Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Saturday, October 5
Murfreesboro, TN
2:30 PM
Middle Tennessee
2-3 , 1-0
24
vs
13
Marshall University
2-3 , 0-1
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Marshall
7
6
0
0
13
Middle Tennessee
10
7
0
7
24
Team Stats
MAR
MT
Total Yards
578
404
Pass Yards
376
261
Rushing Yards
202
143
Penalty Yards
59
15
1st Downs
27
21
3rd Downs
5
5
4th Downs
2
0
TOP
33:47
26:13
1st Quarter
MAR 0, MT 7
MT - MOBLEY, Chaton 1 yd run (HOLT, Crews kick), 5 plays, 39 yards, TOP 1:42
MAR 7, MT 7
MAR - LEVIAS, Armani 75 yd pass from GREEN, Isaiah (ROHRWASSER, J. kick) 1 plays, 75 yards, TOP 0:13
MAR 7, MT 10
MT - HOLT, Crews 21 yd field goal 10 plays, 72 yards, TOP 4:16
2nd Quarter
MAR 10, MT 10
MAR - ROHRWASSER, J. 25 yd field goal 11 plays, 78 yards, TOP 5:15
MAR 10, MT 17
MT - O'HARA, Asher 4 yd run (HOLT, Crews kick), 6 plays, 53 yards, TOP 1:53
MAR 13, MT 17
MAR - ROHRWASSER, J. 24 yd field goal 13 plays, 68 yards, TOP 3:39
4th Quarter
MAR 13, MT 24
MT - DOBSON, Zack 36 yd pass from O'HARA, Asher (HOLT, Crews kick) 8 plays, 76 yards, TOP 2:39
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
17
TD
1
YDS
261
INT
0
MT opens title defense with win
10/5/2019 6:08:00 PM | Football
Defense sparks victory vs. preseason favorite
POSTGAME QUOTES:
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee kicked off its division title defense in a big way Saturday.
With the Marshall Thundering Herd (2-3, 0-1) visiting Floyd Stadium in both teams' Conference USA opener, the Blue Raiders (2-3, 1-0) proved they're still the team to beat in the East Division, beating the preseason division favorite 24-13.
It was the sixth win in seven C-USA openers since the program entered the conference in 2013.
"I'm really proud of our team," MT Head Coach Rick Stockstill said. "I'm really proud of the toughness and the guts that we played with today. That was our message all week … and the performance out there today was a great testimony to how tough — mentally tough, physically tough — that football team is."
As has usually been the case in the series, it was a tight contest throughout, but Middle Tennessee found just enough offense to put the game away in the fourth quarter.
Leading 17-13 with just under 13 minutes to play, Blue Raider redshirt sophomore quarterback Asher O'Hara hit sophomore Zack Dobson with a screen pass on third and 10. The Knoxville native did the rest, navigating through the defense and flipping into the end zone for a 36-yard touchdown to increase the lead to 11, essentially putting the game out of reach.
It was the speedster's first touchdown of the season, and couldn't have come at a better time.
"That's the momentum everyone needs, the whole team," O'Hara said. "Zack catches it at the line of scrimmage and takes it all the way, and he makes me look good. … I'm just thankful we have players like that."
With the lead at 11, Middle Tennessee only had to lean on its stellar defense to secure the win.
The Blue Raiders didn't give up a point in the second half, forcing Marshall into failed fourth down tries on three straight possessions before redshirt seniors Jovante Moffatt and Tyshun Render put the nail in the coffin.
As Marshall was beginning to march with just over five minutes left, getting close to midfield, Moffatt read the eyes of quarterback Isaiah Green and snagged his second interception of the afternoon at the Thundering Herd 41-yard line. The deflating turnover was the third of four forced by the MT defense, the last coming on yet another pick by Render in the waning seconds.
The four forced turnovers were the first for Middle Tennessee since Week 2 against Tennessee State. MT also didn't cough the ball up on the afternoon, its third straight game without a turnover.
"We played a lot better on defense this week," Moffatt said. "I feel like the last four games we played helped out the defense a lot, mentally and from a physical standpoint. I feel like guys came out locked in today."
Moffatt was the catalyst on defense for the Blue Raiders all day long. His first interception came on Marshall's second drive in the first quarter at the 39-yard line, leading to a Blue Raider rushing touchdown from Chaton Mobley.
He led the team with 14 tackles, three off his career high set last season against the Thundering Herd, and also came up with a stop on a fake field goal late in the fourth quarter to give the ball back to his offense.
"I guess I kind of have their number the last couple of years," the senior said. "I played a good game. Hats off to everyone else on the team … the defense came out and played good today."
