Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Saturday, September 26
Jacksonville, AL
6:00 PM
Middle Tennessee
2-2 , 0-1
13
at
23
Jacksonville State University
3-2 , 1-0
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Tenn. | 0 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 13 |
| Jacksonville St. | 3 | 7 | 10 | 3 | 23 |
Blue Raiders drop CUSA opener on the road
9/26/2026 9:07:00 PM | Football
JACKSONVILLE, Ala.- Middle Tennessee Football (2-2, 0-1 CUSA) dropped its first Conference USA match up of the year in a 23-13 loss to the Jax State Gamecocks (3-2, 1-0 CUSA).
The Blue Raiders fell victim to 13 unanswered points from Jax State in the second half, with two field goals and a passing touchdown creating the 10 point deficit.
On the first drive of the ballgame, Blue Raider safety Kalen Woods intercepted Jax State quarterback Caden Creel.
While Jax State was guilty of committing the game's first turnover, the Blue Raiders rival to the south bounced back to put up the first 10 points of the game. This included a field goal in the first quarter and a second quarter rushing touchdown from Creel.
Middle Tennessee was able to bounce back on offense before the break, as quarterback Roman Gagliano found his top target Cam'ron Lacy for a five-yard score with 27 seconds to play in the first half.
On the final play from scrimmage in the first half, sophomore safety James Johnson snagged his first career interception. Johnson sent the Blue Raiders to the locker room with some more momentum in their favor with a 51-yard return in tow after the turnover.
Gagliano led the charge on a scoring drive straight out of the break to open up the third quarter, with a 32-yard passing touchdown to Markus Allen. The Blue Raiders' signal caller went 4-for-5 on the drive with 54 yards. Allen's touchdown catch marked his first with Middle Tennessee.
By the Numbers
4: Cam'ron Lacy's second quarter touchdown reception marked his fourth straight game hauling in a pass for a score.
3: After running for 106 yards, Antonio Martin Jr. has now run for 100+ yards in three of four games so far this season. This also sets a new season high for the redshirt senior.
11: Less than a week removed from being named CUSA Defensive Player of the Week, redshirt sophomore cornerback Jackson Lowe had another highly productive day with a career-high 11 total tackles.
MTSU Game Notes
• Middle Tennessee's 90-yard scoring drive in the second quarter, ending with a Cam'ron Lacy receiving touchdown, marks the longest since scoring on a 90-yd drive against FIU Nov. 8, 2025
• Blue Raiders intercepted two Gamecock passes, the first time the team has done so since Nov. 29, 2025 versus New Mexico State
Offensive Player Notes
#3 | Cam'ron Lacy | WR | r-Jr.
• With a score in the second quarter, Lacy has four-straight contests with a touchdown, one in each game this season.
#8 | Antonio Martin | RB | r-Sr.
• With 106 rushing yards on the night, Martin has notched back-to-back games with 100+ yards, with three such occurrences on the season.
• Martin is the first running back in two seasons to have three games with over 100 yards in a single season, just four games into the campaign.
#9 | Terrence Brown Jr. | RB | Sr.
• Set career high with eight rushing attempts, double his previous best, and garnering 30 yards on the ground.
• Made first career receptions in Jacksonville, pulling in four from Gagliano for a campaign-best 33 yards, second most on the night for the Blue Raiders.
#16 | Roman Gagliano | QB | r-So.
• The quarterback has tallied 200+ passing yards in six of his seven career starts, tossing 216 against Jacksonville State.
Defensive Player Notes
#0 | Kalen Woods | S | r-Sr.
• With an interception caught in the first drive of the game, Woods has forced an opponent turnover in three of four games played for MTSU this year (two fumble recoveries and an interception).
#2 | Jackson Lowe | CB | r-Jr.
• Tallied career-high 11 tackles against the Gamecocks, nine of those being solo, and garnered a pass breakup as well.
#11 | James Johnson | S | So.
• Snatched his first career interception in the second quarter, returning it for 51 yards to close out the half.
• Matched career best with four tackles, two of which were solo.
#26 | Korey Smith | LB | Jr.
• Led the Blue Raiders with 13 tackles on the evening, matching his career high previously set at Marshall this season.
Special Teams Player Notes
#92 | Ashton Logan | P | Sr.
• Kicked four punts over 50 yards, with a long of 52 yards. The four mark the most 50+ in a single game for Logan's career and the most for a Blue Raider since Miles Tillman punted four on Sept. 2, 2023 against No. 4 Alabama.
Postgame Interviews
Up Next: The Blue Raiders will head to the Sunflower State for the final non-conference game of the 2026 season, as they travel to take on the Kansas Jayhawks. Kickoff is slated for 11:00 a.m. CT next Saturday, Oct. 3.
Follow the Blue Raiders: Follow Middle Tennessee Football on social media on Facebook (/BlueRaiderFooball), X (@MT_FB) and Instagram (@mt_fb).
The Blue Raiders fell victim to 13 unanswered points from Jax State in the second half, with two field goals and a passing touchdown creating the 10 point deficit.
On the first drive of the ballgame, Blue Raider safety Kalen Woods intercepted Jax State quarterback Caden Creel.
While Jax State was guilty of committing the game's first turnover, the Blue Raiders rival to the south bounced back to put up the first 10 points of the game. This included a field goal in the first quarter and a second quarter rushing touchdown from Creel.
