Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
COLUMN: “They like playing for him” — Chase Cunningham’s poise shines in first career start
9/26/2021 4:00:00 PM | Football, General
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — It may have been just his first career start, but Chase Cunningham had already mastered the post-game press conference.
Playing off his first career start as just another week? Check.
"I try to prepare like the starter every week," Cunningham said. "This week I got the nod, and I just wanted to get to work with the guys. We had a great opportunity, and we just fell a little bit short tonight."
Giving credit to teammates for one's own play? Check.
"We're really talented at the skill positions," Cunningham said of his five touchdowns to five different wideouts. "It's just my job to get them the ball, and they can do special things when they've got it, and they did tonight."
And of course, looking to the future just minutes after taking a tough loss on the road? Check.
"My teammates played great, we just left a couple plays out there that I wish we could have back for some momentum," Cunningham said. "But we'll get back to work Sunday to figure it out."
The final score of Middle Tennessee's 42-39 loss to Charlotte on Friday night certainly overshadows the redshirt junior's debut as a QB1 for the Blue Raiders (as it should, mind you: close only counts in horseshoes, after all). But Cunningham's 28-for-40, 379 yard, five touchdown performance in the air, plus an additional 65 yards on the ground, was an exclamation point that merely confirmed what those in Murphy Center knew: Chase Cunningham could ball. And, he's got the right temperament to lead this offense forward.
A former walk-on out of Knoxville Catholic, Cunningham had seen some action the previous three seasons as a backup, and plenty of action in the Blue Raider's previous three games, including the entire second half of the Blue Raiders' loss at UTSA. But with Bailey Hockman leaving the program the day after the team got back from San Antonio, the redshirt junior signal caller found himself with the keys to Brent Dearmon's offense, and with a team behind him ready to support his success.
"I think the big thing is the team believes in Chase," head coach Rick Stockstill said. "They like playing for him. They like playing with him. He's been here four years now, so you know what kind of player he is.
"I told you guys all week that I've got all the confidence in the world in Chase and knew he'd play well. He's a good player. And I'm not surprised by his performance"
That confidence extended beyond just the coaching staff. Jarrin Pierce, who caught 10 of Cunningham's 28 completions on Friday, said he was "pumped up" when he got the news that Chase would be starting last Sunday. And as the game started, when Cunningham would take hits on zone reads and scrambles, delivering strikes in the flats and downfield, that confidence only grew.
"That's everything, knowing that our quarterback is tough as nails, that he can take a hit, he makes us go harder," Pierce said.
It was evident the offense played to Cunningham's strengths as a willing and capable runner who possessed really nice accuracy on short and mid-range throws. Offensive Coordinator Brent Dearmon said in the preseason that he was trying to design his offense to fit each player's strengths. One could see this in game the first three weeks, where Cunningham would come in as a zone read threat who was pass first, or Mike DiLiello would enter on wildcat packages as a primary rushing threat who could also throw. A full game centered on Cunningham gave the Blue Raiders a spark on Friday, no question. It launched Cunningham into the Blue Raider recrod books, too: it was the most passing yards and passing TDs in a game ever for an MT QB in his first career start.
Heading into the team's first home game in nearly a month, there will be much to correct defensively after Friday. And still a lot to correct on offense after a fourth game where the running backs never got going for prolonged stretches of the game. But a resurgent back-up, now well-deserved starter, has given the team hope. Wearing his heart on the sleeve on the field but staying the stoic leader this team needs off of it.
"That's always how I play football, I'm a super emotional player," Cunningham said. "I love the game. That's just how I've always been."
Playing off his first career start as just another week? Check.
"I try to prepare like the starter every week," Cunningham said. "This week I got the nod, and I just wanted to get to work with the guys. We had a great opportunity, and we just fell a little bit short tonight."
Giving credit to teammates for one's own play? Check.
"We're really talented at the skill positions," Cunningham said of his five touchdowns to five different wideouts. "It's just my job to get them the ball, and they can do special things when they've got it, and they did tonight."
And of course, looking to the future just minutes after taking a tough loss on the road? Check.
"My teammates played great, we just left a couple plays out there that I wish we could have back for some momentum," Cunningham said. "But we'll get back to work Sunday to figure it out."
The final score of Middle Tennessee's 42-39 loss to Charlotte on Friday night certainly overshadows the redshirt junior's debut as a QB1 for the Blue Raiders (as it should, mind you: close only counts in horseshoes, after all). But Cunningham's 28-for-40, 379 yard, five touchdown performance in the air, plus an additional 65 yards on the ground, was an exclamation point that merely confirmed what those in Murphy Center knew: Chase Cunningham could ball. And, he's got the right temperament to lead this offense forward.
A former walk-on out of Knoxville Catholic, Cunningham had seen some action the previous three seasons as a backup, and plenty of action in the Blue Raider's previous three games, including the entire second half of the Blue Raiders' loss at UTSA. But with Bailey Hockman leaving the program the day after the team got back from San Antonio, the redshirt junior signal caller found himself with the keys to Brent Dearmon's offense, and with a team behind him ready to support his success.
"I think the big thing is the team believes in Chase," head coach Rick Stockstill said. "They like playing for him. They like playing with him. He's been here four years now, so you know what kind of player he is.
"I told you guys all week that I've got all the confidence in the world in Chase and knew he'd play well. He's a good player. And I'm not surprised by his performance"
That confidence extended beyond just the coaching staff. Jarrin Pierce, who caught 10 of Cunningham's 28 completions on Friday, said he was "pumped up" when he got the news that Chase would be starting last Sunday. And as the game started, when Cunningham would take hits on zone reads and scrambles, delivering strikes in the flats and downfield, that confidence only grew.
"That's everything, knowing that our quarterback is tough as nails, that he can take a hit, he makes us go harder," Pierce said.
It was evident the offense played to Cunningham's strengths as a willing and capable runner who possessed really nice accuracy on short and mid-range throws. Offensive Coordinator Brent Dearmon said in the preseason that he was trying to design his offense to fit each player's strengths. One could see this in game the first three weeks, where Cunningham would come in as a zone read threat who was pass first, or Mike DiLiello would enter on wildcat packages as a primary rushing threat who could also throw. A full game centered on Cunningham gave the Blue Raiders a spark on Friday, no question. It launched Cunningham into the Blue Raider recrod books, too: it was the most passing yards and passing TDs in a game ever for an MT QB in his first career start.
Heading into the team's first home game in nearly a month, there will be much to correct defensively after Friday. And still a lot to correct on offense after a fourth game where the running backs never got going for prolonged stretches of the game. But a resurgent back-up, now well-deserved starter, has given the team hope. Wearing his heart on the sleeve on the field but staying the stoic leader this team needs off of it.
"That's always how I play football, I'm a super emotional player," Cunningham said. "I love the game. That's just how I've always been."
Players Mentioned
MTSU Men's Basketball Post Game Press Conference 1/17/26
Saturday, January 17
Introducing Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks Coach - Anthony Scelfo
Tuesday, January 13
MTSU Football Signing Day Press Conference 12/3/25
Wednesday, December 03
MTSU Football at New Mexico State post-game press conference – 11/29/25
Sunday, November 30
