Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Looking ahead to MT and WKU
10/2/2020 6:00:00 PM | Football
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — The stakes are always high when Middle Tennessee and WKU meet on the gridiron, but the rivalry matchup might have even more significance this season.
Both teams are winless so far in 2020, the Hilltoppers 0-2 and Blue Raiders 0-3. Middle Tennessee is also hosting its rival on homecoming, adding to the drama.
"[WKU] is a good football team," head coach Rick Stockstill said. "It's a great challenge for us. … Our team continues to fight and continues to believe in each other, and I have no doubt we'll have a good week of preparation and we'll be ready to play this game."
Kickoff from Floyd Stadium is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT.
Where can you watch or listen?
TV: ESPN3
Radio: The Game 102.5/97.5 FM, WGNS 100.5 FM/1450 AM/101.9 FM
Search 'Middle Tennessee' on the TuneIn app; go to CUSA.TV/RaiderVision for the audio stream
Coaches tale of the tape
Rick Stockstill
Record, in conference (C-USA, Sun Belt): 91-89 (15th year), 68-42
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, third all-time at MT in wins
Tyson Helton
Record (C-USA), at WKU: 9-6 (6-2), same
Bowl appearances as head coach, record: 1, 1-0 (2019 First Responder Bowl)
Accolades: 2019 C-USA Coach of the Year; 9-4 record in 2019 tripled its 2018 win total (3-9); six-win improvement from 2018 to 2019 tied for the third-best in FBS; served as offensive coordinator at WKU from 2014-15
Series history
Unofficially dubbed the "100 Miles of Hate," Middle Tennessee and WKU represent possibly the best rivalry Conference USA has to offer.
They've done battle 69 times since the 1914 season, the Blue Raiders holding a slim 35-33-1 advantage, including 21-14-1 at home.
The games are usually close, four of the last eight meetings ending in overtime and seven of the last nine being decided by less than a touchdown. The teams have also split the last 10.
Last meeting
Last year's edition of the rivalry was another classic, with the Hilltoppers winning 31-26.
Middle Tennessee controlled much of the game. In a heavy, cold rain, the Blue Raiders ran 81 plays to just 57 for WKU, but turnovers proved to be the road team's downfall.
The Raiders had a first down inside the Hilltopper 40-yard line with 5:32 left, looking like they were on their way to a score to take a late 27-23 lead. But, a fumble from running back Chaton Mobley gave the ball away, leading to a touchdown that pushed WKU's lead to 31-20 with a little more than three minutes on the clock.
MT got a late touchdown, but it was too little, too late.
QBs can run
Get ready to see plenty of quarterback runs on Saturday. Both teams feature athletic signal callers who can make just as many plays with their legs as they can with their arms.
O'Hara, a redshirt junior, is one of the best running QBs the Blue Raiders have ever had, just the second QB in program history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season. While he got off to a slow start in 2020, he picked it up last week.
After combining for only 155 passing yards and 63 rushing yards with one TD in the first two games of the season, O'Hara picked UTSA apart, throwing for a career-high 372 yards and three touchdowns and rushing for 61 yards.
O'Hara is hoping to continue that momentum against a team he had success against in 2019. At WKU, he completed 18-of-33 passes for 301 yards, three touchdowns and one pick and rushed for 144 yards on 29 carries.
"He was more poised throughout the game [against UTSA] … and he threw some nice balls," Stockstill said. "We played better as an offensive unit, and that always helps a quarterback."
O'Hara's counterpart, graduate senior Tyrrell Pigrome, is just as capable with his legs, running for 142 yards through two games to lead the team.
If the Blue Raiders are going to slow him down, they need to keep him in the pocket, where his success hasn't come as often. Pigrome has only completed 58% of his passes for 310 yards and four touchdowns, though he hasn't thrown an interception this season.
"It's the same type of preparation as we had [against UTSA]," senior linebacker DQ Thomas said. "You have to account for the quarterback at all times."
All-Conference seniors lead defenses
To counter the athletic quarterbacks, both teams will lean on their senior leaders on defense.
WKU has one of the best defensive ends in the country in senior Deangelo Malone, the 2019 C-USA Defensive Player of the Year and this year's Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
After racking up 99 tackles, 21 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks last season, Malone has started fast in two games in 2020. He has 17 tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack and a forced fumble already.
For his career, Malone has 35.5 tackles for loss and 20 sacks. That includes one of both against MT last season.
O'Hara and his offensive line will have their hands full Saturday.
"He's a great player," the QB said. "We just have to do everything we're taught to do the right way. … I'm excited about getting our running game going. That will be key to a victory."
Middle Tennessee's defense features two all-conference seniors of its own in safety Reed Blankenship and linebacker DQ Thomas.
Both have gotten off to good starts this season, Blankenship recording a team-high 22 tackles and one tackle for loss, though he's still looking for his first interception of the year. He has eight picks in his career.
Thomas has 17 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and one sack so far in his senior year. He ranks eighth in program history in tackles for loss (31.5) and seventh in sacks (13).
Two career outings for Pierce
Part of the Blue Raiders' offensive breakout against UTSA came because of another career outing for leading receiver Jarrin Pierce.
The senior has responded well to a move from the outside to the slot, recording career highs with 11 catches for 81 yards against Troy and seven grabs for 107 yards against UTSA.
Pierce has turned into O'Hara's go-to receiver this season, leading the team with 22 receptions for 221 yards, 14 more catches and 126 more yards than his closest teammate.
"He's a good player," Stockstill said. "I'm sure Asher has a ton of confidence in him, like we all do."
