Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Tuesday, October 20
Miami, FL
6:00 PM
Middle Tennessee
4-3 , 2-1
26
at
23
Florida International University
3-4 , 1-2
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Tenn. | 7 | 6 | 10 | 3 | 26 |
| FIU | 8 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 23 |
10/20/2026 9:57:00 PM | Football
MIAMI- Middle Tennessee football (4-3, 2-1 CUSA) won a pivotal matchup on the road Tuesday night, taking down Conference USA foe FIU (3-4, 1-2 CUSA) 26-23.
Terrence Brown Jr. led the way for the Blue Raiders in the win, with a career-high 158 rushing yards on 18 attempts. The senior back's big night included a 54-yard rush in the third quarter, putting MTSU in front for good.
Following an FIU touchdown paired with MTSU kicker Dominic Bourgeois' fourth field goal of the night, the Blue Raiders faced a 4th-and-10 from the FIU 40-yard line with 1:38 to play.
Quarterback Roman Gagliano dropped back and fired a dart down the middle to Cam'ron Lacy for a 25-yard completion. A 14-yard rush from Brown on the next play set the Blue Raiders to drain out the clock in victory formation, finishing off an all-around victory to put MTSU over .500.
The Blue Raider offense came to life in the first quarter, on the unit's second drive of the ballgame. Gagliano found tight end Brody Benke down the left side for a 30-yard score. This marked the first career reception and score for the redshirt sophomore Benke.
Bourgeois had a standout night for the Blue Raiders, going 4-for-4 including two kicks from 50 yards or farther. This marked the first time in school history a kicker made two or more kicks from 50-plus in a game.
On the defensive side of the ball, MTSU was once again led by cornerback Jackson Lowe. The Brentwood, Tennessee native had a team-high six tackles. The unit as a whole forced three turnovers, including an interception by defensive lineman Mathias Malaki-Donaldson.
By the Numbers:
183: Terrence Brown Jr.'s career night included 158 rushing yards on the group, but his impact was not limited there. Brown added 25 receiving yards for 183 all-purpose yards.
2: Dominic Bourgeois became the first Blue Raider to knock in two field goals from 50 yards or further in a single game. He now also owns the program record for made kicks from 50 yards in a season, with three.
5: Roman Gagliano is now up to five games this season without committing a turnover after a meticulous performance on Tuesday night.
MTSU Game Notes
• The Blue Raiders blocked a field goal attempt for the first time since November 12, 2022 when Decorian Patterson blocked a field goal against Charlotte. It marks the second game in a row where MTSU has blocked a kick, blocking an extra point attempt last week against Delaware.
• With win No. 4 on the year, head coach Derek Mason has set a new Blue Raider high for single season victories for himself.
• Mason has already matched his best single season conference win total, with five more games still to play in the campaign.
Offensive Player Notes
#3 | Cam'ron Lacy | WR | r-Jr.
• Continued his streak with at least one reception in 15-straight games.
• Led all receivers with 68 yards on 6 receptions on the night.
#9 | Terrence Brown Jr. | RB | r-Sr.
• Scored his second touchdown as a Blue Raider in the third quarter with a 54-yard rush to the end zone, marking the longest rushing touchdown of the season for the Blue Raiders.
• Achieved his first 100+ rushing yard game as a Blue Raider and set a career high with 158 rushing yards.
#16 | Roman Gagliano | QB | r-So.
• Has recorded back-to-back 200+ passing yard games in a row with 200 yds in Miami.
• Second-most rushing yards for the quarterback this season, gaining 41 yards on the ground.
#86 | Brody Benke | TE | r-So.
• Hauled in his first career reception and first career touchdown on a 30-yard connection with quarterback Roman Gagliano.
• Became the second tight end in as many games to record a touchdown.
Defensive Player Notes
#13 | Ashton Taylor | LB | r-Sr.
• Recorded the first blocked field goal attempt for MTSU since November 2022 in the third quarter, marking the first block of his career as well.
