Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
“We knew how to mix business with pleasure” — Blue Raiders riding high after Bahamas Bowl Win
12/18/2021 9:30:00 AM | Football
NASSAU, Bahamas — Jarrin Pierce had no clue he left Chris McDonald momentarily on the ground as he sped for his 59-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter.
It was a simple double move, "a little out, a little up" as Booger McFarland said on the ESPN broadcast, but it was effective. McDonald's ankles were broken, and his feeble attempt at grabbing onto Pierce and taking a penalty, rather than a touchdown, whiffed.
"The concept is, we have a motion-over," Pierce said. "The defense has to bump, so when I saw pre-snap it was man coverage and my boy Jaylin [Lane] in motion. I had the corner one-on-one. Usually when I have all that space on the outside, he thinks I'm going out so I faked like I was going out and one step and then took it up and my boy Nick delivered the pass."
Pierce's touchdown catch, one of four catches the senior wideout hauled in during his final game as a Blue Raider, was just one of many plays that fit this Middle Tennessee team's season. Not everything went perfect at all times in the Bahamas Bowl. From missing starters due to late scratches, to turnovers in game, to busted plays leading to Toledo points, MT had to battle back in Thomas Robinson Stadium.
But like they've done all year, the team in Blue and White never quit, never lost focus, and always picked each other up. And with a dominant second half, the Blue Raiders left the field as winners, defeating Toledo 31-24.
"When you go to a bowl game, that's the objective: stay on the field and hold that trophy up," head coach Rick Stockstill said. "When they get to be my age, they'll realize how special this is, because they'll realize how hard it is to get to this point."
The defense was stifling all afternoon, with two of Toledo's three touchdowns coming on explosive plays for the Rockets. Beyond those, the defense held their ground at all three levels, generating four QB hurries, eight pass break ups, four tackles for loss and even one big man interception courtesy of Jordan Ferguson's hit and Zaylin Wood's hands.
Offensively, the QB rotation of Nicholas Vattiato and Mike DiLiello found its rhythm as the game went on, with Vattiato's arm and DiLiello's legs both grabbing scores throughout the game. Vattiato even earned offensive player of the game honors after tossing the ball for 270 yards and a pair of touchdowns with no turnovers.
"It was something that we planned going in," Vattiatio said. "Me and Mike both knew the game plan. We had practiced it the last two weeks. I think that we both did a great job, and it did become more comfortable running in and out throughout the entire game."
Bowl weeks, as fun as they are for players, coaches, staff and their families, can also be a distraction. And at a resort with jet skis and beach parties and hotel tower sized water slides, that distraction can only amplify. But this is a team that wanted it, DQ Thomas said, and they took care of their priorities because of that.
"We knew how to mix business with pleasure," Thomas, who earned defensive player of the game honors after finishing with eight tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss, said. "We enjoyed the Bahamas. But as the game got closer, full stop, we made sure we were ready and locked in, and that played a big part."
For seniors like Thomas and Pierce, it was an incredible high to end their collegiate careers. But as Thomas noted, the younger players on the team got a taste of what it's like to be a bowl champion, something only a handful of players on the current roster got to experience back in 2017, the last time the Blue Raiders won a bowl game.
Now, a plane ride back to Nashville and a bus ride back to Murfreesboro awaits, with holiday breaks for those who still have some eligibility left soon thereafter. Then, it's right back on the road to the season, just like it was during last year's January workouts.
And for Stockstill, who got his 101st win as the head coach at Middle Tennessee in the contest, that's exactly what he likes about his team.
"I'm happy for these players," Stockstill said. "I've watched how much they sacrificed, how much they put into this season. The toughness part didn't start in August, it didn't start this week. It started when we came back in January. I couldn't care less about me; it's never about me. It's about these guys up here and the guys out on that field and in the locker room, because they bust their tail, they keep answering the bell every time.
"The respect I have for this team, the respect that I have for them as players, as men, the appreciation and love I have for them, that's what it's all about. When they get that ring, it says Bahamas Bowl Champions. They'll have that the rest of their life. I don't need a ring. I let them have it, because they deserve it, and I'm happy for them."
It was a simple double move, "a little out, a little up" as Booger McFarland said on the ESPN broadcast, but it was effective. McDonald's ankles were broken, and his feeble attempt at grabbing onto Pierce and taking a penalty, rather than a touchdown, whiffed.
