Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Looking ahead to MT and ODU
11/22/2019 3:00:00 PM | Football
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Two games remain on Middle Tennessee's 2019 schedule, and while the Blue Raiders will miss bowl eligibility for the first time since 2011, there's still plenty to play for in the final two weeks.
Old Dominion (1-9, 0-6) will travel to Murfreesboro for the second time Saturday, when MT (3-7, 2-4) will honor 15 seniors before kickoff in senior day ceremonies.
"We've got to have a great week of practice and play a good game," Raiders head coach Rick Stockstill said. "Like I told [the team] … we're going to finish this thing the right way and give it everything we have."
Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at Floyd Stadium.
Where can you watch or listen?
TV: ESPN3, watchespn.com
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): 90-85 (14th year), 67-40
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
Bobby Wilder
Record, at ODU: 77-54 (11th season), same
Bowl appearances as head coach, record: 1 (2016 Popeyes Bahamas Bowl), 1-0
Accolades: Only head coach in program history; 11th-longest tenured coach in FBS; two FCS Playoffs berths (2011, 2012) before moving to FBS in 2014; led program to Popeyes Bahamas Bowl title in third FBS season (2016)
Series history
In three meetings all-time between the two programs, it's been heavily one-sided. The Blue Raiders won the only contest in Murfreesboro in 2017 41-10.
Middle Tennessee has won all three games by an average of 26 points. The average score is in the Blue Raiders' favor, 44-18.
Last meeting
The 2018 meeting between the teams was the most lopsided yet, a 51-17 victory for Middle Tennessee.
In the game, the Monarchs managed to gain 520 total yards, but were done in by four turnovers that led to 20 MT points, including two interceptions returned for scores.
Terelle West had a big day rushing, taking 13 carries for 120 yards, including a 71-yard touchdown. Brent Stockstill added 280 yards through the air, connecting on 25-of-32 passes with two touchdowns and an interception. He also rushed for a score.
Reed Blankenship was the player of the game, registering a then-career-high 17 tackles to go with a sack and three tackles for loss. He also added a 100-yard pick six as the first half ended, which was included on ESPN's top plays of the day.
Struggles on both sides
Both teams go into Saturday in a tough slump.
Old Dominion has lost nine straight after starting the year with a win over Norfolk State, while Middle Tennessee has lost two in a row after beating FIU 50-17 on homecoming, including a 31-28 home defeat to Rice last week.
The Monarchs' struggles have come on both sides of the ball, but particularly on offense. They've been one of the worst offensive teams in the country this season, averaging a Conference USA-worst 15.6 points and 250.6 yards per game. They've only scored four passing TDs this year with three players accounting for 11 of their 12 rushing scores.
True freshman Hayden Wolff will likely make his third start Saturday under center. He's completed 56.2% of his passes for 416 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions the last two games.
"They've got good receivers," Stockstill said. "The quarterback is getting better each week now that he's got a couple games under his belt, and the receivers are talented."
Middle Tennessee has found its struggles in the early parts of the past two games, falling down early to both Charlotte and Rice and not being able to fully recover.
The Blue Raiders will hope to find consistency early on offense behind redshirt sophomore quarterback Asher O'Hara, who leads the team and ranks third in C-USA with 836 rushing yards to go with 2,130 passing. He's thrown for 15 TDs this season and rushed for nine more.
"We just focus on the task at hand," MT redshirt junior offensive lineman Will Gilchrist said. "We're just trying to give these seniors their last hoorah and make them go out on a good note."
Don't be fooled by 1-9
While it's been a struggle for ODU this season, its 1-9 record can be a little misleading.
The Monarchs have played in seven games decided by 14 points or less and four by seven or less. They've also gotten good play on defense, led by conference-leading-tackler Lawrence Garner (94 total tackles), a linebacker. Fellow linebacker Jordan Young has also totaled 72 tackles to rank 15th in the league.
"Old Dominion's record isn't all that hot, but we've got to play the game," Stockstill said. "We've got to have a great week of preparation because we have a good Old Dominion team coming in here.
"[Garner and Young] are good players. The big thing is, you've got to do a good job up front in your run game scheme and in pass protection. Like any good player, they're going to make their plays."
Injuries abundant
Middle Tennessee has needed several backups to step up in the last few weeks as injuries have become abundant.
On Monday, Stockstill said 29 scholarship players could be out this week.
"Nobody wants to hear about injuries and excuses," he said. "This is a fact, it's not an excuse: We're up to 29 people now, scholarship players that we started with Aug. 1, that won't play in this game.
"It's been a difficult year from that standpoint, and that's why I respect this team because they don't use that as an excuse, and they keep coming back."
Thank you, seniors
Before kickoff, 15 seniors will be honored for their contributions to the program and university.
The group has had a hand in taking the Blue Raiders to a program-record four consecutive bowl games and helped capture the first Conference USA East Division title in team history last season. Over the past five years, MT has averaged 7.5 wins per season, including a C-USA record of 24-13.
"This is a chance for us to honor our seniors this weekend," Stockstill said. "These guys have meant the world to me and have helped change and establish this program. I appreciate everything they've done and everything they've sacrificed."
