Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Saturday, September 8
6:00 PM
Middle Tennessee
vs
Tennessee at Martin
Looking ahead to MT and UT Martin
9/7/2018 11:00:00 AM | Football
Look below for How to Guide on ESPN+
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – After a disappointing start to the season, Middle Tennessee can flush the bad taste in its mouth in Week 2 in front of its own fans.
In-state foe and former Ohio Valley Conference rival UT Martin will make the three-hour drive southeast for the Blue Raiders' home opener, scheduled for a 6 p.m. kickoff.
"Looking forward to playing Tennessee Martin here this weekend," MT head coach Rick Stockstill said at Monday's weekly press conference. "We've got to get ready to take on a tough football team this week."
Home cooking will be warmly welcomed by Middle Tennessee. It sports a 4-1 record in its last five home openers, including a four-game winning streak that was snapped with last year's loss to Vanderbilt.
Overall, the Blue Raiders are 24-7 in their last 31 home games.
While playing at Floyd Stadium will be a welcomed relief in between two road games against Southeastern Conference opponents, Stockstill knows his team can't sleep on the Skyhawks.
Since head coach Jason Simpson took over in 2006, UT Martin has compiled a 61-34 record in the OVC. It was picked in the preseason by media members to finish third in the conference this year.
"They've got an excellent coaching staff," Stockstill said. "Jason Simpson has been there a long time now, and he's done a great job building that program."
Where can you watch or listen?
TV: ESPN+
Radio: 102.5 FM, 89.5 FM, 100.5 FM, 101.9 FM, 1450 AM
Search 'Middle Tennessee' on the TuneIn app.
Series history
Middle Tennessee has historically dominated the series against its former OVC rival.
The Blue Raiders hold a 20-7-1 advantage against the Skyhawks all-time, and they've won six in a row. The series dates way back to 1931.
It'll be the second time the teams have played since MT moved to Division I FBS, the other coming in 1999, the Blue Raiders' first season in FBS. Overall, UT Martin is 1-25 all-time against FBS opponents.
Last meeting
In that 1999 meeting, Middle Tennessee captured a 70-14 win in Murfreesboro. It was one of three wins for the Raiders in their inaugural FBS season and went down tied for the fourth-most points scored in a single game in program history.
The contest was a blowout from the start, as MT raced to a 49-0 halftime advantage thanks to an offense that put up 427 total yards when all was said and done.
Dwone Hicks accounted for 104 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while Wes Counts added 162 yards through the air and two TDs (one rushing).
The Blue Raiders were also granted two interceptions returned for scores, both of 60 yards.
MT looking for better finishes
If Middle Tennessee wants to get its first win of 2018, it'll have to do a better job of finishing than it did against Vanderbilt.
Offensively, the Blue Raiders didn't have an issue moving the ball, racking up 294 total yards. The problem came when they got into enemy territory.
Six times MT advanced to the Vanderbilt side of the field, but the blue and white only had one score to show for it, a first-quarter touchdown pass from Brent Stockstill to junior CJ Windham.
Likewise, the defense didn't finish the game out well against the Commodore attack.
After allowing just 89 total yards of offense in the first half (28 passing), the Blue Raider stoppers allowed 257 total yards (142 passing) after halftime. Vanderbilt ripped off 8.3 yards per play in the second half.
"We didn't execute as well as we needed to on either side at critical times of the game," Rick Stockstill said. "We've got to do a better job of executing … I told our team yesterday, I was proud of how they played, and proud of their toughness in that game. We just have to execute better, and things will have the tendency to work out better in the end."
Don't sleep on the FCS team
While UT Martin hasn't been good against FBS teams historically, with just one win in 26 chances, Middle Tennessee can't take the Skyhawks lightly.
UTM finished 6-5 last season and 4-4 in the OVC, and it featured one of the best defenses in the country.
The "Darkside," as the Skyhawk defense has been dubbed, finished in the top 10 in the FCS in several defensive categories in 2017, including fourth in points per game allowed with 14.27. That represented a new program record, and they also only gave up 159.9 passing yards per game to rank ninth in the nation. Four UTM defenders were named All-OVC.
"They've got a good defense," redshirt senior Brent Stockstill said. "They're creative – they kind of come from everywhere and a lot of times you don't really know what they're doing. They like to force you into mistakes and can catch you off guard at times. We'll have to stay on our toes and have to prepare, have a great plan and execute that plan."
While its offense struggled to keep pace with its defense in 2017, registering just 19.64 points per outing, UT Martin features a young quarterback gaining experience by the game and a Preseason All-OVC running back.
