Blue Raiders score 24 unanswered points to shock Florida Atlantic, Become Bowl Eligible

Saturday, November 27

Boca Raton, FL

6:00 PM

Middle Tennessee

6-6 , 4-4

Florida Atlantic University

5-7 , 3-5

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Middle Tenn.

Fla. Atlantic

Blue Raiders head to Wisconsin Saturday to face the Badgers

Friday, September 05

Blue Raiders Fall in Season Opener Against Austin Peay

Saturday, August 30

Blue Raiders open '25 season at home against APSU

Friday, August 29

Derek Mason LIVE debuts Monday night

Wednesday, August 20

Next Event

University of Toledo

W, 31-24

Dec 17 (Fri)

11:00 AM

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Full Schedule

Team Stats

MTU

FAU

Total Yards

363

413

Pass Yards

236

328

Rushing Yards

127

Penalty Yards

1st Downs

3rd Downs

4th Downs

TOP

28:13

31:47

1st Quarter

MTU 0, FAU 7

FAU - Burton,Je'Quan 48 yd pass from Perry,N'Kosi (Suarez,Morgan kick) 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:10

2nd Quarter

MTU 0, FAU 14

FAU - Mitchell,John 32 yd pass from Perry,N'Kosi (Suarez,Morgan kick) 1 plays, 32 yards, TOP 00:08

MTU 3, FAU 14

MTU - Rankin,Zeke 23 yd field goal 14 plays, 62 yards, TOP 04:50

3rd Quarter

MTU 3, FAU 17

FAU - Suarez,Morgan 23 yd field goal 9 plays, 72 yards, TOP 04:17

MTU 10, FAU 17

MTU - DiLiello,Mike 1 yd run (Rankin,Zeke kick), 5 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:15

4th Quarter

MTU 13, FAU 17

MTU - Rankin,Zeke 26 yd field goal 6 plays, 74 yards, TOP 01:45

MTU 20, FAU 17

MTU - Wood,Zaylin 6 yd pass from DiLiello,Mike (Rankin,Zeke kick) 5 plays, 40 yards, TOP 02:35

MTU 27, FAU 17

MTU - Ferguson,Jordan 71 yd fumble recovery (Rankin,Zeke kick)

Zaylin Wood

/ Football

Photo by: Nathan Wallach/Athletic Communications

11/27/2021 9:23:00 PM | Football

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Middle Tennessee recovered after being down 17-3 to earn Rick Stockstill’s 100th career win

By: Sam Doughton

BOCA RATON, Fla. — Middle Tennessee football had a comeback for the ages on Saturday night, scoring 24 unanswered points after falling behind 17-3 to earn its sixth win of the season, 27-17 at Howard Schnellenberger Field at FAU Stadium.

With the victory, Middle Tennessee earned bowl eligibility for the first time since the 2018 season, where the Blue Raiders competed in the New Orleans Bowl. It was also Rick Stockstill's 100th victory as a head coach.

Mike DiLiello was effective in relief of Nicholas Vattiato, completing 11-of-18 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for 43 yards a touchdown. Three Blue Raiders finished with at least ten tackles, led by Quincy Riley's 13.

FAU held the advantage through the first 15 minutes after scoring a touchdown on the opening drive. The Blue Raider defense kept the Owls off the scoreboard from there, but four three-and-outs by the MT offense gave FAU a 7-0 lead heading into the second quarter.

After another Owl touchdown, Zeke Rankin finally broke through the scoring drought for the Blue Raiders, booting a 24-yard field goal at the end of a 14-play, 62-yard drive to cut FAU's lead to 14-3 with 4:59 left in the first half, which would hold into halftime.

FAU would add another field goal on their first drive of the second half, but the Blue Raiders struck back with lightning quickness, quickly getting the ball into the red zone. Mike DiLiello scrambled for 11 yards to get inside the 10, where Chaton Mobley powered his way six yards down hill to put MT on the one yard line, where DiLiello used the lead blocks from Zaylin Wood and Jordan Ferguson to jump into the endzone and cut the lead to 17-10.

Martell Pettaway set up a Blue Raider field goal with a monstrous run to end the third quarter, rolling over an Owl tackle to stay on his feet and sprint 65 yards to the FAU 9. Rankin added his second field goal of the evening, this one from 26 yards out, to cut FAU's lead to 17-13 with 13:38 left to play.