Offensively, O'Hara drove the bus with 261 yards passing, a team-high 76 yards rushing and two total touchdowns (one each passing and rushing).
He said while the offensive performance was overall positive, there are still things to work on, notably red zone conversions. Middle Tennessee was three-for-four on scores inside the 20, but failed to get into the end zone twice despite being inside the Marshall 5-yard line.
"I think execution is the key," O'Hara said. "We're just going to harp on the red zone in practice, get some new plays and be refreshed for next week.
"We know we left a lot out there, at least on the offensive side of the ball."
The Blue Raiders will try to keep their momentum going into a road contest with Florida Atlantic next week.
"It was fun to coach and watch these guys play today," Stockstill said. "Those guys, the toughness and the guts they played with, man, that makes you proud as a coach."
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee kicked off its division title defense in a big way Saturday.
With the Marshall Thundering Herd (2-3, 0-1) visiting Floyd Stadium in both teams' Conference USA opener, the Blue Raiders (2-3, 1-0) proved they're still the team to beat in the East Division, beating the preseason division favorite 24-13.
It was the sixth win in seven C-USA openers since the program entered the conference in 2013.
"I'm really proud of our team," MT Head Coach Rick Stockstill said. "I'm really proud of the toughness and the guts that we played with today. That was our message all week … and the performance out there today was a great testimony to how tough — mentally tough, physically tough — that football team is."
As has usually been the case in the series, it was a tight contest throughout, but Middle Tennessee found just enough offense to put the game away in the fourth quarter.
Leading 17-13 with just under 13 minutes to play, Blue Raider redshirt sophomore quarterback Asher O'Hara hit sophomore Zack Dobson with a screen pass on third and 10. The Knoxville native did the rest, navigating through the defense and flipping into the end zone for a 36-yard touchdown to increase the lead to 11, essentially putting the game out of reach.
It was the speedster's first touchdown of the season, and couldn't have come at a better time.
"That's the momentum everyone needs, the whole team," O'Hara said. "Zack catches it at the line of scrimmage and takes it all the way, and he makes me look good. … I'm just thankful we have players like that."
With the lead at 11, Middle Tennessee only had to lean on its stellar defense to secure the win.
The Blue Raiders didn't give up a point in the second half, forcing Marshall into failed fourth down tries on three straight possessions before redshirt seniors Jovante Moffatt and Tyshun Render put the nail in the coffin.
As Marshall was beginning to march with just over five minutes left, getting close to midfield, Moffatt read the eyes of quarterback Isaiah Green and snagged his second interception of the afternoon at the Thundering Herd 41-yard line. The deflating turnover was the third of four forced by the MT defense, the last coming on yet another pick by Render in the waning seconds.
The four forced turnovers were the first for Middle Tennessee since Week 2 against Tennessee State. MT also didn't cough the ball up on the afternoon, its third straight game without a turnover.
"We played a lot better on defense this week," Moffatt said. "I feel like the last four games we played helped out the defense a lot, mentally and from a physical standpoint. I feel like guys came out locked in today."
Moffatt was the catalyst on defense for the Blue Raiders all day long. His first interception came on Marshall's second drive in the first quarter at the 39-yard line, leading to a Blue Raider rushing touchdown from Chaton Mobley.
He led the team with 14 tackles, three off his career high set last season against the Thundering Herd, and also came up with a stop on a fake field goal late in the fourth quarter to give the ball back to his offense.
"I guess I kind of have their number the last couple of years," the senior said. "I played a good game. Hats off to everyone else on the team … the defense came out and played good today."
Offensively, O'Hara drove the bus with 261 yards passing, a team-high 76 yards rushing and two total touchdowns (one each passing and rushing).
He said while the offensive performance was overall positive, there are still things to work on, notably red zone conversions. Middle Tennessee was three-for-four on scores inside the 20, but failed to get into the end zone twice despite being inside the Marshall 5-yard line.
"I think execution is the key," O'Hara said. "We're just going to harp on the red zone in practice, get some new plays and be refreshed for next week.
"We know we left a lot out there, at least on the offensive side of the ball."
The Blue Raiders will try to keep their momentum going into a road contest with Florida Atlantic next week.
"It was fun to coach and watch these guys play today," Stockstill said. "Those guys, the toughness and the guts they played with, man, that makes you proud as a coach."
MTSU Football Weekly Press Conference 9/15/25
Monday, September 15
MTSU Football at Nevada highlights – 9/13/25
Sunday, September 14
MTSU Football at Nevada Full Game Highlights – 9/13/25
Saturday, September 13
MTSU Football Postgame Press Conference @ Nevada on 09-13-25
Saturday, September 13