Sophomore quarterback Dresser Winn started the final five games for the Skyhawks in 2017 and could pose problems for MT with his arm. In six career games, he's thrown for 912 yards and six TDs with just one interception.
His backfield mate, senior running back Ladarius Galloway, was tabbed Preseason All-OVC after garnering second-team honors in 2017. He had 859 rushing and 307 receiving yards last season, scoring four TDs.
"They have some good players on the offensive side of the ball," MT redshirt senior linebacker Darius Harris said. "With their quarterback and skill positions, they like to run a lot of spread and tempo. We're going to watch film this week and identify who their playmakers are or certain tendencies they have."
Quarterback protection
While its defense was one of the best in the FCS last season, UT Martin struggled getting to the quarterback, only recording 16 sacks as a team. Four players led the way with two sacks, and three of them are back this year.
The Skyhawks never got to Missouri quarterback Drew Lock in Week 1, and the Blue Raiders are hoping to pitch a shutout in that department, as well. MT let Vanderbilt sack Brent Stockstill six times in its opener.
"They're all over the place, and they're going to bring a lot of pressure," Rick Stockstill said. "Our offensive line is going to be fine, if we can stay healthy. We've got to do better than what we did [against Vandy], obviously, but I'm not down on that group one bit."
On the flip side, Middle Tennessee will try to do a better job in the pass rush against UT Martin after only sacking Vanderbilt quarterback Kyle Shurmur once in Week 1.
According to Harris, the MT defenders are hungry to show they're better than their season-opening performance.
"We're ready to get out and show that that first game is not who we are as a team," he said. "We made some mistakes, but we also did some good things. We want to put it all together on Saturday and show that we're a good team all around."
The Skyhawks had three offensive linemen make their first career starts against Missouri, and they let the Tigers get to Winn two times.
Murfreesboro homecomings
Not only will fans see nine hometown players on Middle Tennessee's roster on Saturday, but they'll also see five Skyhawks with familiar faces.
UT Martin senior Kevin Prather Jr. (Oakland); redshirt freshmen Wanya Moton (Oakland), Deven Sims (Smyrna) and Deylon Williams (Smyrna); and freshman D'Andre Litaker (Riverdale) all attended Rutherford County high schools.
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.
A HOW TO GUIDE FOR ESPN+
What is ESPN+?
It is a direct-to-consumer (no cable or satellite subscription needed) streaming service that will cost $4.99 per month. ESPN+ was integrated as part of a completely redesigned ESPN App (and also via ESPN.com). Subscribers will receive thousands of additional live events, and original shows and films, and an on-demand library, which is not available on ESPN's linear TV or digital networks. ESPN+ will not include access to stream ESPN's existing, linear networks (which will continue to be available via "TV Everywhere" authenticated streaming).
How much does ESPN+ cost?
ESPN+ costs $4.99 a month ($49.99, if you pay annually). There is a 7-day free trial is available, too.
Does each event on ESPN+ cost $4.99?
No. The $4.99 a month covers all C-USA events and events from other college and pro sports.
Do I have to pay for the ESPN App?
The ESPN App is still free, and you still get all the same news, info, highlights and audio as always – with a new, enhanced design. Users can still stream ESPN networks with a pay TV subscription, for no additional cost. Users also have a new option to subscribe directly to ESPN+ — which contains 1000's of additional live events, on demand content and shows — not available on ESPN's traditional TV networks.
How do I subscribe to ESPN+ and where can I watch it?
A subscription to ESPN+ is available for purchase via the ESPN App and ESPN.com, and fans can only access ESPN+ content after they have subscribed.
What are the ESPN+ supported devices?
A subscriber can watch ESPN+ in the Watch tab of the latest version of the ESPN App, available on the web, iPhone, iPad, tvOS, Android Handset, Roku, Chromecast and FireTV.
How do I log in?
Log in using your current ESPN account, or, on desktop, create a new account via the user icon, or, on mobile, upon arrival to the ESPN App. You will be prompted to log in or create a new account when purchasing a subscription.
How do I change my ESPN.com credentials (username/password)?
Change credentials on ESPN.com by accessing the user avatar in the upper right corner of the web site after signing in.
How do I allow another one of my devices to access ESPN+?
To allow another of your devices to access ESPN+, sign in on that device with your ESPN.com account username and password. If you have purchased ESPN+ via in-app purchasing on Apple, Google or Amazon devices, you will need to first link your ESPN+ purchase to your ESPN.com account in the ESPN App before you can access ESPN+ on other devices platforms. You can create an ESPN.com account for free by clicking on the login link on ESPN.com.
What quality are ESPN+ streams?
ESPN+ video streams in high definition at 60 frames per second.