Middle Tennessee was able to bounce back on offense before the break, as quarterback Roman Gagliano found his top target Cam'ron Lacy for a five-yard score with 27 seconds to play in the first half.
On the final play from scrimmage in the first half, sophomore safety James Johnson snagged his first career interception. Johnson sent the Blue Raiders to the locker room with some more momentum in their favor with a 51-yard return in tow after the turnover.
Gagliano led the charge on a scoring drive straight out of the break to open up the third quarter, with a 32-yard passing touchdown to Markus Allen. The Blue Raiders' signal caller went 4-for-5 on the drive with 54 yards. Allen's touchdown catch marked his first with Middle Tennessee.
By the Numbers
4: Cam'ron Lacy's second quarter touchdown reception marked his fourth straight game hauling in a pass for a score.
3: After running for 106 yards, Antonio Martin Jr. has now run for 100+ yards in three of four games so far this season. This also sets a new season high for the redshirt senior.
11: Less than a week removed from being named CUSA Defensive Player of the Week, redshirt sophomore cornerback Jackson Lowe had another highly productive day with a career-high 11 total tackles.
MTSU Game Notes
• Middle Tennessee's 90-yard scoring drive in the second quarter, ending with a Cam'ron Lacy receiving touchdown, marks the longest since scoring on a 90-yd drive against FIU Nov. 8, 2025
• Blue Raiders intercepted two Gamecock passes, the first time the team has done so since Nov. 29, 2025 versus New Mexico State
Offensive Player Notes
#3 | Cam'ron Lacy | WR | r-Jr.
• With a score in the second quarter, Lacy has four-straight contests with a touchdown, one in each game this season.
#8 | Antonio Martin | RB | r-Sr.
• With 106 rushing yards on the night, Martin has notched back-to-back games with 100+ yards, with three such occurrences on the season.
• Martin is the first running back in two seasons to have three games with over 100 yards in a single season, just four games into the campaign.
#9 | Terrence Brown Jr. | RB | Sr.
• Set career high with eight rushing attempts, double his previous best, and garnering 30 yards on the ground.
• Made first career receptions in Jacksonville, pulling in four from Gagliano for a campaign-best 33 yards, second most on the night for the Blue Raiders.
#16 | Roman Gagliano | QB | r-So.
• The quarterback has tallied 200+ passing yards in six of his seven career starts, tossing 216 against Jacksonville State.
Defensive Player Notes
#0 | Kalen Woods | S | r-Sr.
• With an interception caught in the first drive of the game, Woods has forced an opponent turnover in three of four games played for MTSU this year (two fumble recoveries and an interception).
#2 | Jackson Lowe | CB | r-Jr.
• Tallied career-high 11 tackles against the Gamecocks, nine of those being solo, and garnered a pass breakup as well.
#11 | James Johnson | S | So.
• Snatched his first career interception in the second quarter, returning it for 51 yards to close out the half.
• Matched career best with four tackles, two of which were solo.
#26 | Korey Smith | LB | Jr.
• Led the Blue Raiders with 13 tackles on the evening, matching his career high previously set at Marshall this season.
Special Teams Player Notes
#92 | Ashton Logan | P | Sr.
• Kicked four punts over 50 yards, with a long of 52 yards. The four mark the most 50+ in a single game for Logan's career and the most for a Blue Raider since Miles Tillman punted four on Sept. 2, 2023 against No. 4 Alabama.
Postgame Interviews
Up Next: The Blue Raiders will head to the Sunflower State for the final non-conference game of the 2026 season, as they travel to take on the Kansas Jayhawks. Kickoff is slated for 11:00 a.m. CT next Saturday, Oct. 3.
Follow the Blue Raiders: Follow Middle Tennessee Football on social media on Facebook (/BlueRaiderFooball), X (@MT_FB) and Instagram (@mt_fb).
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Players Mentioned
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/ FootballTeam Stats
MTN
JSU
Total Yards
319
517
Pass Yards
216
241
Rushing Yards
103
276
Penalty Yards
55
30
1st Downs
20
25
3rd Downs
4
3
4th Downs
1
2
TOP
27:22
32:38
1st Quarter
MTN 0, JSU 3
JSU - Rippa,Garrison 27 yd field goal 8 plays, 67 yards, TOP 03:59
2nd Quarter
MTN 0, JSU 10
JSU - Creel,Caden 1 yd run (Rippa,Garrison kick), 9 plays, 62 yards, TOP 03:40
MTN 7, JSU 10
MTN - Lacy,Cam'ron 5 yd pass from Gagliano,Roman (Bourgeois,Dominic kick) 14 plays, 90 yards, TOP 06:17
3rd Quarter
MTN 13, JSU 10
MTN - Allen,Markus 32 yd pass from Gagliano,Roman () 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:49
MTN 13, JSU 13
JSU - Rippa,Garrison 31 yd field goal 10 plays, 62 yards, TOP 04:28
MTN 13, JSU 20
JSU - Johnson,Deondre 38 yd pass from Creel,Caden (Rippa,Garrison kick) 7 plays, 76 yards, TOP 03:27
4th Quarter
MTN 13, JSU 23
JSU - Rippa,Garrison 29 yd field goal 12 plays, 69 yards, TOP 07:17
Game Leaders
CMP
18
TD
2
YDS
216
INT
0
Saturday, September 26
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