Blue Raiders on homecoming
Middle Tennessee has had a lot of success in its history on homecoming, sporting a 54-24-2 record, including a 50-17 win against FIU in 2019.
Both teams are winless so far in 2020, the Hilltoppers 0-2 and Blue Raiders 0-3. Middle Tennessee is also hosting its rival on homecoming, adding to the drama.
"[WKU] is a good football team," head coach Rick Stockstill said. "It's a great challenge for us. … Our team continues to fight and continues to believe in each other, and I have no doubt we'll have a good week of preparation and we'll be ready to play this game."
Kickoff from Floyd Stadium is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT.
Where can you watch or listen?
TV: ESPN3
Radio: The Game 102.5/97.5 FM, WGNS 100.5 FM/1450 AM/101.9 FM
Search 'Middle Tennessee' on the TuneIn app; go to CUSA.TV/RaiderVision for the audio stream
Coaches tale of the tape
Rick Stockstill
Record, in conference (C-USA, Sun Belt): 91-89 (15th year), 68-42
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, third all-time at MT in wins
Tyson Helton
Record (C-USA), at WKU: 9-6 (6-2), same
Bowl appearances as head coach, record: 1, 1-0 (2019 First Responder Bowl)
Accolades: 2019 C-USA Coach of the Year; 9-4 record in 2019 tripled its 2018 win total (3-9); six-win improvement from 2018 to 2019 tied for the third-best in FBS; served as offensive coordinator at WKU from 2014-15
Series history
Unofficially dubbed the "100 Miles of Hate," Middle Tennessee and WKU represent possibly the best rivalry Conference USA has to offer.
They've done battle 69 times since the 1914 season, the Blue Raiders holding a slim 35-33-1 advantage, including 21-14-1 at home.
The games are usually close, four of the last eight meetings ending in overtime and seven of the last nine being decided by less than a touchdown. The teams have also split the last 10.
Last meeting
Last year's edition of the rivalry was another classic, with the Hilltoppers winning 31-26.
Middle Tennessee controlled much of the game. In a heavy, cold rain, the Blue Raiders ran 81 plays to just 57 for WKU, but turnovers proved to be the road team's downfall.
The Raiders had a first down inside the Hilltopper 40-yard line with 5:32 left, looking like they were on their way to a score to take a late 27-23 lead. But, a fumble from running back Chaton Mobley gave the ball away, leading to a touchdown that pushed WKU's lead to 31-20 with a little more than three minutes on the clock.
MT got a late touchdown, but it was too little, too late.
QBs can run
Get ready to see plenty of quarterback runs on Saturday. Both teams feature athletic signal callers who can make just as many plays with their legs as they can with their arms.
O'Hara, a redshirt junior, is one of the best running QBs the Blue Raiders have ever had, just the second QB in program history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season. While he got off to a slow start in 2020, he picked it up last week.
After combining for only 155 passing yards and 63 rushing yards with one TD in the first two games of the season, O'Hara picked UTSA apart, throwing for a career-high 372 yards and three touchdowns and rushing for 61 yards.
O'Hara is hoping to continue that momentum against a team he had success against in 2019. At WKU, he completed 18-of-33 passes for 301 yards, three touchdowns and one pick and rushed for 144 yards on 29 carries.
"He was more poised throughout the game [against UTSA] … and he threw some nice balls," Stockstill said. "We played better as an offensive unit, and that always helps a quarterback."
O'Hara's counterpart, graduate senior Tyrrell Pigrome, is just as capable with his legs, running for 142 yards through two games to lead the team.
If the Blue Raiders are going to slow him down, they need to keep him in the pocket, where his success hasn't come as often. Pigrome has only completed 58% of his passes for 310 yards and four touchdowns, though he hasn't thrown an interception this season.
"It's the same type of preparation as we had [against UTSA]," senior linebacker DQ Thomas said. "You have to account for the quarterback at all times."
All-Conference seniors lead defenses
To counter the athletic quarterbacks, both teams will lean on their senior leaders on defense.
WKU has one of the best defensive ends in the country in senior Deangelo Malone, the 2019 C-USA Defensive Player of the Year and this year's Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
After racking up 99 tackles, 21 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks last season, Malone has started fast in two games in 2020. He has 17 tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack and a forced fumble already.
For his career, Malone has 35.5 tackles for loss and 20 sacks. That includes one of both against MT last season.
O'Hara and his offensive line will have their hands full Saturday.
"He's a great player," the QB said. "We just have to do everything we're taught to do the right way. … I'm excited about getting our running game going. That will be key to a victory."
Middle Tennessee's defense features two all-conference seniors of its own in safety Reed Blankenship and linebacker DQ Thomas.
Both have gotten off to good starts this season, Blankenship recording a team-high 22 tackles and one tackle for loss, though he's still looking for his first interception of the year. He has eight picks in his career.
Thomas has 17 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and one sack so far in his senior year. He ranks eighth in program history in tackles for loss (31.5) and seventh in sacks (13).
Two career outings for Pierce
Part of the Blue Raiders' offensive breakout against UTSA came because of another career outing for leading receiver Jarrin Pierce.
The senior has responded well to a move from the outside to the slot, recording career highs with 11 catches for 81 yards against Troy and seven grabs for 107 yards against UTSA.
Pierce has turned into O'Hara's go-to receiver this season, leading the team with 22 receptions for 221 yards, 14 more catches and 126 more yards than his closest teammate.
"He's a good player," Stockstill said. "I'm sure Asher has a ton of confidence in him, like we all do."
Blue Raiders on homecoming
Middle Tennessee has had a lot of success in its history on homecoming, sporting a 54-24-2 record, including a 50-17 win against FIU in 2019.
Players Mentioned
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