Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Saturday, November 20
2:30 PM
Middle Tennessee
5-6 , 3-4
17
vs
24
Old Dominion University
5-6 , 4-3
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Old Dominion
7
3
0
14
24
Middle Tenn.
7
3
0
7
17
Team Stats
ODU
MTS
Total Yards
341
414
Pass Yards
241
313
Rushing Yards
100
101
Penalty Yards
46
45
1st Downs
11
25
3rd Downs
3
8
4th Downs
0
0
TOP
24:55
35:05
1st Quarter
ODU 7, MTS 0
ODU - Kuntz,Zack 11 yd pass from Wolff,Hayden (Rice,Nick kick) 10 plays, 80 yards, TOP 04:02
ODU 7, MTS 7
MTS - DiLiello,Mike 2 yd run (Rankin,Zeke kick), 12 plays, 75 yards, TOP 05:34
2nd Quarter
ODU 10, MTS 7
ODU - Rice,Nick 35 yd field goal 8 plays, 62 yards, TOP 03:30
ODU 10, MTS 10
MTS - Rankin,Zeke 21 yd field goal 12 plays, 77 yards, TOP 04:58
4th Quarter
ODU 17, MTS 10
ODU - Davis,Elijah 45 yd run (Rice,Nick kick), 5 plays, 82 yards, TOP 01:49
ODU 24, MTS 10
ODU - Watson,Blake 4 yd pass from Wolff,Hayden (Rice,Nick kick) 3 plays, 66 yards, TOP 01:25
ODU 24, MTS 17
MTS - Lane,Jaylin 26 yd pass from Vattiato,Nicholas (Rankin,Zeke kick) 11 plays, 87 yards, TOP 02:12
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
34
TD
1
YDS
304
INT
1
CMP
2
TD
0
YDS
9
INT
0
Players Mentioned
RB
/ Football
S
/ FootballQB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DE
/ Football
DB
/ Football
TE
/ Football
OL
/ Football
WR
/ Football
OL
/ Football
HB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
LB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
RB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DT
/ Football
Photo by: Kaitlyn Hungerford/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Kaitlyn Hungerford/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Kaitlyn Hungerford/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Kaitlyn Hungerford/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Kaitlyn Hungerford/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Kaitlyn Hungerford/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Kaitlyn Hungerford/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Kaitlyn Hungerford/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Kaitlyn Hungerford/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Kaitlyn Hungerford/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Kaitlyn Hungerford/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Kaitlyn Hungerford/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Kaitlyn Hungerford/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Kaitlyn Hungerford/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Kaitlyn Hungerford/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Kaitlyn Hungerford/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Kaitlyn Hungerford/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Kaitlyn Hungerford/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Kaitlyn Hungerford/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Kaitlyn Hungerford/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Kaitlyn Hungerford/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Kaitlyn Hungerford/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Kaitlyn Hungerford/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Kaitlyn Hungerford/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Kaitlyn Hungerford/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Kaitlyn Hungerford/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Kaitlyn Hungerford/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Emily Cole/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Kaitlyn Hungerford/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Kaitlyn Hungerford/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Kaitlyn Hungerford/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Kaitlyn Hungerford/MT Athletic Communications
Photo by: Kaitlyn Hungerford/MT Athletic Communications
Blue Raiders drop home finale against ODU, 24-17
11/20/2021 5:52:00 PM | Football
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee made a late comeback attempt on Saturday evening at Floyd Stadium, but fell just short, losing 24-17 against Old Dominion.
Middle Tennessee (5-6, 3-4 C-USA) earned 25 first downs compared to ODU's 11 but averaged just 4.9 yards a play compared to 6.9 yards per play for the Monarchs. Nicholas Vattiato completed 31-of-45 passes for 281 yards, with Jaylin Lane as his top target, who caught 10 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown.
After Old Dominion scored a touchdown on their opening drive, Middle Tennessee drove the ball 75 yards with 5:34 left in the first quarter, highlighted by a Jaylin Lane reception off the jet sweep as he cut back from the right sideline all the way to the left end zone pylon, stepping out just short after a 33-yard reception. Mike DiLiello took advantage, following in lead blocker Zaylin Wood in the new "Heavy D" package, sprinting in untouched from two yards out to help tie the game, 7-7, at the end of the first quarter.
Old Dominion and Middle Tennessee traded field goals after a pair of punts, making the game all square at 10-10 heading into halftime.
The score would remain tied all the way through the third quarter, but two ODU touchdowns in the first six minutes of the fourth quarter put MT behind the eight-ball, down 24-10 with 9:59 left in the quarter.
Middle Tennessee would find some life late, as Vattiato found Jaylin Lane on a fourth down go route in the right corner of the end zone for a 26-yard touchdown pass that cut the Monarchs' lead to 24-17. But a late fumble on the offense's final drive would end the Blue Raiders threat.
Middle Tennessee will travel to Florida Atlantic next Saturday for a final chance at bowl eligibility this season. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 pm central.
POSTGAME NOTES
CAPTAINS: Today's game captains were Reed Blankenship, Jordan Ferguson, DQ Thomas, Jarrin Pierce and CJ Windham.
SENIOR FAREWELL: Today marked the final home game for 16 student-athletes who either exhausted eligibility or will be graduating early and moving on from football. The student-athletes are: Brad Anderson, Sr.; Reed Blankenship, Sr.; Raheme Fuller, r-Jr.; Will Gilchrist, r-Sr.; Marcus Greer, r-So.; Eric Magwood, r-Sr.; Jacob Mahoney, r-So.; Jimmy Marshall, Sr.; Wayne Parks, r-Jr.; Martell Pettaway, r-Sr.; Jarrin Pierce, r-Sr.; Amir Rasul, r-Sr.; Cody Smith, r-Jr.; DQ Thomas, Sr.; Alex Usry, r-Jr.; CJ Windham, r-Sr.