"We're looking forward to honoring them. A lot of great men will walk out onto that field Saturday, so this is a chance to show mine and our appreciation to them."
Old Dominion (1-9, 0-6) will travel to Murfreesboro for the second time Saturday, when MT (3-7, 2-4) will honor 15 seniors before kickoff in senior day ceremonies.
"We've got to have a great week of practice and play a good game," Raiders head coach Rick Stockstill said. "Like I told [the team] … we're going to finish this thing the right way and give it everything we have."
Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at Floyd Stadium.
Where can you watch or listen?
TV: ESPN3, watchespn.com
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): 90-85 (14th year), 67-40
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
Bobby Wilder
Record, at ODU: 77-54 (11th season), same
Bowl appearances as head coach, record: 1 (2016 Popeyes Bahamas Bowl), 1-0
Accolades: Only head coach in program history; 11th-longest tenured coach in FBS; two FCS Playoffs berths (2011, 2012) before moving to FBS in 2014; led program to Popeyes Bahamas Bowl title in third FBS season (2016)
Series history
In three meetings all-time between the two programs, it's been heavily one-sided. The Blue Raiders won the only contest in Murfreesboro in 2017 41-10.
Middle Tennessee has won all three games by an average of 26 points. The average score is in the Blue Raiders' favor, 44-18.
Last meeting
The 2018 meeting between the teams was the most lopsided yet, a 51-17 victory for Middle Tennessee.
In the game, the Monarchs managed to gain 520 total yards, but were done in by four turnovers that led to 20 MT points, including two interceptions returned for scores.
Terelle West had a big day rushing, taking 13 carries for 120 yards, including a 71-yard touchdown. Brent Stockstill added 280 yards through the air, connecting on 25-of-32 passes with two touchdowns and an interception. He also rushed for a score.
Reed Blankenship was the player of the game, registering a then-career-high 17 tackles to go with a sack and three tackles for loss. He also added a 100-yard pick six as the first half ended, which was included on ESPN's top plays of the day.
Struggles on both sides
Both teams go into Saturday in a tough slump.
Old Dominion has lost nine straight after starting the year with a win over Norfolk State, while Middle Tennessee has lost two in a row after beating FIU 50-17 on homecoming, including a 31-28 home defeat to Rice last week.
The Monarchs' struggles have come on both sides of the ball, but particularly on offense. They've been one of the worst offensive teams in the country this season, averaging a Conference USA-worst 15.6 points and 250.6 yards per game. They've only scored four passing TDs this year with three players accounting for 11 of their 12 rushing scores.
True freshman Hayden Wolff will likely make his third start Saturday under center. He's completed 56.2% of his passes for 416 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions the last two games.
"They've got good receivers," Stockstill said. "The quarterback is getting better each week now that he's got a couple games under his belt, and the receivers are talented."
Middle Tennessee has found its struggles in the early parts of the past two games, falling down early to both Charlotte and Rice and not being able to fully recover.
The Blue Raiders will hope to find consistency early on offense behind redshirt sophomore quarterback Asher O'Hara, who leads the team and ranks third in C-USA with 836 rushing yards to go with 2,130 passing. He's thrown for 15 TDs this season and rushed for nine more.
"We just focus on the task at hand," MT redshirt junior offensive lineman Will Gilchrist said. "We're just trying to give these seniors their last hoorah and make them go out on a good note."
Don't be fooled by 1-9
While it's been a struggle for ODU this season, its 1-9 record can be a little misleading.
The Monarchs have played in seven games decided by 14 points or less and four by seven or less. They've also gotten good play on defense, led by conference-leading-tackler Lawrence Garner (94 total tackles), a linebacker. Fellow linebacker Jordan Young has also totaled 72 tackles to rank 15th in the league.
"Old Dominion's record isn't all that hot, but we've got to play the game," Stockstill said. "We've got to have a great week of preparation because we have a good Old Dominion team coming in here.
"[Garner and Young] are good players. The big thing is, you've got to do a good job up front in your run game scheme and in pass protection. Like any good player, they're going to make their plays."
Injuries abundant
Middle Tennessee has needed several backups to step up in the last few weeks as injuries have become abundant.
On Monday, Stockstill said 29 scholarship players could be out this week.
"Nobody wants to hear about injuries and excuses," he said. "This is a fact, it's not an excuse: We're up to 29 people now, scholarship players that we started with Aug. 1, that won't play in this game.
"It's been a difficult year from that standpoint, and that's why I respect this team because they don't use that as an excuse, and they keep coming back."
Thank you, seniors
Before kickoff, 15 seniors will be honored for their contributions to the program and university.
The group has had a hand in taking the Blue Raiders to a program-record four consecutive bowl games and helped capture the first Conference USA East Division title in team history last season. Over the past five years, MT has averaged 7.5 wins per season, including a C-USA record of 24-13.
"This is a chance for us to honor our seniors this weekend," Stockstill said. "These guys have meant the world to me and have helped change and establish this program. I appreciate everything they've done and everything they've sacrificed."
"We're looking forward to honoring them. A lot of great men will walk out onto that field Saturday, so this is a chance to show mine and our appreciation to them."
Players Mentioned
QB
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