Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
1-7 , 0-4
Jacksonville State University
5-3 , 4-0
Blue Raiders Battle to the End in Weekday CUSA Finale
10/29/2025 10:49:00 PM | Football
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee rallied late but came up short in a 24-21 loss to Jacksonville State on Wednesday night in the Blue Raiders' fourth and final Weekday CUSA matchup at Floyd Stadium.
The Blue Raiders (1-7, 0-4 CUSA) jumped ahead early on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Nicholas Vattiato to D. Taylor but trailed 7-6 after a second-quarter 56-yard strike to Deondre Johnson. MTSU responded with an 11-play, 80-yard drive capped by a 2-yard touchdown reception by Jekail Middlebrook in the third, and the Blue Raiders converted the two-point try to stretch the lead to 14-7.
Jacksonville State (5-3, 4-0) reclaimed the lead early in the fourth on a 30-yard touchdown pass from Caden Creel to Deondre Johnson. Middle Tennessee answered again when Middlebrook plunged in from 6 yards out to pull the Blue Raiders ahead 21-17 with 7:45 left, but JSU's Cam Cook broke the tie with a 3-yard TD run at 4:29 to make it a three-point game.
Quarterback Nicholas Vattiato finished 23-of-45 for 235 yards and two touchdown passes. Jekail Middlebrook was effective as a dual threat, finishing with 20 rushing yards and a 6-yard rushing TD while adding six catches for 87 yards and a receiving score — 107 all-purpose yards in all. Alex Mitchell paced the defense with 16 tackles, and Parker Hughes added 10 stops.
By the Numbers
18: Middle Tennessee totaled 18 first downs, edging Jacksonville State's 17.
107: Running back Jekail Middlebrook recorded 107 all-purpose yards, leading all Blue Raiders with 87 receiving yards and another 20 on the ground as he accounted for two touchdowns.
3-for-3: MTSU was a perfect 3-for-3 in the red zone, converting all three trips into touchdowns.
Thoughts from Head Coach Derek Mason
Up Next
The Blue Raiders will remain at home to take on FIU on Saturday, Nov. 8. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. CT on ESPN Platforms and over the air on the Blue Raider Network.
Follow the Blue Raiders
Follow Middle Tennessee Football on social media on Facebook (/BlueRaiderFooball), X (Formerly known as Twitter) (@MT_FB) and Instagram (@mt_fb).
Team Stats
JSU 0, MTS 6
MTS - Taylor,DJ 10 yd pass from Vattiato,Nicholas () 7 plays, 54 yards, TOP 03:11
JSU 7, MTS 6
JSU - Johnson,Deondre 56 yd pass from Wimsatt,Gavin (Rippa,Garrison kick) 4 plays, 82 yards, TOP 01:32
JSU 7, MTS 14
MTS - Middlebrook,Jekail 2 yd pass from Vattiato,Nicholas (Tipton,Hunter pass) 11 plays, 80 yards, TOP 05:34
JSU 10, MTS 14
JSU - Rippa,Garrison 47 yd field goal 14 plays, 45 yards, TOP 07:03
JSU 17, MTS 14
JSU - Johnson,Deondre 30 yd pass from Creel,Caden (Rippa,Garrison kick) 4 plays, 73 yards, TOP 01:47
JSU 17, MTS 21
MTS - Middlebrook,Jekail 6 yd run (Hathaway,Jacob kick), 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:21
JSU 24, MTS 21
JSU - Cook,Cam 3 yd run (Rippa,Garrison kick), 7 plays, 65 yards, TOP 03:15