"The concept is, we have a motion-over," Pierce said. "The defense has to bump, so when I saw pre-snap it was man coverage and my boy Jaylin [Lane] in motion. I had the corner one-on-one. Usually when I have all that space on the outside, he thinks I'm going out so I faked like I was going out and one step and then took it up and my boy Nick delivered the pass."
.@canesqb11 and @jarrinpierce3 combine for the longest pass play in Middle Tennessee Football bowl history.
— Middle Tennessee FB (@MT_FB) December 17, 2021
This 59-yard strike puts the Blue Raiders up two scores. pic.twitter.com/n5L68le4Uj
Pierce's touchdown catch, one of four catches the senior wideout hauled in during his final game as a Blue Raider, was just one of many plays that fit this Middle Tennessee team's season. Not everything went perfect at all times in the Bahamas Bowl. From missing starters due to late scratches, to turnovers in game, to busted plays leading to Toledo points, MT had to battle back in Thomas Robinson Stadium.
But like they've done all year, the team in Blue and White never quit, never lost focus, and always picked each other up. And with a dominant second half, the Blue Raiders left the field as winners, defeating Toledo 31-24.
"When you go to a bowl game, that's the objective: stay on the field and hold that trophy up," head coach Rick Stockstill said. "When they get to be my age, they'll realize how special this is, because they'll realize how hard it is to get to this point."
The defense was stifling all afternoon, with two of Toledo's three touchdowns coming on explosive plays for the Rockets. Beyond those, the defense held their ground at all three levels, generating four QB hurries, eight pass break ups, four tackles for loss and even one big man interception courtesy of Jordan Ferguson's hit and Zaylin Wood's hands.
Offensively, the QB rotation of Nicholas Vattiato and Mike DiLiello found its rhythm as the game went on, with Vattiato's arm and DiLiello's legs both grabbing scores throughout the game. Vattiato even earned offensive player of the game honors after tossing the ball for 270 yards and a pair of touchdowns with no turnovers.
"It was something that we planned going in," Vattiatio said. "Me and Mike both knew the game plan. We had practiced it the last two weeks. I think that we both did a great job, and it did become more comfortable running in and out throughout the entire game."
Bowl weeks, as fun as they are for players, coaches, staff and their families, can also be a distraction. And at a resort with jet skis and beach parties and hotel tower sized water slides, that distraction can only amplify. But this is a team that wanted it, DQ Thomas said, and they took care of their priorities because of that.
"We knew how to mix business with pleasure," Thomas, who earned defensive player of the game honors after finishing with eight tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss, said. "We enjoyed the Bahamas. But as the game got closer, full stop, we made sure we were ready and locked in, and that played a big part."
For seniors like Thomas and Pierce, it was an incredible high to end their collegiate careers. But as Thomas noted, the younger players on the team got a taste of what it's like to be a bowl champion, something only a handful of players on the current roster got to experience back in 2017, the last time the Blue Raiders won a bowl game.
Now, a plane ride back to Nashville and a bus ride back to Murfreesboro awaits, with holiday breaks for those who still have some eligibility left soon thereafter. Then, it's right back on the road to the season, just like it was during last year's January workouts.
And for Stockstill, who got his 101st win as the head coach at Middle Tennessee in the contest, that's exactly what he likes about his team.
"I'm happy for these players," Stockstill said. "I've watched how much they sacrificed, how much they put into this season. The toughness part didn't start in August, it didn't start this week. It started when we came back in January. I couldn't care less about me; it's never about me. It's about these guys up here and the guys out on that field and in the locker room, because they bust their tail, they keep answering the bell every time.
"The respect I have for this team, the respect that I have for them as players, as men, the appreciation and love I have for them, that's what it's all about. When they get that ring, it says Bahamas Bowl Champions. They'll have that the rest of their life. I don't need a ring. I let them have it, because they deserve it, and I'm happy for them."
We love the islands. 😎
— Middle Tennessee FB (@MT_FB) December 17, 2021
Your Blue Raiders WIN @TheBahamasBowl!!! 🙌#BuildBlueNow | #EATT pic.twitter.com/H6YaPoOrsf
Coming home with the Prime Minister's Trophy. 🤩#BuildBlueNow | #EATT pic.twitter.com/8w0pLnNYHe
— Middle Tennessee FB (@MT_FB) December 17, 2021
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