EFFICIENT EFFORT: True freshman QB Nicholas Vattiato has been extremely efficient in his last two starts, completing 51-of-69 passes for a sizzling 73.9 completion percentage. Vattiato was 31-of-45 against Old Dominion, and he was 20-of-24 in the win against FIU (11/13).
SINGLE-GAME MARK: With 31 completions against ODU, QB Nicholas Vattiato put himself in the Top 10 for most completions in a single game. Vattiato's 31 completions are good for sixth in a single game and he is one of just five Blue Raiders with 30 or more completions in a game. QB Mike DiLiello also had five completions. The 36 total completions are tied for fourth-most in a single game in program history.
IN HIS LANE: WR Jaylin Lane enjoyed a career game against ODU with 10 receptions for 107 yards and a touchdown. The receptions and yards were both career bests, bettering his previous highs of four receptions and 91 yards against Monmouth in the opener.
BALANCED ATTACK: MT exhibited a balanced offensive attack in the opening quarter against ODU. Of the 23 plays run, 13 were rushes and 10 were passes. The balance was most evident on the Blue Raiders' scoring drive of 75 yards on 12 plays. Of the 12 plays, six were passes and six were runs.
QUICK HITTERS: WR Jarrin Pierce and safety Greg Grate made their team-leading 21st consecutive start against FIU today … DJ England-Chisolm had career highs for receptions against ODU with nine.
Middle Tennessee (5-6, 3-4 C-USA) earned 25 first downs compared to ODU's 11 but averaged just 4.9 yards a play compared to 6.9 yards per play for the Monarchs. Nicholas Vattiato completed 31-of-45 passes for 281 yards, with Jaylin Lane as his top target, who caught 10 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown.
After Old Dominion scored a touchdown on their opening drive, Middle Tennessee drove the ball 75 yards with 5:34 left in the first quarter, highlighted by a Jaylin Lane reception off the jet sweep as he cut back from the right sideline all the way to the left end zone pylon, stepping out just short after a 33-yard reception. Mike DiLiello took advantage, following in lead blocker Zaylin Wood in the new "Heavy D" package, sprinting in untouched from two yards out to help tie the game, 7-7, at the end of the first quarter.
Old Dominion and Middle Tennessee traded field goals after a pair of punts, making the game all square at 10-10 heading into halftime.
The score would remain tied all the way through the third quarter, but two ODU touchdowns in the first six minutes of the fourth quarter put MT behind the eight-ball, down 24-10 with 9:59 left in the quarter.
Middle Tennessee would find some life late, as Vattiato found Jaylin Lane on a fourth down go route in the right corner of the end zone for a 26-yard touchdown pass that cut the Monarchs' lead to 24-17. But a late fumble on the offense's final drive would end the Blue Raiders threat.
Middle Tennessee will travel to Florida Atlantic next Saturday for a final chance at bowl eligibility this season. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 pm central.
POSTGAME NOTES
CAPTAINS: Today's game captains were Reed Blankenship, Jordan Ferguson, DQ Thomas, Jarrin Pierce and CJ Windham.
SENIOR FAREWELL: Today marked the final home game for 16 student-athletes who either exhausted eligibility or will be graduating early and moving on from football. The student-athletes are: Brad Anderson, Sr.; Reed Blankenship, Sr.; Raheme Fuller, r-Jr.; Will Gilchrist, r-Sr.; Marcus Greer, r-So.; Eric Magwood, r-Sr.; Jacob Mahoney, r-So.; Jimmy Marshall, Sr.; Wayne Parks, r-Jr.; Martell Pettaway, r-Sr.; Jarrin Pierce, r-Sr.; Amir Rasul, r-Sr.; Cody Smith, r-Jr.; DQ Thomas, Sr.; Alex Usry, r-Jr.; CJ Windham, r-Sr.
EFFICIENT EFFORT: True freshman QB Nicholas Vattiato has been extremely efficient in his last two starts, completing 51-of-69 passes for a sizzling 73.9 completion percentage. Vattiato was 31-of-45 against Old Dominion, and he was 20-of-24 in the win against FIU (11/13).
SINGLE-GAME MARK: With 31 completions against ODU, QB Nicholas Vattiato put himself in the Top 10 for most completions in a single game. Vattiato's 31 completions are good for sixth in a single game and he is one of just five Blue Raiders with 30 or more completions in a game. QB Mike DiLiello also had five completions. The 36 total completions are tied for fourth-most in a single game in program history.
IN HIS LANE: WR Jaylin Lane enjoyed a career game against ODU with 10 receptions for 107 yards and a touchdown. The receptions and yards were both career bests, bettering his previous highs of four receptions and 91 yards against Monmouth in the opener.
BALANCED ATTACK: MT exhibited a balanced offensive attack in the opening quarter against ODU. Of the 23 plays run, 13 were rushes and 10 were passes. The balance was most evident on the Blue Raiders' scoring drive of 75 yards on 12 plays. Of the 12 plays, six were passes and six were runs.
QUICK HITTERS: WR Jarrin Pierce and safety Greg Grate made their team-leading 21st consecutive start against FIU today … DJ England-Chisolm had career highs for receptions against ODU with nine.
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
