Blue Raiders get past Miners on Senior Day, 34-30

Saturday, November 18

Murfreesboro, TN

1:00 PM

Middle Tennessee

4-7 , 3-4

UTEP

3-8 , 2-5

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

UTEP

Middle Tenn.

11/18/2023 5:29:00 PM | Football

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Thirteen points off of four UTEP turnovers powered Blue Raiders to the win in final home game of 2023

By: Sam Doughton, MTSU Athletic Communications

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee football found a way in a tough, physical game on Senior Day, triumphing over UTEP 34-30 on Saturday afternoon at Floyd Stadium.

The afternoon could not have started much better for MTSU (4-7, 3-4 CUSA), when Marvae Myers dislodged the exchange on a read option and fell on the ball to give MTSU possession just past midfield. Five plays later, Frank Peasant bounced the ball outside on a run for a touchdown on his second nine-yard run of the drive.

After UTEP (3-8, 2-5 CUSA) scored on their second drive of the quarter, it would take only two plays to retake the lead. Matched up in man coverage against a Miner linebacker, Holden Willis slipped out of the backfield and quickly burned his man, catching the ball at the UTEP 40 and sprinting into the endzone untouched to finish off the 62-yard strike from Nicholas Vattiato.

The Miners would tie the game up on a 52-yard punt return later that quarter, but Willis would find the endzone for the second time on Saturday on the ensuing drive, using his body to win the battle on attempted press coverage for a first down and then waltzing into the endzone as his man fell attempting a pass breakup. MTSU would get the ball back immediately after, recovering a muffed kickoff from Jalen Davis. Zeke Rankin's 38-yard field goal would put MTSU up 24-14, but a late touchdown run from the Miners would cut the lead to just 24-21 at the break.

A fumble on the first possession of the second half helped UTEP tie the game up 24-24 early in the third quarter, but MTSU would regain the advantage on the next drive, as Zack Dobson found plenty of green grass around him with a stop-n-go route broke open for a 56-yard touchdown catch. Rankin's 24-yard field goal just after the quarter break stretched MTSU's lead once again to two scores.

A Miner screen play would go 80 yards, but a missed PAT kept MTSU's lead at four points, 34-30. But Myers would show up in a big way twice down the stretch in the fourth quarter, intercepting a pass along the Blue Raider sideline and breaking up Cade McConnell's final pass of the game to finish out the win.

By the Numbers

13: Points off turnovers for MTSU, coming on four UTEP turnovers, three fumble recoveries and one interception.

5.9: Yards per rush when adjusted for sack yardage for MTSU. The Blue Raiders had 159 yards on rushing plays on Saturday.

89: Yards rushing for UTEP. This is the second game in a row MTSU held their opponent under 100 yards on the ground.

Blue Raider Notes

Offensive Player Notes
#9 | Elijah Metcalf | WR | r-So.

Has caught at least one pass in 17 straight games which is the longest streak of any Blue Raider

#11 | Nicholas Vattiato | QB | r-So.

With 242 passing yards today, Vattiato ran his season total to 2,851. That mark stands as the fifth most yards in a single-season at MTSU in school history.
With 18 completions against UTEP, Vattiato now has 257 for the season to rank sixth on the single-season list.
Tossed a 62-yard touchdown in the first quarter and a 17-yard touchdown in the second quarter, both to Holden Willis. Also added a 56-yard strike to Zack Dobson in the third quarter.
Now has 23 touchdown passes this year to tie 2009 Dwight Dasher for fourth-most in a single season.
Reached the 200+ passing yards mark for the 12^th time in his career, tying Chase Cunningham, Dwight Dasher, Joe Craddock, Kelly Holcomb and Jonathan Quinn for sixth-most among Blue Raider quarterbacks.
Led the Blue Raiders in rushing yards for the second time in the last three games (96 at New Mexico State; 92 vs. UTEP).

#19 | Zack Dobson | WR | r-Sr.

Was on the receiving end of a 56-yard touchdown pass early in the third quarter for his second receiving touchdown of the season and ninth of his Blue Raider career.

#24 | Frank Peasant | RB | Jr.

Capped off the first offensive drive of the game with a 9-yard touchdown rush for his third of the season and 16^th career rushing score.

#83 | Holden Willis | WR | Jr.

Hauled in a 62-yard touchdown in the first quarter, the longest reception of his Blue Raider career.
Caught a 17-yard touchdown in the second quarter, marking the first time in his MTSU career with multiple receiving touchdowns in the same game.
Reached 100+ receiving yards for the third time this season (Colorado State, Louisiana Tech).

Defensive Player Notes
#2 | Jorden Starling | DT | r-Sr.

Played in his 61^st career game today, setting a new school record for most games played. The previous mark was 60 established by DQ Thomas.

#5 | Jordan Branch | DL | r-Sr.

Posted his first career rushing attempt with a 24-yard carry on 4^th and 2 in a successful fake punt attempt early in the second quarter.

#6 | Jakobe Thomas | S | r-So.

Recovered the fumble forced by Sam Brumfield late in the third quarter. The play was Thomas's first career fumble recovery.

#8 | Devyn Curtis | LB | r-So.

Got to the Miner quarterback for a sack on a crucial 3^rd and 8 in the third quarter. Curtis now has 2.5 career sacks after Saturday's game, the first of his 2023 season.

#33 | Sam Brumfield | LB | Jr.

Forced a crucial UTEP fumble deep in Blue Raider territory late in the third quarter. The forced fumble was Brumfield's third of the season (Missouri, Murray State).

#46 | Marvae Myers | S | r-Jr.

Recovered a fumble on the first defensive drive of the game for his first career fumble recovery.
Intercepted a pass midway through the fourth quarter for his first career interception.
Broke up the pass on the final UTEP offensive play to seal the victory for the Blue Raiders.

Special Teams Player Notes
#7 | Zeke Rankin | PK | Jr.

Kicked a 38-yard field goal in the second quarter and added a 24-yarder to begin the fourth quarter, tallying his seventh and eighth made field goals of the 2023 season.
He now has 34 career made field goals, passing Cody Clark (2012-15) for eighth all-time in program history.

#12 | Jalen Davis | LB | r-Jr.

Recovered a muffed kickoff return midway through the second quarter for his third career fumble recovery and first since 2021.

#24 | Scott Payne | K | Jr.

Payne entered play against UTEP with a career season-best 16 touchbacks on kickoffs. He added three more to run his total to 19.

#48 | Miles Tillman | P | r-So.

Punted one inside the 20 yard line in the fourth quarter for his 14^th of the season.

#99 | Trey Turk | P | Jr.

Launched a 55-yard punt late in the second quarter to mark the longest punt of his Blue Raider career. It was also Turk's 12^th punt to land inside the 20 on the season, tying his personal single-season record (12 at Mercer in 2021).

Thoughts from Head Coach Rick Stockstill
"Really happy for our guys, especially our seniors, that they get to walk off the field the last time as a winner. It was a hard fought ball game. Going into it, I told them it was going to be fist-fight because of what UTEP does offensively. It was going to be a physical, tough game and we've got to be tougher than them. I'm really proud of the toughness we played with, both mentally and physically. A lot of highs and lows, a lot of ups and downs throughout that game, which there always are. But I thought our guys did a really nice job of never giving up and (kept) finding a way."

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