Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Raiders return to Floyd Stadium for Homecoming
10/21/2019 5:00:00 PM | Football
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — The path to bowl eligibility is thinning for Middle Tennessee, making a homecoming matchup with FIU all the more important on Saturday.
If the Blue Raiders (2-5, 1-2) want to get six victories and reach bowl eligibility for the eighth straight year and 11th time in the past 14 seasons, they'll have to go at worst 4-1 over the season's last five games. Not impossible, but definitely not easy, especially with the red-hot Panthers (4-3, 2-2) coming to Murfreesboro.
"FIU is having a really good year," Middle Tennessee head coach Rick Stockstill said. "They've started to find their rhythm the past few weeks.
"This is a really talented team coming in here. They're 4-3 and have won their past three games."
FIU, which was picked second in the Conference USA East Division in the preseason, has won three in a row after a disappointing 1-3 start.
In their winning streak, the Panthers have given up 13 points per outing, including a 44-0 shutout of UMass on Oct. 5. It's the type of defense MT isn't thrilled about seeing right now.
The Raiders' offense has struggled the past couple of weeks, leading to two losses. They fell apart in the second half against FAU and found their stride too late against North Texas last week after a quarterback change.
Stockstill said they'll stick with redshirt sophomore Asher O'Hara under center for the time being, but don't be surprised to see fellow redshirt sophomore Chase Cunningham again if the situation is presented. In his relief appearance against NT, he connected on 9-of-16 passes for 119 yards, one touchdown and an interception, and he also ran for a TD. All in the fourth quarter.
"Chase came in and did a nice job," Stockstill said. "His command of the offense was good … I was really proud of Chase and what he did. Moving forward, Asher will be the quarterback, but I'm not afraid to play Chase if the opportunity presents itself."
While Middle Tennessee's attack has sputtered in the last two weeks, its defense has stood up against some of the conference's best offenses.
The Blue Raiders forced three turnovers against North Texas last week, bringing their season total to 11 and seven in C-USA play, putting them third in the league in turnover margin.
They'll need another good showing defensively against a talented and senior-laden FIU offense. That will be made more difficult without the services of junior safety Reed Blankenship, who suffered a leg injury against NT and will miss the remainder of the season.
Redshirt senior quarterback James Morgan leads the way for the Panthers, with fellow senior running back Anthony Jones providing punch out of the backfield. He's sixth in the conference in rushing with 512 yards.
"They're really balanced offensively," Stockstill said. "They're running the ball probably as good as they've run it here in the last couple of years."
After a tough first seven games of the regular season in which they were on the road for four weeks, the Blue Raiders get to come home for three of their final five.
That makes this week's homecoming all the more special, and likely needed.
"As we move forward, again, I said it last week, this is about us. We need to get this corrected," Stockstill said.
If the Blue Raiders (2-5, 1-2) want to get six victories and reach bowl eligibility for the eighth straight year and 11th time in the past 14 seasons, they'll have to go at worst 4-1 over the season's last five games. Not impossible, but definitely not easy, especially with the red-hot Panthers (4-3, 2-2) coming to Murfreesboro.
"FIU is having a really good year," Middle Tennessee head coach Rick Stockstill said. "They've started to find their rhythm the past few weeks.
"This is a really talented team coming in here. They're 4-3 and have won their past three games."
FIU, which was picked second in the Conference USA East Division in the preseason, has won three in a row after a disappointing 1-3 start.
In their winning streak, the Panthers have given up 13 points per outing, including a 44-0 shutout of UMass on Oct. 5. It's the type of defense MT isn't thrilled about seeing right now.
The Raiders' offense has struggled the past couple of weeks, leading to two losses. They fell apart in the second half against FAU and found their stride too late against North Texas last week after a quarterback change.
Stockstill said they'll stick with redshirt sophomore Asher O'Hara under center for the time being, but don't be surprised to see fellow redshirt sophomore Chase Cunningham again if the situation is presented. In his relief appearance against NT, he connected on 9-of-16 passes for 119 yards, one touchdown and an interception, and he also ran for a TD. All in the fourth quarter.
"Chase came in and did a nice job," Stockstill said. "His command of the offense was good … I was really proud of Chase and what he did. Moving forward, Asher will be the quarterback, but I'm not afraid to play Chase if the opportunity presents itself."
While Middle Tennessee's attack has sputtered in the last two weeks, its defense has stood up against some of the conference's best offenses.
The Blue Raiders forced three turnovers against North Texas last week, bringing their season total to 11 and seven in C-USA play, putting them third in the league in turnover margin.
They'll need another good showing defensively against a talented and senior-laden FIU offense. That will be made more difficult without the services of junior safety Reed Blankenship, who suffered a leg injury against NT and will miss the remainder of the season.
Redshirt senior quarterback James Morgan leads the way for the Panthers, with fellow senior running back Anthony Jones providing punch out of the backfield. He's sixth in the conference in rushing with 512 yards.
"They're really balanced offensively," Stockstill said. "They're running the ball probably as good as they've run it here in the last couple of years."
After a tough first seven games of the regular season in which they were on the road for four weeks, the Blue Raiders get to come home for three of their final five.
That makes this week's homecoming all the more special, and likely needed.
"As we move forward, again, I said it last week, this is about us. We need to get this corrected," Stockstill said.
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