Can I watch multiple ESPN+ streams?
Yes, you can access five streams from ESPN+ at any one time. Plus, as a subscriber, you can pause, rewind, or restart anything you're watching live through ESPN+.
In-state foe and former Ohio Valley Conference rival UT Martin will make the three-hour drive southeast for the Blue Raiders' home opener, scheduled for a 6 p.m. kickoff.
"Looking forward to playing Tennessee Martin here this weekend," MT head coach Rick Stockstill said at Monday's weekly press conference. "We've got to get ready to take on a tough football team this week."
Home cooking will be warmly welcomed by Middle Tennessee. It sports a 4-1 record in its last five home openers, including a four-game winning streak that was snapped with last year's loss to Vanderbilt.
Overall, the Blue Raiders are 24-7 in their last 31 home games.
While playing at Floyd Stadium will be a welcomed relief in between two road games against Southeastern Conference opponents, Stockstill knows his team can't sleep on the Skyhawks.
Since head coach Jason Simpson took over in 2006, UT Martin has compiled a 61-34 record in the OVC. It was picked in the preseason by media members to finish third in the conference this year.
"They've got an excellent coaching staff," Stockstill said. "Jason Simpson has been there a long time now, and he's done a great job building that program."
Where can you watch or listen?
TV: ESPN+
Radio: 102.5 FM, 89.5 FM, 100.5 FM, 101.9 FM, 1450 AM
Search 'Middle Tennessee' on the TuneIn app.
Series history
Middle Tennessee has historically dominated the series against its former OVC rival.
The Blue Raiders hold a 20-7-1 advantage against the Skyhawks all-time, and they've won six in a row. The series dates way back to 1931.
It'll be the second time the teams have played since MT moved to Division I FBS, the other coming in 1999, the Blue Raiders' first season in FBS. Overall, UT Martin is 1-25 all-time against FBS opponents.
Last meeting
In that 1999 meeting, Middle Tennessee captured a 70-14 win in Murfreesboro. It was one of three wins for the Raiders in their inaugural FBS season and went down tied for the fourth-most points scored in a single game in program history.
The contest was a blowout from the start, as MT raced to a 49-0 halftime advantage thanks to an offense that put up 427 total yards when all was said and done.
Dwone Hicks accounted for 104 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while Wes Counts added 162 yards through the air and two TDs (one rushing).
The Blue Raiders were also granted two interceptions returned for scores, both of 60 yards.
MT looking for better finishes
If Middle Tennessee wants to get its first win of 2018, it'll have to do a better job of finishing than it did against Vanderbilt.
Offensively, the Blue Raiders didn't have an issue moving the ball, racking up 294 total yards. The problem came when they got into enemy territory.
Six times MT advanced to the Vanderbilt side of the field, but the blue and white only had one score to show for it, a first-quarter touchdown pass from Brent Stockstill to junior CJ Windham.
Likewise, the defense didn't finish the game out well against the Commodore attack.
After allowing just 89 total yards of offense in the first half (28 passing), the Blue Raider stoppers allowed 257 total yards (142 passing) after halftime. Vanderbilt ripped off 8.3 yards per play in the second half.
"We didn't execute as well as we needed to on either side at critical times of the game," Rick Stockstill said. "We've got to do a better job of executing … I told our team yesterday, I was proud of how they played, and proud of their toughness in that game. We just have to execute better, and things will have the tendency to work out better in the end."
Don't sleep on the FCS team
While UT Martin hasn't been good against FBS teams historically, with just one win in 26 chances, Middle Tennessee can't take the Skyhawks lightly.
UTM finished 6-5 last season and 4-4 in the OVC, and it featured one of the best defenses in the country.
The "Darkside," as the Skyhawk defense has been dubbed, finished in the top 10 in the FCS in several defensive categories in 2017, including fourth in points per game allowed with 14.27. That represented a new program record, and they also only gave up 159.9 passing yards per game to rank ninth in the nation. Four UTM defenders were named All-OVC.
"They've got a good defense," redshirt senior Brent Stockstill said. "They're creative – they kind of come from everywhere and a lot of times you don't really know what they're doing. They like to force you into mistakes and can catch you off guard at times. We'll have to stay on our toes and have to prepare, have a great plan and execute that plan."
While its offense struggled to keep pace with its defense in 2017, registering just 19.64 points per outing, UT Martin features a young quarterback gaining experience by the game and a Preseason All-OVC running back.
Sophomore quarterback Dresser Winn started the final five games for the Skyhawks in 2017 and could pose problems for MT with his arm. In six career games, he's thrown for 912 yards and six TDs with just one interception.
