Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Saturday, September 14
Murfreesboro, TN
6:00 PM
Middle Tennessee
1-2
18
vs
41
Duke University
2-1
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Duke
14
17
10
0
41
Middle Tennessee
3
0
8
7
18
Team Stats
DU
MT
Total Yards
463
339
Pass Yards
237
201
Rushing Yards
226
138
Penalty Yards
20
20
1st Downs
26
19
3rd Downs
8
5
4th Downs
2
2
TOP
34:07
25:53
1st Quarter
DU 0, MT 3
MT - HOLT, Crews 41 yd field goal 13 plays, 51 yards, TOP 6:51
DU 7, MT 3
DU - Jackson,D. 3 yd run (Reed,A. kick), 14 plays, 67 yards, TOP 6:04
DU 14, MT 3
DU - Calhoun,J. 12 yd pass from Harris,Q. (Reed,A. kick) 5 plays, 47 yards, TOP 1:47
2nd Quarter
DU 17, MT 3
DU - Reed,A. 49 yd field goal 6 plays, 31 yards, TOP 2:36
DU 24, MT 3
DU - Pancol,E. 11 yd pass from Harris,Q. (Reed,A. kick) 10 plays, 62 yards, TOP 3:15
DU 31, MT 3
DU - Young,A. 25 yd pass from Harris,Q. (Reed,A. kick) 9 plays, 67 yards, TOP 2:52
3rd Quarter
DU 34, MT 3
DU - Reed,A. 26 yd field goal 6 plays, 71 yards, TOP 2:09
DU 34, MT 11
MT - WINDHAM, CJ 26 yd pass from O'HARA, Asher (MARSHALL, Jimmy pass) 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:10
DU 41, MT 11
DU - Young,A. 18 yd pass from Harris,Q. (Reed,A. kick) 12 plays, 84 yards, TOP 6:43
4th Quarter
DU 41, MT 18
MT - WINDHAM, CJ 14 yd pass from O'HARA, Asher (HOLT, Crews kick) 14 plays, 75 yards, TOP 6:23
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
19
TD
2
YDS
201
INT
0
Blue Raiders succumb to efficient Blue Devils
9/14/2019 9:37:00 PM | Football
MURFRESBORO, Tenn. — An efficient offensive performance from the Duke Blue Devils was too much to overcome for Middle Tennessee Saturday.
Duke (2-1) made its first trip to Murfreesboro to take on the Blue Raiders (1-2) in MT's annual Blackout game and left with a 41-18 win.
"[Duke] has a really good football team," Middle Tennessee head coach Rick Stockstill said. "We just couldn't stop them. They scored on every possession except the last two possessions of the game.
"It was just one of those nights where not a whole lot went our way."
Behind quarterback Quentin Harris, the Blue Devils' offense made it tough on Middle Tennessee's defense all night long.
Duke won the total yards battle 463-339 and refused to get off the field, converting 8-of-14 third downs and two fourth downs. The Blue Devils averaged 5.8 yards per first-down play, setting them up with an average distance to go on third down of just 4.6 yards.
Harris finished with 237 yards through the air and four touchdowns and another 107 yards on the ground.
"They're a well-coached team," junior linebacker DQ Thomas said. "[Duke head coach David Cutcliffe] knows what he's doing with that offense.
"We just need to execute better and make plays when they need to be made.
Middle Tennessee's offense looked up to the task on its opening drive, going 51 yards in 13 plays before redshirt junior Crews Holt banged home a 41-yard field goal.
Quarterback Asher O'Hara was the catalyst of the drive, connected on all six of his passes and rushing for 16 yards, including a 20-yard run on third and long to set up the field goal try.
O'Hara, a redshirt sophomore making his second home start for the Blue Raiders, continued his strong start to the season. He completed 19-of-27 passes for 201 yards and two TDs and added a team-high 67 rushing yards on 18 attempts.
Through three games, he's completed 70.7% of his passes (63-89) for 785 yards and eight TDs against just two interceptions. He's also the team leader with 202 rushing yards and another touchdown.
"I missed my job a lot tonight," O'Hara said. "I'm just going to look back on film and learn from it, just like we all are."
The Blue Raiders' early 3-0 lead wouldn't last, as Duke scored 34 straight points, converting its first seven drives into scores.
