Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
4-4 , 2-2
University of Southern Mississippi
1-7 , 0-4
Team Stats
USM 7, MTS 0
USM - Brownlee,Jason 13 yd pass from Lange,Jake (Bourgeois,Briggs kick) 3 plays, 39 yards, TOP 01:01
USM 7, MTS 7
MTS - DiLiello,Mike 6 yd run (Rankin,Zeke kick), 7 plays, 29 yards, TOP 02:30
USM 7, MTS 14
MTS - Fluellen,Tra 18 yd punt return (Rankin,Zeke kick)
USM 7, MTS 21
MTS - Branch,Jordan 29 yd fumble recovery (Rankin,Zeke kick)
USM 10, MTS 21
USM - Bourgeois,Briggs 38 yd field goal 11 plays, 48 yards, TOP 03:35
USM 10, MTS 28
MTS - DiLiello,Mike 14 yd run (Rankin,Zeke kick), 7 plays, 81 yards, TOP 02:31
USM 10, MTS 35
MTS - Thomas,DQ 43 yd interception (Rankin,Zeke kick)
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
Defense, special teams dominate Southern Miss
10/30/2021 6:02:00 PM | Football
Blue Raiders roll to 35-10 win
The Blue Raiders compiled five takeaways on defense over the course of the game, sacking Golden Eagle QBs seven times and making 14 tackles for loss while holding Southern Miss to just 234 yards from scrimmage.
After falling behind 7-0 early in the first quarter, Middle Tennessee's defense responded in a big way, as Jordan Ferguson drilled the Southern Miss QB on the blitz to force a fumble. Ja'Kerrius Wyatt fell on the loose ball to give the Blue Raiders the ball in Golden Eagles territory.
On the ensuing drive, Mike DiLiello was brilliant in relief of the injured Chase Cunningham, throwing a dart on fourth down to DJ England-Chisolm to keep the drive alive, then scampering in a zone read for a six-yard touchdown run. Zeke Rankin's PAT was good to tie the game, 7-7.
After the defense forced the Golden Eagle offense off the field, Ralph Mency came up huge on special teams, blowing up the two-person wall in front of punter Mason Hunt and volleyball blocking the kick. Tra Fluellen scooped up the ball and sprinted to the endzone, giving MT a 14-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Blue Raider defense came up big in the turnover game once again on the next drive, with Deidrick Stanley II coming in hot on a third and long blitz and hit Golden Eagle QB Jake Lange on the blindside again, knocking the ball loose for Jordan Branch, who recovered the fumble and ran in back 29 yards for another Middle Tennessee Scoop and Score, giving the Blue Raiders a 21-7 lead that would hold until halftime.
After Southern Miss would chip back with a 39-yard field goal to make it 21-10, Middle Tennessee drove 81 yards down the field, highlighted by a 40-yard catch from Jarrin Pierce, and capped off with a 14-yard touchdown run from DiLiello, who followed in his excellent wideout blocking down the right sideline for the score to make it 28-10.
The defense would get their second touchdown of the afternoon late in the third quarter, when pressure from the Blue Raider defense line forced Jake Lange into a lofted prayer of a throw. DQ Thomas caught the sitting duck in a sprint and ran the ball back 43-yards for the score, giving Middle Tennessee a 35-10 lead.
Quincy Riley picked off an underthrown ball from Tee Webb to ice the game early in the fourth quarter. It was Middle Tennessee's third interception and fifth takeaway of the game.
POSTGAME NOTES
CAPTAINS: Today's game captains were Reed Blankenship, Jordan Ferguson, DQ Thomas, Jarrin Pierce and CJ Windham.
THOMAS TIES MOFFATT: LB DQ Thomas played in his 55th career Blue Raider game today against Southern Miss, which ties Jovante Moffatt (2015-19) for the most games played in school history. Teammate CJ Windham played in his 52nd game which ranks tied for the fifth most at MT.
ALL THREE PHASES: MT scored in all three phases of the game for the second time this season against Southern Miss. MT is one of five Division I teams nationally to score on offense, defense and special teams twice this season. The other four are Buffalo, Colorado, Memphis, Notre Dame and Memphis. The Blue Raiders had a fumble return for a TD on defense and a blocked punt for a TD.
DEFENSIVE SCORE X 2: LB DQ Thomas scored MT's second defensive touchdown of the game when he picked off an errant Southern Miss pass and took it 43 yards to the house in the third quarter. It highlighted a monster day for Thomas, who had a team-high 10 tackles, including two tackles for loss, to go with two QB hurries and the interception.
LEAGUE DOMINANCE: Defensive lineman Jordan Ferguson continued his dominance against Southern Miss. Ferguson collected 2-½ sacks to run his total to 7-½ which leads C-USA. The 2-½ sacks vs. Southern Miss tied for sixth on the single-game sacks list and his 7-½ is tied for fourth on the single season list. He also leads C-USA with 13-1/2 tackles for loss. Ferguson also forced his third fumble of the season which is also tied for the league lead.
SACK MACHINE: MT's defense harassed Southern Miss quarterbacks to the tune of seven sacks Saturday. The total goes down as the third most in a single game and the most since the Blue Raiders had seven against UAB in 2018. The single-game record for sacks is nine vs. Arkansas State in 2007.
BLOCK THAT KICK: MT's special teams collected its fourth blocked kick of the season when Ralph Mency turned in a blocked punt in the first quarter. Tra Fluellen scooped up the pigskin and sprinted 18 yards to paydirt. It marked the Bue Raiders' first blocked punt for a TD since Oct. 14, 2017 when Kylan Stribling scored on a blocked punt against UAB. The four blocked kicks in a season is the most since MT had five in 2014.
SCOOP & SCORE: The Blue Raider defense got on the scoreboard in the second quarter when freshman Deidrick Stanley forced his second fumble of the season. Defensive lineman Jordan Branch scooped up the ball and rambled 29 yards for the score. MT's defense has recovered 11 fumbles this season.
TAKEAWAY FRENZY: The MT defense added to its national lead for turnovers forced with five against Southern Miss, bringing its total to 25 for the season. The blue-clad stop squad has 14 interceptions, which ranks first in C-USA and fifth nationally. MT has collected multiple turnovers in four consecutive games with six against Marshall, three at Liberty, three at UConn and five against Southern Miss. The Blue Raiders have had at least one turnover in all eight games.
PIERCE PASSES JEFFERSON: WR Jarrin Pierce registered three receptions against USM today to move past Tavarres Jefferson (2009-13) for sixth place on the Blue Raiders' all-time receptions list. Pierce now has 132 career receptions.
STREAK STAYS ALIVE: WR Jarrin Pierce had three catches against Southern Miss to extend his streak of consecutive games with at least one reception to 29 games, which is tied for the 11th longest such streak nationally and the sixth longest all time at Middle Tennessee. Pierce has caught at least one pass in every game of his Blue Raider career.
QUICK HITTERS: WR Jarrin Pierce and safety Greg Grate made their team-leading 18th consecutive start against USM … MT's defense has forced 15 turnovers in its three home games … Quincy Riley collected his team-leading fourth interception of the season against Southern Miss, which leads C-USA and is tied for third nationally.
