Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Tough challenge looms at FAU
10/11/2019 3:48:00 PM | Football
Blue Raiders hit road for C-USA tilt
BOCA RATON, Fla. — Fresh off its Conference USA-opening win against Marshall, Middle Tennessee hits the road for another tough league test Saturday.
The Blue Raiders (2-3, 1-0) don't get much of a break after taking down the preseason East Division favorite Thundering Herd. They'll travel to Boca Raton, Fla., to do battle with the always-tough and streaking Florida Atlantic Owls (3-2, 1-0).
"We've got a big challenge ahead of us this week," MT Head Coach Rick Stockstill said. "Florida Atlantic is a really good football team.
"It's going to be a challenge going on the road for a conference game, but like I always say, we'll be ready to roll when we get there."
Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT at FAU Stadium.
Where can you watch or listen?
TV: ESPN+
Radio: The Game 102.5/97.5 FM, WGNS 100.5 FM/1450 AM/101.9 FM, WDUC 93.9 FM
Search 'Middle Tennessee' on the TuneIn app.
Coaches tale of the tape
Rick Stockstill
Record, in conference (C-USA, Sun Belt): 89-81 (14th year), 66-36
Bowl appearances, record: 8 (2018 New Orleans Bowl), 2-6
Accolades: 6-time coach of the year, 2018 C-USA COY, sixth-longest tenured coach in the country, 3rd all-time at MT in wins
Lane Kiffin
Record, at FAU (in C-USA): 54-43 (8th year), 19-12 (12-5)
Bowl appearances as head coach (last), record: 3 (2017 Boca Raton Bowl), 1-2
Accolades: C-USA champion in 2017 in first year at FAU, 2017 Boca Raton Bowl title, youngest NFL head coach of all-time when he joined the Oakland Raiders in 2007 (until Sean McVay took over the Rams in 2017)
Stockstill on Kiffin: "[Lane] Kiffin has done a really good job there. He's an excellent football coach, he's got a great offensive mind, and I'm sure we'll see some things differently this week — one, because they've had an open date, and two he's going to look at what we do good, what we do bad, and try to counteract that."
Series history
Middle Tennessee has historically dominated the series, leading 12-4 all-time including nine straight wins from 2008-16. However, it has been much closer than the series record would indicate.
Eight matchups have been decided by a touchdown or less, with four coming down to a single point, including last year's 25-24 MT victory.
In the last six years since Stockstill took over the Blue Raiders, MT owns just a plus-19 score differential against the Owls, and the contests have been decided by an average of just nine points in that timeframe.
For an expanded look at the series, see our feature story from Wednesday.
Last meeting
As mentioned above, last season's meeting between the Raiders and Owls was yet another classic.
Trailing 24-17 with less than a minute left in its C-USA opener, Middle Tennessee found pay dirt with 38 seconds showing on the clock on a 1-yard Tavares Thomas run.
Instead of taking the PAT and likely heading to overtime, Stockstill rolled the dice with his experienced quarterback — also his son, Brent Stockstill — and went for a two-point conversion and the win.
The southpaw looked dead in the water, scrambling backwards and to his left as FAU defenders closed in, and at the last second heaved a pass towards the back of the end zone.
Remarkably, graduate transfer receiver Gatlin Casey came out of nowhere, snaring the pass on a dive and sinking the hearts of the Owls.
The Blue Raiders snuck out of Floyd Stadium with a 25-24 victory, holding the high-powered FAU offense to just three points in the second half in the come-from-behind win.
Offensive rhythm
FAU will likely have revenge on its mind after last year's heartbreaking loss to the Raiders.
If the Owls get the revenge they seek, it'll likely be because of their offense.
In its last three games, FAU has come alive offensively behind redshirt sophomore quarterback Chris Robison, who was at one time a four-star recruit enrolled at Oklahoma. The Texas native has thrown a C-USA-high 12 touchdown passes against just two interceptions this season, and he's second in the league with 282.4 passing yards per game.
The last three games, Robison has completed nearly 76 percent of his passes with 11 of his 12 TDs, leading the Owls to scores of 41, 42 and 45 in three wins.
"The obvious thing [MT's defense is focusing on] … giving up deep balls coming from the passing game," redshirt senior safety Jovante Moffatt said. "FAU will throw a lot of stuff at us, they have the last two years. We'll watch film on everything, and when we go to play them, it'll be an entirely different offense. We know we're going to see a whole bunch of different stuff, and we need to be prepared for whatever comes."
Middle Tennessee found a bit of a stride in its own right last week offensively.
Against a tough Marshall defense, the Blue Raiders racked up 401 yards, their most since going for 604 against Tennessee State in Week 2.
Most of those yards against the Herd came via the air attack. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Asher O'Hara, who's third in the league in passing efficiency at 154.5, had 261 passing yards and a touchdown to go with a team-high 76 rushing yards and another score.