His backfield mate, senior running back Ladarius Galloway, was tabbed Preseason All-OVC after garnering second-team honors in 2017. He had 859 rushing and 307 receiving yards last season, scoring four TDs.
"They have some good players on the offensive side of the ball," MT redshirt senior linebacker Darius Harris said. "With their quarterback and skill positions, they like to run a lot of spread and tempo. We're going to watch film this week and identify who their playmakers are or certain tendencies they have."
Quarterback protection
While its defense was one of the best in the FCS last season, UT Martin struggled getting to the quarterback, only recording 16 sacks as a team. Four players led the way with two sacks, and three of them are back this year.
The Skyhawks never got to Missouri quarterback Drew Lock in Week 1, and the Blue Raiders are hoping to pitch a shutout in that department, as well. MT let Vanderbilt sack Brent Stockstill six times in its opener.
"They're all over the place, and they're going to bring a lot of pressure," Rick Stockstill said. "Our offensive line is going to be fine, if we can stay healthy. We've got to do better than what we did [against Vandy], obviously, but I'm not down on that group one bit."
On the flip side, Middle Tennessee will try to do a better job in the pass rush against UT Martin after only sacking Vanderbilt quarterback Kyle Shurmur once in Week 1.
According to Harris, the MT defenders are hungry to show they're better than their season-opening performance.
"We're ready to get out and show that that first game is not who we are as a team," he said. "We made some mistakes, but we also did some good things. We want to put it all together on Saturday and show that we're a good team all around."
The Skyhawks had three offensive linemen make their first career starts against Missouri, and they let the Tigers get to Winn two times.
Murfreesboro homecomings
Not only will fans see nine hometown players on Middle Tennessee's roster on Saturday, but they'll also see five Skyhawks with familiar faces.
UT Martin senior Kevin Prather Jr. (Oakland); redshirt freshmen Wanya Moton (Oakland), Deven Sims (Smyrna) and Deylon Williams (Smyrna); and freshman D'Andre Litaker (Riverdale) all attended Rutherford County high schools.
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.
A HOW TO GUIDE FOR ESPN+
What is ESPN+?
It is a direct-to-consumer (no cable or satellite subscription needed) streaming service that will cost $4.99 per month. ESPN+ was integrated as part of a completely redesigned ESPN App (and also via ESPN.com). Subscribers will receive thousands of additional live events, and original shows and films, and an on-demand library, which is not available on ESPN's linear TV or digital networks. ESPN+ will not include access to stream ESPN's existing, linear networks (which will continue to be available via "TV Everywhere" authenticated streaming).
How much does ESPN+ cost?
ESPN+ costs $4.99 a month ($49.99, if you pay annually). There is a 7-day free trial is available, too.
Does each event on ESPN+ cost $4.99?
No. The $4.99 a month covers all C-USA events and events from other college and pro sports.
Do I have to pay for the ESPN App?
The ESPN App is still free, and you still get all the same news, info, highlights and audio as always – with a new, enhanced design. Users can still stream ESPN networks with a pay TV subscription, for no additional cost. Users also have a new option to subscribe directly to ESPN+ — which contains 1000's of additional live events, on demand content and shows — not available on ESPN's traditional TV networks.
How do I subscribe to ESPN+ and where can I watch it?
A subscription to ESPN+ is available for purchase via the ESPN App and ESPN.com, and fans can only access ESPN+ content after they have subscribed.
What are the ESPN+ supported devices?
A subscriber can watch ESPN+ in the Watch tab of the latest version of the ESPN App, available on the web, iPhone, iPad, tvOS, Android Handset, Roku, Chromecast and FireTV.
How do I log in?
Log in using your current ESPN account, or, on desktop, create a new account via the user icon, or, on mobile, upon arrival to the ESPN App. You will be prompted to log in or create a new account when purchasing a subscription.
How do I change my ESPN.com credentials (username/password)?
Change credentials on ESPN.com by accessing the user avatar in the upper right corner of the web site after signing in.
How do I allow another one of my devices to access ESPN+?
To allow another of your devices to access ESPN+, sign in on that device with your ESPN.com account username and password. If you have purchased ESPN+ via in-app purchasing on Apple, Google or Amazon devices, you will need to first link your ESPN+ purchase to your ESPN.com account in the ESPN App before you can access ESPN+ on other devices platforms. You can create an ESPN.com account for free by clicking on the login link on ESPN.com.
What quality are ESPN+ streams?
ESPN+ video streams in high definition at 60 frames per second.
Can I watch multiple ESPN+ streams?
Yes, you can access five streams from ESPN+ at any one time. Plus, as a subscriber, you can pause, rewind, or restart anything you're watching live through ESPN+.
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