Murfreesboro, TN – UTSA QB Frank Harris dazzled until three picks killed the Road Runner momentum, and Middle Tennessee threatened to come back trailing 38-30 late in the game. However, it took a defensive stand and a 45-yard scoring drive with 1:32 left to seal a 45-30 victory for UTSA (3-2, 1-0), 45-30. For Collegefootballfan.com, we saw MTSU play for the fourth time, but first time at home. Regarding UTSA, we witnessed them for only the second time. We saw them visit South Alabama in 2012 when both met in their first FBS clash when they opened against each other. UTSA, then coached by Larry Coker, triumphed, 33-31.
UTSA can’t be stopped
The UTSA offense scored early and often. With QB Frank Harris’s prolific day running and scoring (27 for 36 passing, 414 yards, two TD passes, two rushing TDs, three INTs), the Road Runners scored on five of their first six possessions. All came on very long drives to run out to a 31-20 lead at halftime. The scoring drives went for 75, 74, 75, 73, and 79 yards respectively. In the first period, Harris connected with WR Zakhari Franklin for a 43-yard score. Next, Jarret Sackett booted a 28-yard FG for a 10-0 lead at the end of one.
Middle Tennessee closed the gap on Chase Cunningham’ 38-yard toss to Yusuf Ali early in the second. Of course, UTSA retaliated when Franklin came back with a 28-yard TD strike once again to Franklin. Still, MTSU made a game of it on Darius Bracy’s 53-yard touchdown burst off right tackle. UTSA put together another long drive capped by Trelon Smith’s two-yard run. The Blue Raiders rebounded with Zeke Rankin’s 3-yard FG to stay within seven, 24-17.
It looked like the MTSU defense finally came around forcing UTSA to punt. However, a running into the kicker penalty gave the Road Runners life with a fourth and six at the MTSU 39. Road Runner HC Jeff Traylor decided to go for it. Harris connected with De’Corian Clark with a pass to the 25 for a first down. Harris eventually took in in from the five to go up, 31-17. UTSA’s next possession resulted in its first punt. The Blue Raiders obliged with a 41-yard drive resulting in Rankins’ 33-yard FG with 0:03 left for a 31-20 halftime score.
Halftime Honors and Hall of Fame Hospitality
The halftime festivities at MTSU’s Red Floyd Stadium featured the retirement of jersey #20 in honor of alum S Kevin Byard. Today, collegefootballfan.com added MTSU’s home field as the 77th FBS venue we’ve attended. Drafted by the Titans in 2016, Byard has twice been named All-Pro. In 2020, he won the Walter Payton Award for community services he proudly led. John Robinson, GM of the Tennessee Titans, made the presentation. Kevin enters the MTSU Athletic Hall of Fame.
Speaking of which, I was invited to the MTSU Athletic Hall of Fame Museum before the game to meet with Duane Hinckley of the Blue Raider Sports Network pre-game show. Meeting with him and his partner of many years, Dick Palmer, on the air, we discussed my football adventure in my book Tales from the Tailgate: From the Fan who’s seen ‘em all! Duane kindly touted our website. Our conversation also focused on best game atmospheres and on games I look forward to on the upcoming schedule. It was a great interview! We had a good time meeting Duane and Dick. Thanks to Chip Walters , play-by-play man of the MTSU broadcasting team on WGNS 1450 AM /100.5 FM for arranging this!
I visited the MTSU Athletic Hall of Fame with my Guest Game Analyst, Dave Hickman (Fighting Illini alum whose team knocked off Wisconsin Saturday). We reviewed the history of Blue Raider greats in all sports. MTSU fans have a Hall of Fame to be proud of adjacent to their sports facilities on their beautiful campus.
Second Half: same start, surprise ending
UTSA received the second half kickoff. The second half started as if it would be a continuation of the first. Following a touchback, the Road Runners put together a 75-yard TD drive with Harris scoring from the one. MTSU took their ensuing touchback and punted from their 44. UTSA proceeded to move efficiently once again, but a funny thing happened on the way to the end zone. DB Decorian Patterson intercepted Frank Harris’s pass on the two-yard line to halt the first UTSA drive of the game. From there, quick-footed, strong-armed Blue Raider QB Chase Cunningham (35 of 56, 368 yards, one TD) put on a show of his own. The drive resulted in Rankin’s 25-yard FG early in the fourth to trail, 38-23.
Lightning strikes
The Road Runners started to drive once again getting the ball out to their 40. On first and ten, Harris zipped the ball over the middle. DT Jordan Palmer snagged it into his chest and motored like lightning down the right sideline the length of the field for about a 42-yard TD return. MTSU swooped within striking distance, 38-30, with 10:32 left to play. UTSA started typically from the 25 on its next possession and drove deep into Blue Raider territory once again. And for the third straight series, Harris got picked again, and for the second time by Patterson. MTSU started from their 13.
With time running down, on a fourth and two from their 37, Cunningham completed a pass to Franklin at the 49 to sustain hope once again. On fourth and nine at the Road Runner 45, the result was not the same. The pass attempt fell incomplete. GGA Dave Hickman advised, “They got to stop the run. At three yards a carry, UTSA will continue to run it out as the have all day.” At that, we watched UTSA do just as Dave said. HC Rick Stockstill used his remaining time-out to get the ball back.
Brenden Brady ran for four yards and then another four. Harris got a first down on his three-yard run. Smith picked up eight. Brady (19 carries, 98 yards, one TD) gained one more before exploding off left tackle for a 25-yard TD to extend the lead to 45-30 with 1:32 left. The Raiders made a great effort getting to the UTSA 14 on a 24-yard completion to Izaiah Gathings with 41 ticks left. However, after three incompletes and a nine-yard completion followed by an unsportsmanlike call against the Road Runners, time expired at the five. Our game No. 641 was a hard-fought, offensive, interesting battle down to the end despite the final margin of UTSA’s 45-30 victory. Both QBs impressed us during this game.
Next two weekends should be fun for all involved
The Blue Raiders travel to Birmingham, Alabama next Saturday to play UAB in another Conference USA clash. UTSA will host Western Kentucky next Saturday in a similar conference clash, but tomorrow night (October 1), this being a Friday night game, we will see those same Hilltoppers (4-1) host the Troy Trojans (2-2) in another anticipated, hard-fought battle. In Week Six, collegefootballfan.com will attend the SEC contest when South Carolina visits Kentucky in Lexington. In two weeks, we’ll be back here at Red Floyd Stadium to see the Blue Raiders take on their arch rival, those same Hilltoppers from WKU!
Ed. by Steve Koreivo, Author of Tales from the Tailgate: From the Fan who’s seen ‘em all! Just as Duane Hickey mentioned on the Blue Raider Sports Network. Click on the book title or cover copied on the upper right hand side bar on this page. Thanks! It’s all about our adventures of attending games just like this one played by all 120 FBS teams over time including MTSU at UConn!