O'Hara has been a do-it-all QB for MT so far, accounting for 11 TDs (nine passing) while leading the team and ranking ninth in C-USA with 311 rushing yards this season to go with 1,156 passing yards. The Blue Raiders will need someone else to step up in the run game to help his cause against FAU, which allows 152.4 rushing yards per game.
"It builds our confidence up front when we can run … it helps the passing game," redshirt junior offensive lineman Will Gilchrist said. "We just need to keep working on it and improve and, like I said, learn from it."
Turnover teams
In a matchup that on paper points to a close game Saturday, a turnover could be the decider, and statistically, these two teams are the best in C-USA in turnover margin.
FAU leads the conference with a plus-five turnover differential, forcing 10 while losing just five on the season. Coming in second in that category is Middle Tennessee, which has forced eight while only giving away four.
The Owls have only one turnover in their last two games while forcing five. The Blue Raiders have done them one better, though, going turnover-free over the last three games while forcing four, all coming last week against Marshall, including three interceptions.
"Again, it goes back to playing disciplined football," Stockstill said. "If you touch the ball as a receiver, a quarterback or a running back, you have to protect the ball. … It's chasing plays, chasing the ball, not just sitting around watching."
Daunting start to C-USA slate
A tough nonconference slate hasn't followed with a much easier road through two games in C-USA play for Middle Tennessee.
The Blue Raiders very well could've had the toughest nonconference opponents in C-USA, and their first four games in the league aren't doing them any favors, either.
After taking on preseason East Division favorite Marshall last week, MT takes on FAU (voted third in the division in the preseason) this week before staying on the road against West Division favorite North Texas in its next game. Then, the Raiders will return home to play FIU, picked to finish second in the East before the season started.
Battle of the Stockstills
Brent and Rick Stockstill will write a new chapter in their football lives on Saturday.
The father-son duo will coach against each other for the first time, Rick as the head coach at MT and Brent as an offensive player personnel assistant for the Owls.
"I've rooted for him all my life, and this will be the first time I've rooted against him," Rick Stockstill said. "I'm looking forward to seeing him and hugging his neck. I haven't seen him in a couple months, so I'm just looking forward to that.
"He's a professional. He doesn't have to worry about me asking him anything or me trying to pry information from him — I'm not going to do that. I wouldn't expect him, and he won't, to tell us, tell me anything. He's getting started in this profession, and he understands the integrity and professionalism you have to show to be in this profession for a long time."
The Blue Raiders (2-3, 1-0) don't get much of a break after taking down the preseason East Division favorite Thundering Herd. They'll travel to Boca Raton, Fla., to do battle with the always-tough and streaking Florida Atlantic Owls (3-2, 1-0).
"We've got a big challenge ahead of us this week," MT Head Coach Rick Stockstill said. "Florida Atlantic is a really good football team.
"It's going to be a challenge going on the road for a conference game, but like I always say, we'll be ready to roll when we get there."
Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT at FAU Stadium.
Where can you watch or listen?
TV: ESPN+
Radio: The Game 102.5/97.5 FM, WGNS 100.5 FM/1450 AM/101.9 FM, WDUC 93.9 FM
Search 'Middle Tennessee' on the TuneIn app.
Coaches tale of the tape
Rick Stockstill
Record, in conference (C-USA, Sun Belt): 89-81 (14th year), 66-36
Bowl appearances, record: 8 (2018 New Orleans Bowl), 2-6
Accolades: 6-time coach of the year, 2018 C-USA COY, sixth-longest tenured coach in the country, 3rd all-time at MT in wins
Lane Kiffin
Record, at FAU (in C-USA): 54-43 (8th year), 19-12 (12-5)
Bowl appearances as head coach (last), record: 3 (2017 Boca Raton Bowl), 1-2
Accolades: C-USA champion in 2017 in first year at FAU, 2017 Boca Raton Bowl title, youngest NFL head coach of all-time when he joined the Oakland Raiders in 2007 (until Sean McVay took over the Rams in 2017)
Stockstill on Kiffin: "[Lane] Kiffin has done a really good job there. He's an excellent football coach, he's got a great offensive mind, and I'm sure we'll see some things differently this week — one, because they've had an open date, and two he's going to look at what we do good, what we do bad, and try to counteract that."
Series history
Middle Tennessee has historically dominated the series, leading 12-4 all-time including nine straight wins from 2008-16. However, it has been much closer than the series record would indicate.
Eight matchups have been decided by a touchdown or less, with four coming down to a single point, including last year's 25-24 MT victory.
In the last six years since Stockstill took over the Blue Raiders, MT owns just a plus-19 score differential against the Owls, and the contests have been decided by an average of just nine points in that timeframe.
For an expanded look at the series, see our feature story from Wednesday.