• Amassed second-most tackles of a Blue Raider on the night with five.
#31 | Mathias Malaki-Donaldson | OLB | r-Sr.
• Recorded his first career interception in the opening quarter, adding on a five-yard return after grabbing the ball.
Special Teams Player Notes
#91 | Dominic Bourgeois | K | Sr.
• Has hit three field goals this season from 50 or more yards, the most ever in a single season by an MTSU kicker. Two in the same game is also a new school single game record.
• First Blue Raider kicker to hit four field goals in a game since Zeke Rankin did so on December 24, 2024 in the Hawaii Bowl.
• His 14 points scored equals the sixth most in a single game in Blue Raider history.
Postgame Interviews
Next up: The Blue Raiders will return home to Floyd Stadium, hosting Kennesaw State (1-5, 0-2 CUSA) for the Blue Raiders Weekday CUSA finale next Wednesday, Oct. 28.. Kickoff is slated for 6:00 p.m. CT from Floyd, with the game televised on CBS Sports Network and a radio broadcast on WGNS.
Follow the Blue Raiders: Follow Middle Tennessee Football on social media on Facebook (/BlueRaiderFooball), X (@MT_FB) and Instagram (@mt_fb).
Terrence Brown Jr. led the way for the Blue Raiders in the win, with a career-high 158 rushing yards on 18 attempts. The senior back's big night included a 54-yard rush in the third quarter, putting MTSU in front for good.
Following an FIU touchdown paired with MTSU kicker Dominic Bourgeois' fourth field goal of the night, the Blue Raiders faced a 4th-and-10 from the FIU 40-yard line with 1:38 to play.
Quarterback Roman Gagliano dropped back and fired a dart down the middle to Cam'ron Lacy for a 25-yard completion. A 14-yard rush from Brown on the next play set the Blue Raiders to drain out the clock in victory formation, finishing off an all-around victory to put MTSU over .500.
The Blue Raider offense came to life in the first quarter, on the unit's second drive of the ballgame. Gagliano found tight end Brody Benke down the left side for a 30-yard score. This marked the first career reception and score for the redshirt sophomore Benke.
Bourgeois had a standout night for the Blue Raiders, going 4-for-4 including two kicks from 50 yards or farther. This marked the first time in school history a kicker made two or more kicks from 50-plus in a game.
On the defensive side of the ball, MTSU was once again led by cornerback Jackson Lowe. The Brentwood, Tennessee native had a team-high six tackles. The unit as a whole forced three turnovers, including an interception by defensive lineman Mathias Malaki-Donaldson.
By the Numbers:
183: Terrence Brown Jr.'s career night included 158 rushing yards on the group, but his impact was not limited there. Brown added 25 receiving yards for 183 all-purpose yards.
2: Dominic Bourgeois became the first Blue Raider to knock in two field goals from 50 yards or further in a single game. He now also owns the program record for made kicks from 50 yards in a season, with three.
5: Roman Gagliano is now up to five games this season without committing a turnover after a meticulous performance on Tuesday night.
MTSU Game Notes
• The Blue Raiders blocked a field goal attempt for the first time since November 12, 2022 when Decorian Patterson blocked a field goal against Charlotte. It marks the second game in a row where MTSU has blocked a kick, blocking an extra point attempt last week against Delaware.
• With win No. 4 on the year, head coach Derek Mason has set a new Blue Raider high for single season victories for himself.
• Mason has already matched his best single season conference win total, with five more games still to play in the campaign.
Offensive Player Notes
#3 | Cam'ron Lacy | WR | r-Jr.
• Continued his streak with at least one reception in 15-straight games.
• Led all receivers with 68 yards on 6 receptions on the night.
#9 | Terrence Brown Jr. | RB | r-Sr.
• Scored his second touchdown as a Blue Raider in the third quarter with a 54-yard rush to the end zone, marking the longest rushing touchdown of the season for the Blue Raiders.
