Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Saturday, September 5
Murfreesboro, TN
6:00 PM
Middle Tennessee
38
vs
14
Murray State
Blue Raiders rout Murray State in highest scoring performance of Mason Era
9/6/2026 1:17:00 AM | Football
MURFREESBORO, Tenn.- Middle Tennessee football (1-0) opened up the 2026 season with a bang at home, scoring its highest point total of the Derek Mason era in a 38-14 weather shortened rout of Murray State (0-2).
The game was called at 1:00 a.m. central time on Sunday morning after both teams agreed upon calling the conclusion of the game, following the third severe weather delay of the contest beginning at 10:17 p.m. Saturday night. The game ended with 11:01 remaining in the fourth quarter, as Murray State had the ball on the MTSU 19-yard line.
While fighting the delays, Redshirt Sophomore quarterback Roman Gagliano led the charge under center. In his fourth career start, Gagliano utilized his dual threat ability to throw for two touchdowns while running for an additional score.
Junior wideout Cam'ron Lacy had a career night, racing past the Racers for eight receptions, 118 yards and a score. Redshirt Freshman Neo Clifton was also a standout, hauling in his first collegiate touchdown in his first action at the level.
Running back Antonio Martin shined in his Blue Raider debut, rushing 15 times with 103 yards to his name. Another newcomer in Middle Tennessee's stable of backs shined in game one with the program as Terrence Brown ran for 66 yards and a touchdown on four carries.
While both offenses fell into a lull following the break at half, Ashton Taylor created the first turnover of the season with a forced fumble leading to a Kalen Woods 39-yard recovery return for a touchdown. This gave Middle Tennessee a 38-14 lead prior to storms descending upon Floyd Stadium.
By the Numbers:
8: Eight receptions by Cam'ron Lacy ties his career high.
3-1: Blue Raider quarterback Roman Gagliano is now 3-1 at the helm, dating back to the final three games of 2025.
76.9%: Roman Gagliano's 76.9% completion percentage sets a single-game career high for the signal caller.
Offensive Player Notes
#1 | Markus Allen | WR | Gr.
• Earned first start as a Blue Raider, garnering nine receiving yards on one catch
#3 | Cam'Ron Lacy | WR |
• Tied his career high with eight receptions against Murray State.
• Tallied his third career 100+ yard receiving game against Murray State, amassing 118 for a career best.
#8 | Antonio Martin Jr. | RB | r-Sr.
• Made first start as a Blue Raider in the RB position
• Led the team in receiving yards with 108, the most for Martin since the 2024 season
#75 | Reese Tripp | OL | r-Jr.
• Earned first career collegiate start.
#85 | Neo Clifton | WR | r-Rr.
• Made his collegiate debut in the first quarter today against the Racers.
• Scored his first career touchdown with a ten-yard reception from Roman Gagliano in the endzone to open the game's scoring.
Defensive Player Notes
#0 | Kalen Woods | S | r-Sr.
• Turned in a career-high BLEH (career-high is 7) tackles to lead the Blue Raiders.
• Returned a Racer fumble in the fourth quarter for a touchdown, his first as a Blue Raider and the first for Middle Tennessee since Nov. 11, 2023 against FIU.
#11 | James Johnson | S | So.
• Made first career collegiate start on defense.
• Amassed three solo tackles and four total.
#93 | Aidan Butts | DE | Jr.
• Earned first collegiate start on Saturday.
#99 | Archie Roseman V | NT | r-Fr.
• Made first career start against the Racers.
Special Teams Player Notes
#91 | Dominic Bourgeois | PK | Sr.
• Made his 26th-consecutive field goal in the third quarter, a 45-yard kick, also marking his first score as a Blue Raider
MTSU Game Notes
• Tonight's game featured three seperate severe weather delays, totaling four hours and 15 minutes.. In Coach Mason's tenure, season openers have been delayed for a total of six hours and 45 minutes due to severe weather.
• Middle Tennessee kicked of its 112th season of football with today's 2026 season opener against Murray State.
• The 12 first downs earned in the first quarter mark the most in the first 15 minutes of the Coach Mason era.
• Middle Tennessee's 38 points represent the most points scored in a Mason-era contest.
• The Blue Raiders have scored 30+ points in three-consecutive games, dating back to Nov. 22, 2025 versus Sam Houston.
Postgame Interviews
Up next: The Blue Raiders will hit the road for the first time next week, taking a trip to West Virginia to square off with the Marshall Thundering Herd (0-1).