Last meeting
As mentioned above, last season's meeting between the Raiders and Owls was yet another classic.
Trailing 24-17 with less than a minute left in its C-USA opener, Middle Tennessee found pay dirt with 38 seconds showing on the clock on a 1-yard Tavares Thomas run.
Instead of taking the PAT and likely heading to overtime, Stockstill rolled the dice with his experienced quarterback — also his son, Brent Stockstill — and went for a two-point conversion and the win.
The southpaw looked dead in the water, scrambling backwards and to his left as FAU defenders closed in, and at the last second heaved a pass towards the back of the end zone.
Remarkably, graduate transfer receiver Gatlin Casey came out of nowhere, snaring the pass on a dive and sinking the hearts of the Owls.
The Blue Raiders snuck out of Floyd Stadium with a 25-24 victory, holding the high-powered FAU offense to just three points in the second half in the come-from-behind win.
Offensive rhythm
FAU will likely have revenge on its mind after last year's heartbreaking loss to the Raiders.
If the Owls get the revenge they seek, it'll likely be because of their offense.
In its last three games, FAU has come alive offensively behind redshirt sophomore quarterback Chris Robison, who was at one time a four-star recruit enrolled at Oklahoma. The Texas native has thrown a C-USA-high 12 touchdown passes against just two interceptions this season, and he's second in the league with 282.4 passing yards per game.
The last three games, Robison has completed nearly 76 percent of his passes with 11 of his 12 TDs, leading the Owls to scores of 41, 42 and 45 in three wins.
"The obvious thing [MT's defense is focusing on] … giving up deep balls coming from the passing game," redshirt senior safety Jovante Moffatt said. "FAU will throw a lot of stuff at us, they have the last two years. We'll watch film on everything, and when we go to play them, it'll be an entirely different offense. We know we're going to see a whole bunch of different stuff, and we need to be prepared for whatever comes."
Middle Tennessee found a bit of a stride in its own right last week offensively.
Against a tough Marshall defense, the Blue Raiders racked up 401 yards, their most since going for 604 against Tennessee State in Week 2.
Most of those yards against the Herd came via the air attack. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Asher O'Hara, who's third in the league in passing efficiency at 154.5, had 261 passing yards and a touchdown to go with a team-high 76 rushing yards and another score.
O'Hara has been a do-it-all QB for MT so far, accounting for 11 TDs (nine passing) while leading the team and ranking ninth in C-USA with 311 rushing yards this season to go with 1,156 passing yards. The Blue Raiders will need someone else to step up in the run game to help his cause against FAU, which allows 152.4 rushing yards per game.
"It builds our confidence up front when we can run … it helps the passing game," redshirt junior offensive lineman Will Gilchrist said. "We just need to keep working on it and improve and, like I said, learn from it."
Turnover teams
In a matchup that on paper points to a close game Saturday, a turnover could be the decider, and statistically, these two teams are the best in C-USA in turnover margin.
FAU leads the conference with a plus-five turnover differential, forcing 10 while losing just five on the season. Coming in second in that category is Middle Tennessee, which has forced eight while only giving away four.
The Owls have only one turnover in their last two games while forcing five. The Blue Raiders have done them one better, though, going turnover-free over the last three games while forcing four, all coming last week against Marshall, including three interceptions.
"Again, it goes back to playing disciplined football," Stockstill said. "If you touch the ball as a receiver, a quarterback or a running back, you have to protect the ball. … It's chasing plays, chasing the ball, not just sitting around watching."
Daunting start to C-USA slate
A tough nonconference slate hasn't followed with a much easier road through two games in C-USA play for Middle Tennessee.
The Blue Raiders very well could've had the toughest nonconference opponents in C-USA, and their first four games in the league aren't doing them any favors, either.
After taking on preseason East Division favorite Marshall last week, MT takes on FAU (voted third in the division in the preseason) this week before staying on the road against West Division favorite North Texas in its next game. Then, the Raiders will return home to play FIU, picked to finish second in the East before the season started.
Battle of the Stockstills
Brent and Rick Stockstill will write a new chapter in their football lives on Saturday.
The father-son duo will coach against each other for the first time, Rick as the head coach at MT and Brent as an offensive player personnel assistant for the Owls.
"I've rooted for him all my life, and this will be the first time I've rooted against him," Rick Stockstill said. "I'm looking forward to seeing him and hugging his neck. I haven't seen him in a couple months, so I'm just looking forward to that.
"He's a professional. He doesn't have to worry about me asking him anything or me trying to pry information from him — I'm not going to do that. I wouldn't expect him, and he won't, to tell us, tell me anything. He's getting started in this profession, and he understands the integrity and professionalism you have to show to be in this profession for a long time."
Players Mentioned
Saturday, August 15
Tuesday, August 11
Tuesday, August 11
Monday, August 03