O'Hara rallied MT to two second-half touchdowns, connecting on two passing scores, both to redshirt junior CJ Windham, his only two catches of the night. It was just too little, too late.
Windham finished with 40 yards receiving, while junior Jimmy Marshall led the way with three catches for 42 yards. Senior Ty Lee had three grabs for 19 yards, tying Kendall Newson's school record with 43 straight games with a catch.
Defensively, junior safety Reed Blankenship had a team-high nine tackles and a forced fumble. Senior Chris Melton finished with four tackles, two going for loss.
Stockstill said his defense will work during the team's bye this week to correct too many missed tackles. The offense will also try to find a way to be more consistent around O'Hara.
"We have to tackle better," Stockstill said. "We have to really study and look on what we're doing with everything offensively, defensively … and really do a great self-evaluation and critique of where we're at."
After the bye, the Blue Raiders will travel to Iowa City, Iowa for the first time to take on the Iowa Hawkeyes. Their Conference USA slate will start the following week at home against Marshall.
Duke (2-1) made its first trip to Murfreesboro to take on the Blue Raiders (1-2) in MT's annual Blackout game and left with a 41-18 win.
"[Duke] has a really good football team," Middle Tennessee head coach Rick Stockstill said. "We just couldn't stop them. They scored on every possession except the last two possessions of the game.
"It was just one of those nights where not a whole lot went our way."
Behind quarterback Quentin Harris, the Blue Devils' offense made it tough on Middle Tennessee's defense all night long.
Duke won the total yards battle 463-339 and refused to get off the field, converting 8-of-14 third downs and two fourth downs. The Blue Devils averaged 5.8 yards per first-down play, setting them up with an average distance to go on third down of just 4.6 yards.
Harris finished with 237 yards through the air and four touchdowns and another 107 yards on the ground.
"They're a well-coached team," junior linebacker DQ Thomas said. "[Duke head coach David Cutcliffe] knows what he's doing with that offense.
"We just need to execute better and make plays when they need to be made.
Middle Tennessee's offense looked up to the task on its opening drive, going 51 yards in 13 plays before redshirt junior Crews Holt banged home a 41-yard field goal.
Quarterback Asher O'Hara was the catalyst of the drive, connected on all six of his passes and rushing for 16 yards, including a 20-yard run on third and long to set up the field goal try.
O'Hara, a redshirt sophomore making his second home start for the Blue Raiders, continued his strong start to the season. He completed 19-of-27 passes for 201 yards and two TDs and added a team-high 67 rushing yards on 18 attempts.
Through three games, he's completed 70.7% of his passes (63-89) for 785 yards and eight TDs against just two interceptions. He's also the team leader with 202 rushing yards and another touchdown.
"I missed my job a lot tonight," O'Hara said. "I'm just going to look back on film and learn from it, just like we all are."
The Blue Raiders' early 3-0 lead wouldn't last, as Duke scored 34 straight points, converting its first seven drives into scores.
O'Hara rallied MT to two second-half touchdowns, connecting on two passing scores, both to redshirt junior CJ Windham, his only two catches of the night. It was just too little, too late.
Windham finished with 40 yards receiving, while junior Jimmy Marshall led the way with three catches for 42 yards. Senior Ty Lee had three grabs for 19 yards, tying Kendall Newson's school record with 43 straight games with a catch.
Defensively, junior safety Reed Blankenship had a team-high nine tackles and a forced fumble. Senior Chris Melton finished with four tackles, two going for loss.
Stockstill said his defense will work during the team's bye this week to correct too many missed tackles. The offense will also try to find a way to be more consistent around O'Hara.
"We have to tackle better," Stockstill said. "We have to really study and look on what we're doing with everything offensively, defensively … and really do a great self-evaluation and critique of where we're at."
After the bye, the Blue Raiders will travel to Iowa City, Iowa for the first time to take on the Iowa Hawkeyes. Their Conference USA slate will start the following week at home against Marshall.
A look back: 1965 and 1985 Undefeated Blue Raider Football Teams
Wednesday, September 17
MTSU Football at Nevada cinematic recap – 9/13/25
Tuesday, September 16
Derek Mason LIVE: Presented by The Boulevard Bar & Grille Week 4 (Video)
Monday, September 15
MTSU Football Weekly Press Conference 9/15/25
Monday, September 15