• Achieved his first 100+ rushing yard game as a Blue Raider and set a career high with 158 rushing yards.
#16 | Roman Gagliano | QB | r-So.
• Has recorded back-to-back 200+ passing yard games in a row with 200 yds in Miami.
• Second-most rushing yards for the quarterback this season, gaining 41 yards on the ground.
#86 | Brody Benke | TE | r-So.
• Hauled in his first career reception and first career touchdown on a 30-yard connection with quarterback Roman Gagliano.
• Became the second tight end in as many games to record a touchdown.
Defensive Player Notes
#13 | Ashton Taylor | LB | r-Sr.
• Recorded the first blocked field goal attempt for MTSU since November 2022 in the third quarter, marking the first block of his career as well.
• Amassed second-most tackles of a Blue Raider on the night with five.
#31 | Mathias Malaki-Donaldson | OLB | r-Sr.
• Recorded his first career interception in the opening quarter, adding on a five-yard return after grabbing the ball.
Special Teams Player Notes
#91 | Dominic Bourgeois | K | Sr.
• Has hit three field goals this season from 50 or more yards, the most ever in a single season by an MTSU kicker. Two in the same game is also a new school single game record.
• First Blue Raider kicker to hit four field goals in a game since Zeke Rankin did so on December 24, 2024 in the Hawaii Bowl.
• His 14 points scored equals the sixth most in a single game in Blue Raider history.
Postgame Interviews
Next up: The Blue Raiders will return home to Floyd Stadium, hosting Kennesaw State (1-5, 0-2 CUSA) for the Blue Raiders Weekday CUSA finale next Wednesday, Oct. 28.. Kickoff is slated for 6:00 p.m. CT from Floyd, with the game televised on CBS Sports Network and a radio broadcast on WGNS.
Follow the Blue Raiders: Follow Middle Tennessee Football on social media on Facebook (/BlueRaiderFooball), X (@MT_FB) and Instagram (@mt_fb).
Players Mentioned
TE
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PK
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RB
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QB
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WR
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CB
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OLB
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PK
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LB
/ FootballTeam Stats
MTS
FIU
Total Yards
448
347
Pass Yards
200
179
Rushing Yards
248
168
Penalty Yards
57
29
1st Downs
20
15
3rd Downs
3
6
4th Downs
1
0
TOP
33:13
26:47
1st Quarter
MTS 0, FIU 8
FIU - McNeal,Kyle 49 yd pass from Kohl,JJ (Kohl,JJ rush) 1 plays, 49 yards, TOP 00:10
MTS 7, FIU 8
MTS - Benke,Brody 30 yd pass from Gagliano,Roman (Bourgeois,Dominic kick) 8 plays, 72 yards, TOP 04:10
2nd Quarter
MTS 10, FIU 8
MTS - Bourgeois,Dominic 51 yd field goal 5 plays, 17 yards, TOP 01:22
MTS 13, FIU 8
MTS - Bourgeois,Dominic 39 yd field goal 9 plays, 29 yards, TOP 01:29
3rd Quarter
MTS 16, FIU 8
MTS - Bourgeois,Dominic 50 yd field goal 5 plays, 25 yards, TOP 02:31
MTS 16, FIU 16
FIU - Schaeffer,Kevin 1 yd pass from Kohl,JJ (Lyons,Devonte rush) 12 plays, 75 yards, TOP 05:06
MTS 23, FIU 16
MTS - Brown Jr.,Terrence 54 yd run (Bourgeois,Dominic kick), 4 plays, 75 yards, TOP 01:57
4th Quarter
MTS 26, FIU 16
MTS - Bourgeois,Dominic 28 yd field goal 9 plays, 79 yards, TOP 04:28
MTS 26, FIU 23
FIU - Joseph,Sterling 21 yd pass from Kohl,JJ (Czeremcha,Robert kick) 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:20
Game Leaders
CMP
16
TD
1
YDS
200
INT
0
Tuesday, October 20
Tuesday, October 20
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