Follow the Blue Raiders: Follow Middle Tennessee Football on social media on Facebook (/BlueRaiderFooball), X (@MT_FB) and Instagram (@mt_fb).
The game was called at 1:00 a.m. central time on Sunday morning after both teams agreed upon calling the conclusion of the game, following the third severe weather delay of the contest beginning at 10:17 p.m. Saturday night. The game ended with 11:01 remaining in the fourth quarter, as Murray State had the ball on the MTSU 19-yard line.
While fighting the delays, Redshirt Sophomore quarterback Roman Gagliano led the charge under center. In his fourth career start, Gagliano utilized his dual threat ability to throw for two touchdowns while running for an additional score.
Junior wideout Cam'ron Lacy had a career night, racing past the Racers for eight receptions, 118 yards and a score. Redshirt Freshman Neo Clifton was also a standout, hauling in his first collegiate touchdown in his first action at the level.
Running back Antonio Martin shined in his Blue Raider debut, rushing 15 times with 103 yards to his name. Another newcomer in Middle Tennessee's stable of backs shined in game one with the program as Terrence Brown ran for 66 yards and a touchdown on four carries.
While both offenses fell into a lull following the break at half, Ashton Taylor created the first turnover of the season with a forced fumble leading to a Kalen Woods 39-yard recovery return for a touchdown. This gave Middle Tennessee a 38-14 lead prior to storms descending upon Floyd Stadium.
By the Numbers:
8: Eight receptions by Cam'ron Lacy ties his career high.
3-1: Blue Raider quarterback Roman Gagliano is now 3-1 at the helm, dating back to the final three games of 2025.
76.9%: Roman Gagliano's 76.9% completion percentage sets a single-game career high for the signal caller.
Offensive Player Notes
#1 | Markus Allen | WR | Gr.
• Earned first start as a Blue Raider, garnering nine receiving yards on one catch
#3 | Cam'Ron Lacy | WR |
• Tied his career high with eight receptions against Murray State.
• Tallied his third career 100+ yard receiving game against Murray State, amassing 118 for a career best.
#8 | Antonio Martin Jr. | RB | r-Sr.
• Made first start as a Blue Raider in the RB position
• Led the team in receiving yards with 108, the most for Martin since the 2024 season
#75 | Reese Tripp | OL | r-Jr.
• Earned first career collegiate start.
#85 | Neo Clifton | WR | r-Rr.
• Made his collegiate debut in the first quarter today against the Racers.
• Scored his first career touchdown with a ten-yard reception from Roman Gagliano in the endzone to open the game's scoring.
Defensive Player Notes
#0 | Kalen Woods | S | r-Sr.
• Turned in a career-high BLEH (career-high is 7) tackles to lead the Blue Raiders.
• Returned a Racer fumble in the fourth quarter for a touchdown, his first as a Blue Raider and the first for Middle Tennessee since Nov. 11, 2023 against FIU.
#11 | James Johnson | S | So.
• Made first career collegiate start on defense.
• Amassed three solo tackles and four total.
#93 | Aidan Butts | DE | Jr.
• Earned first collegiate start on Saturday.
#99 | Archie Roseman V | NT | r-Fr.
• Made first career start against the Racers.
Special Teams Player Notes
#91 | Dominic Bourgeois | PK | Sr.
• Made his 26th-consecutive field goal in the third quarter, a 45-yard kick, also marking his first score as a Blue Raider
MTSU Game Notes
• Tonight's game featured three seperate severe weather delays, totaling four hours and 15 minutes.. In Coach Mason's tenure, season openers have been delayed for a total of six hours and 45 minutes due to severe weather.
• Middle Tennessee kicked of its 112th season of football with today's 2026 season opener against Murray State.
• The 12 first downs earned in the first quarter mark the most in the first 15 minutes of the Coach Mason era.
• Middle Tennessee's 38 points represent the most points scored in a Mason-era contest.
• The Blue Raiders have scored 30+ points in three-consecutive games, dating back to Nov. 22, 2025 versus Sam Houston.
Postgame Interviews
Up next: The Blue Raiders will hit the road for the first time next week, taking a trip to West Virginia to square off with the Marshall Thundering Herd (0-1).
Follow the Blue Raiders: Follow Middle Tennessee Football on social media on Facebook (/BlueRaiderFooball), X (@MT_FB) and Instagram (@mt_fb).
Players Mentioned
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