Jaylin Lane would return a punt off the bounce 28 yards into FAU territory, MT drove the ball inside the ten once again, where Mike DiLiello concentrated while getting drilled in the legs, floating a six-yard pass into the endzone and into the hands of Zaylin Wood, who hauled the pass in through pass interference to give MT its first lead, 20-17, with 4:21 to go.

The Owls started to regain momentum with their next drive, getting as close as the MT 22. But DQ Thomas came clear on a blitz, hitting N'Kosi Perry in the arm, jarring the ball loose for Jordan Ferguson to scoop the ball up and return it 71 yards for a touchdown, giving the Blue Raiders a 27-17 lead, which would hold until the clock reached triple zeros.

MT now awaits a potential bowl invitation, after finishing the regular season 6-6.

POSTGAME NOTES

CAPTAINS: Today's game captains were Reed Blankenship, Jordan Ferguson, DQ Thomas, Jarrin Pierce and CJ Windham.

100TH WIN: With tonight's win over FAU, Rick Stockstill recorded his 100th career win as head coach. Stockstill is one of just three Blue Raider coaches to garner at least 100 wins with Charles Murphy (155) and Boots Donnelly (140) the others. He is the 30th active coach in the FBS ranks with at least 100 wins.

BOWL ELIGIBLE: The win tonight made the Blue Raiders bowl eligible for the 11th time in 16 years under Rick Stockstill.

FERGUSON TIES THOMAS: Jordan Ferguson gained a half sack against FAU to give him 8.0 sacks on the season. That total moves him into a tie for third on the all-time single-season list with current teammate DQ Thomas.

FERGUSON MOVES UP TFL LIST: Jordan Ferguson added 1.5 TFLs tonight to run his season total to 15.0. That equals the eighth most in a single-season at MT and is also a career-high for the junior.

HEAVY D FORMATION PROVES POWERFUL: Middle Tennessee's "Heavy D" formation resulted in two Blue Raider scores in the win at Florida Atlantic. Defensive linemen Jordan Ferguson, Zaylin Wood and Marley Cook were blockers for Mike DiLiello's one-yard score, and DiLiello later found Wood in the end zone for the go-ahead score late in the fourth quarter. The touchdown reception was the first catch of Wood's career.

DEFENSE CAN SCORE TOO: DQ Thomas forced a fumble, which was picked up by Jordan Ferguson and returned 71 yards for the game-icing touchdown. The scoop-and-score marked the sixth defensive score by the Blue Raiders this season. Prior to Saturday's game at Florida Atlantic, MT had scored on three interceptions and two fumble returns this season.

DiLIELLO SHINES OUT OF THE BULLPEN: Redshirt sophomore quarterback Mike DiLiello entered the game in relief and led the Blue Raiders to 24 unanswered points and the victory in Boca Raton on Saturday. DiLiello notched new career highs for attempts, completions, passing yards, longest pass, and rushing attempts while also tying his career high in passing touchdowns with one. DiLiello's final line was 11-for-18 through the air with 127 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. He also added 12 rushes for 43 yards and a touchdown.

QUICK HITTERS: WR Jarrin Pierce and safety Greg Grate made their team-leading 22nd consecutive start against FAU today … Quincy Riley's 13 tackles is a new career high.

Blue Raider Network · Blue Raider Network Highlights: Football at FAU

Blue Raiders head to Wisconsin Saturday to face the Badgers

Friday, September 05

Blue Raiders Fall in Season Opener Against Austin Peay

Saturday, August 30

Blue Raiders open '25 season at home against APSU

Friday, August 29

Derek Mason LIVE debuts Monday night

Wednesday, August 20

Friday, September 05

Derek Mason LIVE: Presented by The Boulevard Bar & Grille Week 2 (Video)

Tuesday, September 02

MTSU Football Weekly Presser Wisconsin 9/01/25

Monday, September 01

MTSU Football vs Austin Peay Postgame Press Conference 08/30/25

Sunday, August 31

Next Event

Team Stats

Mike DiLiello

Nicholas Vattiato

Players Mentioned

Reed Blankenship

Marley Cook

Mike DiLiello

Jordan Ferguson

Jaylin Lane

Chaton Mobley

Martell Pettaway

Jarrin Pierce

Zeke Rankin

Quincy Riley

DQ Thomas

Nicholas Vattiato

CJ Windham

Zaylin Wood