First half woes too much to overcome for Blue Raiders at Western Kentucky

Thursday, September 28

Bowling Green, KY

6:30 PM

Middle Tennessee

1-4 , 0-1

Western Kentucky

3-2 , 1-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Middle Tenn.

Western Ky.

9/28/2023 10:36:00 PM | Football

Box Score Game Book Post Game Notes Cumulative Stats Photo Gallery

A 23-3 deficit at halftime set the tone for the midweek clash.

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — The Middle Tennessee football team sputtered out of the gate and could not find their feet, as a poor first half proved too much to overcome on Thursday night at Houchens-Smith Stadium.

The Blue Raiders (1-4, 0-1 CUSA) gave up over 250 yards of total offense in the first 30 minutes while the Hilltoppers (3-2, 1-0 CUSA) held MTSU under 125 yards of offense in the first half themselves, building a 20-point lead before halftime that MTSU struggled to overcome with second half adjustments.

WKU controlled the first frame, leading 10-0 after 15 minutes. But on the Blue Raiders' first drive of the second quarter, Nicholas Vattiato found Elijah Metcalf for a 40-yard gain to set MTSU up inside the WKU 10. The Hilltoppers would hold serve in the red zone, as the Blue Raiders settled for a 23-yard field goal off the foot of Zeke Rankin to get on the board for the first time on Thursday evening.

Another Hilltopper touchdown and a late first half MTSU fumble leading to a second Hilltopper score put the Blue Raiders behind the eight-ball in the worst way, 23-3, at the halftime, the Blue Raiders strung together a 15-play, 75-yard drive coming out the locker room in the third quarter, converting twice on fourth down before Frank Peasant rumbled to 16-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 23-10.

An interception from Tra Fluellen, who tracked a deep ball from Austin Reed perfectly, gave MTSU life in the fourth quarter, but the MTSU offense could not string together a scoring drive in the frame. A final touchdown drive from the Hilltoppers against a Blue Raider defense attempting to get their fourth consecutive stop of the half was the dagger, pushing WKU's lead to 31-10, which would hold until the final whistle.

By the Numbers
260-124: Yardage advantage for the Hilltoppers in the first half. WKU more than doubled MTSU's output in total offense in the game's first 30 minutes and nearly tripled the Blue Raiders' output through the air (233-78).

4-for-16, 10-for-19: Third down conversion rates for MTSU and WKU, respectively.

98: Combined pass attempts between the two rivals on Thursday. Both teams' air raid schemes leaned heavily on the pass.

Blue Raider Notes

• Offensive lineman Julius Pierce logged his first start as a Blue Raider against WKU. The redshirt junior had nine career starts under his belt at FIU before transferring to Middle Tennessee.

• Linebacker Johnathan Butler made his return to the field for the first time since week one against Alabama.

• The 15-play, 75-yard scoring drive to open the second half marked the longest scoring drive – play wise – of the year.

Offensive Player Notes
#11 | Nicholas Vattiato | QB | r-So.
• Finished 27-for-46 with 252 yards and two INTs. \
• Fourth consecutive 200-yard passing performance – eighth of his career – ties for 11th all-time.

#15 | Justin Olson | WR | r-Jr.
• Led the team in receiving yards.
• Caught a career high six passes for a career high 76 yards.

#24 | Frank Peasant | RB | Jr.
• Ran for a team high 76 yards on 14 carries and a TD.
• Scored his first TD of the season in the third quarter.

Defensive Player Notes
#4 | Johnathan Butler | LB | r-Sr.
• Logged six tackles, including 1.0 TFL in his return.

#10 | Drew Francis | LB | Jr.
• Tied his career high with seven tackles, including 0.5 TFLs.

#17 | Tra Fluellen | S | Sr.
• Registered a team high eight tackles, including six solo stops, an INT and a PBU.
• Snagged his first interception of the year – the team's second of the season.
• In 2022, Fluellen logged two INTs with one also coming against the Hilltoppers.

#31 | Deonte Stanley | DB | r-Jr.
• Tied his career high with six tackles, including four solo stops.

Special Teams Player Notes
#99 | Trey Turk | P| Jr.
• Tallied three punts for 146 yards, including a long of 53 yards.

Thoughts from Head Coach Rick Stockstill
"Again, we did some good things, but just not consistent enough one either side of the ball to get a win against a good team like them. Disappointing, frustrating. But there's a lot of games left, a lot of conference left. This is the first one. It's a setback, but it's not the end of the road. We're going to get back to work tomorrow and get back ready to go."

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