Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
“It’s a huge advantage” - Time of Possession helps MT ice first road win of the season
10/23/2021 9:00:00 AM | Football
With the first road win of the season on the board, Friday night is just step one in what could be a special second half
EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — Rick Stockstill is always worried about the toll a road trip can take on a team.
But after what happened this Thursday? Where the Blue Raiders' plane was first delayed, then cancelled, then back on again? Where the team's three buses to the airport suddenly became two, forcing 100+ people into the seats and aisles. Where Middle Tennessee didn't even deplane in the Nutmeg State until after nine the night before? One can see how the Blue Raiders' 44-13 road win over UConn was even more impressive in his eyes.
"I'm really proud of our focus, our team, how they handled all that adversity," Stockstill said. "We were really good this morning in our walkthroughs, and it carried over into the game."
After a bit of back and forth to open the game, eventually resulting in a 10-10 tie halfway through the second quarter, the Blue Raiders outscored the Huskies 34-3 the rest of the way, riding some of their most balanced offense of the season and continued excellence in earning takeaways on defense to pull away for UConn. Chase Cunningham tossed 297 yards and four touchdowns on the night, while three different Blue Raider defenders turned over the UConn offense, resulting in points on each of the following drives.
But perhaps more importantly than any of the final stat lines on Friday night was the way in which Middle Tennessee dominated, showcasing their strength in the trenches through a simplified rushing scheme that racked up 155 yards on the ground, while having their front four power the defense to 11 tackles for loss on the evening.
"It's lovely," linebacker DQ Thomas said of the defensive front's success. "You've got Jordan Ferguson flying around, TFLs everywhere. And then you've got Richard Kinley, he might be on the side, but he's high motor. So you know he's doing the same thing. Then you've got the interior guys. Ja'Kerrius Wyatt got his first career sack tonight. It was a good night for the D Line, and the LBs just kind of capitalized off of that."
Stockstill said the team stripped down the run playbook to focus on only three or four types of run, inside zone, outside zone and counter, with an occasional QB Draw mixed in, with the goal of being able to play faster and get more bodies on the opposing defense.
Not only was that plan successful in gaining yards and moving the chains for the Blue Raiders, it also ate up a ton of clock. Entering halftime up 11 points, but trailing in time of possession, Middle Tennessee put together a 16 play, 7:24 minute drive out of the break, kicking a field goal, but also giving the defense plenty of time to recharge, helping propel them to a three and out once the Huskies did get the ball back.
"It's a huge advantage, I really think we only played like eight snaps in the second half," defensive end Richard Kinley said. "It just gives us time to rest and heal up, because college football is a tough game, it takes a toll on your body. So when the offense is on the field for seven minutes, it's amazing. It just keeps us fresh so we can come out there 100 percent."
In the middle of playoff baseball, Stockstill had the appropriate analogy.
"They didn't have many at bats, they didn't have the ball much in the third quarter," Stockstill said. "And we were able to capitalize on that."
Friday is the first road win of the season for the Blue Raiders, their first road win overall since defeating Troy 20-17 on November 21, 2020 in what would be last season's finale. And with non-conference play finally over for the Blue Raiders, they'll turn toward a C-USA schedule that features three of their last five games at home, with all but next week's game against Southern Miss against East Division opponents.
An opportunity ahead, to be sure. But as Jimmy Marshall, who hauled in two touchdown catches in East Hartford on Friday, put it, time to prepare will come the next morning. For now, he's going to enjoy a plane ride after a W.
"When you're winning, you've got a whole 'nother drive about you," Marshall said. "Definitely getting on that plane, being able to have conversation freely, knowing you've got the feeling. It's big."
But after what happened this Thursday? Where the Blue Raiders' plane was first delayed, then cancelled, then back on again? Where the team's three buses to the airport suddenly became two, forcing 100+ people into the seats and aisles. Where Middle Tennessee didn't even deplane in the Nutmeg State until after nine the night before? One can see how the Blue Raiders' 44-13 road win over UConn was even more impressive in his eyes.
"I'm really proud of our focus, our team, how they handled all that adversity," Stockstill said. "We were really good this morning in our walkthroughs, and it carried over into the game."
After a bit of back and forth to open the game, eventually resulting in a 10-10 tie halfway through the second quarter, the Blue Raiders outscored the Huskies 34-3 the rest of the way, riding some of their most balanced offense of the season and continued excellence in earning takeaways on defense to pull away for UConn. Chase Cunningham tossed 297 yards and four touchdowns on the night, while three different Blue Raider defenders turned over the UConn offense, resulting in points on each of the following drives.
But perhaps more importantly than any of the final stat lines on Friday night was the way in which Middle Tennessee dominated, showcasing their strength in the trenches through a simplified rushing scheme that racked up 155 yards on the ground, while having their front four power the defense to 11 tackles for loss on the evening.
"It's lovely," linebacker DQ Thomas said of the defensive front's success. "You've got Jordan Ferguson flying around, TFLs everywhere. And then you've got Richard Kinley, he might be on the side, but he's high motor. So you know he's doing the same thing. Then you've got the interior guys. Ja'Kerrius Wyatt got his first career sack tonight. It was a good night for the D Line, and the LBs just kind of capitalized off of that."
Stockstill said the team stripped down the run playbook to focus on only three or four types of run, inside zone, outside zone and counter, with an occasional QB Draw mixed in, with the goal of being able to play faster and get more bodies on the opposing defense.
Not only was that plan successful in gaining yards and moving the chains for the Blue Raiders, it also ate up a ton of clock. Entering halftime up 11 points, but trailing in time of possession, Middle Tennessee put together a 16 play, 7:24 minute drive out of the break, kicking a field goal, but also giving the defense plenty of time to recharge, helping propel them to a three and out once the Huskies did get the ball back.
"It's a huge advantage, I really think we only played like eight snaps in the second half," defensive end Richard Kinley said. "It just gives us time to rest and heal up, because college football is a tough game, it takes a toll on your body. So when the offense is on the field for seven minutes, it's amazing. It just keeps us fresh so we can come out there 100 percent."
In the middle of playoff baseball, Stockstill had the appropriate analogy.
"They didn't have many at bats, they didn't have the ball much in the third quarter," Stockstill said. "And we were able to capitalize on that."
Friday is the first road win of the season for the Blue Raiders, their first road win overall since defeating Troy 20-17 on November 21, 2020 in what would be last season's finale. And with non-conference play finally over for the Blue Raiders, they'll turn toward a C-USA schedule that features three of their last five games at home, with all but next week's game against Southern Miss against East Division opponents.
An opportunity ahead, to be sure. But as Jimmy Marshall, who hauled in two touchdown catches in East Hartford on Friday, put it, time to prepare will come the next morning. For now, he's going to enjoy a plane ride after a W.
"When you're winning, you've got a whole 'nother drive about you," Marshall said. "Definitely getting on that plane, being able to have conversation freely, knowing you've got the feeling. It's big."
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