rushing for a New Orleans Bowl-record 201 yards on 26 carries and two touchdowns. The quarterback was also 15-of-25 passing for 162 yards and two more TDs.
"We won, so that's a great memory," Stockstill said about the game. "The New Orleans Bowl people do a fantastic job, and it's a fun environment to play in at the Superdome. It's a first-class bowl ... and we're excited for the challenge."
Dominant defense but new coach
If Middle Tennessee wants to capture its second New Orleans Bowl victory, it'll have to contend with a team that's played dominant defense all season long.
App State has given up less than 20 points in all 10 of its wins and surrendered just 10.2 points per game in those. The Mountaineers rank in the top 10 nationally in scoring defense, total defense, passing defense, passing efficiency defense, defensive three-and-out percentage and first downs allowed, among other categories.
They're led by a trio of linebackers in Akeem Davis-Gaither, Anthony Flory and Jordan Fehr, who each have at least 85 tackles this season to rank first, second and third on the team, respectively.
"They have great team speed and have good size up front," Rick Stockstill said. "They'll be one of the fastest teams we've played."
Middle Tennessee's offense found its stride through the middle of the C-USA slate and hasn't slowed, going for at least 392 total yards in its last six games.
The Blue Raiders will have their hands full Saturday, even though App State will have an interim coach leading the way.
Last game for great senior class
Saturday's game will bring an end to Middle Tennessee's 2018 season. It'll also be the conclusion of a great four-year fun for its senior class.
This year's seniors have accomplished a lot in their time in Murfreesboro, including setting multiple program single-season records, most notably in scoring in two straight years in 2015 and 2016.
With their Nov. 10 victory over UTEP, the Blue Raiders also secured a bowl bid for the fourth year in a row, making his year's senior class the first in team history to play in four straight bowls.
Middle Tennessee has posted a 22-10 record in Conference USA play the past four years combined, including a 7-1 mark this season, not including the C-USA Championship.
Overall, the Blue Raiders have won 29 games the past four years.
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.
It's been a season with plenty of firsts in Murfreesboro, as the Raiders (8-5) reached their first Conference USA Championship and captured the first C-USA East Division title in program history.
The Mountaineers (10-2), the three-time defending champion of the Sun Belt Conference, won't provide an easy opponent for MT to end the season with, though.
Even though six-year head coach Scott Satterfield departed for the vacant Louisville job and won't be on the sidelines Saturday, interim coach Mark Ivey has a talented squad that won 10 games and has the Raiders' full attention.
"They're a really good football team," Stockstill said. "They're very talented and fast and have one of the best defenses we've faced this year.
"It's a 10-win team … and App State has a great tradition. We understand how talented this team is that we're playing."
Where can you watch or listen?
TV: ESPN
Radio: 102.5 FM, 89.5 FM, 100.5 FM, 101.9 FM, 1450 AM, ESPN Radio
Search 'Middle Tennessee' on the TuneIn app.
Series history
The teams have met three times before, all coming in Division I-AA play before they both upgraded to the FBS.
All three previous meetings came in the NCAA I-AA Playoffs, with Middle Tennessee winning two.
The series started in 1974, when the Blue Raiders traveled to App State's home of Boone, North Carolina and left an 18-7 loser.
In the next two matchups, in the I-AA first round in 1989 and 1992, the Mountaineers made the trip to Murfreesboro, and the home Raiders won both, 24-21 and 35-10.
Former DI-AA powers
Two of the three previous meetings coming in the I-AA Playoffs symbolizes the success both programs had before moving to the FBS, MT in 1999 and App State in 2014.
The Blue Raiders went to the playoffs four times between 1985-1992 and went to the second round in three of them, while the Mountaineers captured three straight national championships from 2005-07.
Good fortune in FBS
While both programs fared well in I-AA, since moving up to the FBS, the traditions of success have continued.
Middle Tennessee has been bowl eligible 10 times in the last 13 years (seven straight), playing in eight bowl games in that span. App State will play in its fourth bowl game, making it a perfect four-for-four since becoming bowl-eligible following an ineligible season in 2014.
Since moving to Conference USA in 2013, the Blue Raiders have compiled a 33-15 record in league play with an East Division championship and C-USA title game berth this season.
The conference MT left in 2013, the Sun Belt, has been dominated by the Mountaineers of late. Since entering the league in 2015, they've won three straight titles, including the inaugural Sun Belt Conference Championship Game.
App State has a total of 40 wins since the 2015 season began, tied for seventh nationally and first among Group of 5 teams. It also earned its first Top 25 ranking this season when it was 25th in the Associated Press poll on Oct. 21.
New Orleans Bowl history
Saturday's appearance won't be Middle Tennessee's first in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.
In 2009, in their fourth season under Stockstill, the Blue Raiders captured their first bowl win in the FBS era by beating future C-USA foe Southern Miss 42-32.
The Golden Eagles raced to a 14-0 lead at the end of the first quarter, but Middle Tennessee came storming back, scoring two touchdowns each in the second and third quarters to take a 28-20 advantage into the fourth quarter.
Southern Miss added a touchdown and failed 2-point conversion in the final frame, but a Benny Cunningham rushing score followed by an interception and Dwight Dasher rushing touchdown secured things for the Raiders.
Dasher was awarded MVP honors after rushing for a New Orleans Bowl-record 201 yards on 26 carries and two touchdowns. The quarterback was also 15-of-25 passing for 162 yards and two more TDs.
"We won, so that's a great memory," Stockstill said about the game. "The New Orleans Bowl people do a fantastic job, and it's a fun environment to play in at the Superdome. It's a first-class bowl ... and we're excited for the challenge."
Dominant defense but new coach
If Middle Tennessee wants to capture its second New Orleans Bowl victory, it'll have to contend with a team that's played dominant defense all season long.
App State has given up less than 20 points in all 10 of its wins and surrendered just 10.2 points per game in those. The Mountaineers rank in the top 10 nationally in scoring defense, total defense, passing defense, passing efficiency defense, defensive three-and-out percentage and first downs allowed, among other categories.
They're led by a trio of linebackers in Akeem Davis-Gaither, Anthony Flory and Jordan Fehr, who each have at least 85 tackles this season to rank first, second and third on the team, respectively.
"They have great team speed and have good size up front," Rick Stockstill said. "They'll be one of the fastest teams we've played."
Middle Tennessee's offense found its stride through the middle of the C-USA slate and hasn't slowed, going for at least 392 total yards in its last six games.
The Blue Raiders will have their hands full Saturday, even though App State will have an interim coach leading the way.
Last game for great senior class
Saturday's game will bring an end to Middle Tennessee's 2018 season. It'll also be the conclusion of a great four-year fun for its senior class.
This year's seniors have accomplished a lot in their time in Murfreesboro, including setting multiple program single-season records, most notably in scoring in two straight years in 2015 and 2016.
With their Nov. 10 victory over UTEP, the Blue Raiders also secured a bowl bid for the fourth year in a row, making his year's senior class the first in team history to play in four straight bowls.
Middle Tennessee has posted a 22-10 record in Conference USA play the past four years combined, including a 7-1 mark this season, not including the C-USA Championship.
Overall, the Blue Raiders have won 29 games the past four years.
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.
Derek Mason LIVE: Presented by The Boulevard Bar & Grille Week 3 (Video)
Monday, September 08
MTSU Football Weekly Press Conference 9/8/25
Monday, September 08
MTSU Football Postgame Press Conference @ Wisconsin on 09-06-25
Saturday, September 06
Raider Report Week 2 - MTSU vs. University of Wisconsin-Madison
Friday, September 05
