Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Blue Raiders taking momentum to FAU
10/7/2019 6:00:00 PM | Football
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — A tough, gritty win over preseason East Division favorite Marshall has given Middle Tennessee some momentum heading into its first Conference USA road game of the season.
The Blue Raiders (2-3, 1-0) will need to keep that momentum going all week through practice with another difficult conference matchup awaiting Saturday at Florida Atlantic (3-2, 1-0).
"We have a big challenge ahead of us this week," Middle Tennessee head coach Rick Stockstill said. "Florida Atlantic is a really good football team.
"Coach [Lane] Kiffin has done a really nice job there. He's an excellent football coach and has a great offensive mind."
The Owls were predicted by the league's media members in the preseason to finish third, just ahead of MT, in the East.
Having to play what many thought before the season were two of the best teams in the division right off the bat — not to mention next week when they travel to West favorite North Texas — is an understandable challenge for the Blue Raiders. It's one they're taking in stride, though.
After the win over Marshall, Stockstill praised his team for its toughness. He reiterated those feelings Monday, saying they're ready to prove themselves yet again.
"You have to have it every game," he said. "The toughness we played with, especially in the second half … we just played so hard. That was good to see."
While Middle Tennessee was in a slugfest with Marshall, FAU got to sit at home and watch, courtesy of its first bye week of the season.
The off week came after three straight wins for the Owls in which their offense seemed to find its stride. They scored 41, 42 and 45 against Ball State, Wagner and Charlotte, respectively, behind big outings from quarterback Chris Robison.
A redshirt sophomore who transferred to FAU from Oklahoma his freshman year, Robison is completing 66.3% of his passes this season and has 12 touchdowns against just two interceptions. In the last three games, he's upped his output to 352 yards per game, tossing 11 TDs against one pick and completing 76% of his throws.
"Their quarterback is playing at a really, really high level," Stockstill said. "He's throwing the ball with great accuracy and protecting the ball, as well. He's doing a really good job of running their offense."
In order to slow Robison and the Owls down, the Blue Raiders will have to show some improvements over their first C-USA test.
While they forced four turnovers (three interceptions) against the Thundering Herd, they gave up 578 total yards (376 passing), including 14 of what Stockstill and his coaching staff call "explosive plays" — passes of at least 16 yards and runs of at least 12.
MT didn't give up a single point in the second half to Marshall, however, forcing three fourth down failures and two interceptions in five Herd drives after halftime. It was the type of performance Stockstill wants to see for a whole game against Florida Atlantic.
"We're going to get challenged on the outside [against FAU]," he said. "We're getting a little bit better … and we have to continue to do that.
"We have to make Robison throw under duress. Their receivers are too talented for us to just let him sit back there with a lot of time, because he'll pick us apart."
In their 2018 division title run, the Blue Raiders began C-USA play with wins against Marshall and FAU. A victory Saturday would match that start and put them in a good position in the division standings through two games.
Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
The Blue Raiders (2-3, 1-0) will need to keep that momentum going all week through practice with another difficult conference matchup awaiting Saturday at Florida Atlantic (3-2, 1-0).
"We have a big challenge ahead of us this week," Middle Tennessee head coach Rick Stockstill said. "Florida Atlantic is a really good football team.
"Coach [Lane] Kiffin has done a really nice job there. He's an excellent football coach and has a great offensive mind."
The Owls were predicted by the league's media members in the preseason to finish third, just ahead of MT, in the East.
Having to play what many thought before the season were two of the best teams in the division right off the bat — not to mention next week when they travel to West favorite North Texas — is an understandable challenge for the Blue Raiders. It's one they're taking in stride, though.
After the win over Marshall, Stockstill praised his team for its toughness. He reiterated those feelings Monday, saying they're ready to prove themselves yet again.
"You have to have it every game," he said. "The toughness we played with, especially in the second half … we just played so hard. That was good to see."
While Middle Tennessee was in a slugfest with Marshall, FAU got to sit at home and watch, courtesy of its first bye week of the season.
The off week came after three straight wins for the Owls in which their offense seemed to find its stride. They scored 41, 42 and 45 against Ball State, Wagner and Charlotte, respectively, behind big outings from quarterback Chris Robison.
A redshirt sophomore who transferred to FAU from Oklahoma his freshman year, Robison is completing 66.3% of his passes this season and has 12 touchdowns against just two interceptions. In the last three games, he's upped his output to 352 yards per game, tossing 11 TDs against one pick and completing 76% of his throws.
"Their quarterback is playing at a really, really high level," Stockstill said. "He's throwing the ball with great accuracy and protecting the ball, as well. He's doing a really good job of running their offense."
In order to slow Robison and the Owls down, the Blue Raiders will have to show some improvements over their first C-USA test.
While they forced four turnovers (three interceptions) against the Thundering Herd, they gave up 578 total yards (376 passing), including 14 of what Stockstill and his coaching staff call "explosive plays" — passes of at least 16 yards and runs of at least 12.
MT didn't give up a single point in the second half to Marshall, however, forcing three fourth down failures and two interceptions in five Herd drives after halftime. It was the type of performance Stockstill wants to see for a whole game against Florida Atlantic.
"We're going to get challenged on the outside [against FAU]," he said. "We're getting a little bit better … and we have to continue to do that.
"We have to make Robison throw under duress. Their receivers are too talented for us to just let him sit back there with a lot of time, because he'll pick us apart."
In their 2018 division title run, the Blue Raiders began C-USA play with wins against Marshall and FAU. A victory Saturday would match that start and put them in a good position in the division standings through two games.
Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
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