Murfreesboro, TN – The MTSU Blue Raiders protected QB Nick Vattiato better than in previous games attended and balanced an improved running game with a passing attack to upend the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, 31-23. Vattiato under less pressure completed 23 of 29 for 248 yards and two TDs. He scored on the ground once. His 15 rushing yards were compensated this week by Jaiden Credle’s 65 yards and some effective short runs by Terry Wilkens. Tech played QB Jack Turner in the first half and Hank Bachmeier in the second. They combined for 340 yards, two TDs and one interception. The MTSU defense held LT to 79 rushing yards. S Tra Fluellen’s INT in the end zone thwarted a key Bulldog drive.
Scoring through the air
Following Zeke Rankin’s 26-Yrd FG for MTSU, Kyle Maxwell hauled in a 20-yard TD pass from Turner. Blue Raider S Jakobe Thomas burst through to block the point after. MTSU responded with a 75-yard scoring drive capped by Elijah Metcalf’s over the shoulder catch along the end zone sideline to lead 10-6 at the end of one.
In the second, Jacob Barnes 23-yard FG closed the score, 10-9. Later in the period, Zach Dobson returned a punt for Middle Tennessee 53 yards to the Louisiana Tech 31. On third and ten, Vattiato connected with Holden Willis for a gain of 20 after the tackled forced a fumble out of bounds. At the two, Vattiato swept let and dove over for a touchdown. MTSU led at the half, 17-9.
Tech repeat of last week?
The previous week, LT scored 21 points in the second half down to Western Kentucky who led , 35-7, at the intermission. Though they fell short, 35-28, would they display the same firepower this evening against MTSU? Turner looked prepared to mount a comeback. He connected with Cyrus Allen for 38 yards to the Blue Raider seven. The LT threat was quelled by Fluellen’s INT falling backward in the end zone. The MTSU offense put together an 80-yard drive culminating with Credle running it in from nine yards out. With the help of an invisible roughing the passer penalty, Tech sustained a scoring drive. On a fourth, Dakota Williams took it over from six. The score narrowed the Blue Raider lead, 24-16.
MTSU and LT fight in fourth
In the fourth, MTSU broke off a big play with a 60-yard catch and run by Holden (4 catches for 103 yards) on a crossing pattern down the right sideline. A sack on a third and ten forced a Tech punt on its next possession. Middle Tennessee seemed to catch a break on an incomplete pass. Vattiato was grabbed by the face mask and thrown to the ground. The official watched and threw no flag – a blatant missed call. The Bulldogs took over from their 24 and drove to the MTSU ten-yard line. On fourth and goal at the ten, Bachmeier connected with Charvis Thornton for a touchdown. Louisiana Tech trailed now 31-24 with 2:30 left to play.
Using their three remaining time-outs after a squib kick starting the Raiders on their 18, Tech forced MTSU to punt after a three and out. They took over from their 32. On fourth down at the 46, MTSU’s heavy rush force Bachmeier’s pass to go incomplete. Middle Tennessee ran out the clock to take their first ConferenceUSA win this season to go 2-5, 1-2. Louisiana Tech fell to 3-5, 2-2.
Next!
In two weeks, Tech returns home to take on Jerry Kill’s New Mexico State Aggies (currently 3-3, 1-1). MTSU travels to Liberty (6-0, 4-0) for their fourth straight weekday night game before returning to Saturday games to complete their regular season. Collegefootballfan.com will see them for our fifth and final Blue Raider game this season when they host UTEP on November 18.
Three games in five days
CFF.com heads to Greenville, NC Thursday night for an American Athletic contest when SMU (3-2) visits East Carolina (1-4) for our first game ever at ECU’s Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. SMU looms as 12.5 favorites here. ECU allows 32 ppg against FBS foes, and SMU has put up similar scores against comparable FBS competition. We’ll see what ECU Head Coach Mike Houston can muster for this game. Last time we saw him, he was leading a formidable FCS James Madison program set to move up to the FBS.
On Saturday, we head to Charlotte for our first time at Jerry Richardson Stadium. We’ll watch Navy (2-3, 1-2) play a new foe in the same AAC. The Mids are favored by 3, but the 49ers (1-4, 0-1) under Biff Poggi are said to be hungry. Will the 15,314 seats in their stadium distract the Mids used to playing in bigger venues? Charlotte has lost to four FBS programs with winning records. The Mids have played three of their last four in Annapolis. They lost to Memphis by four on the road and defeated North Texas by three at home last week. This will be a fight for a close one. All I can say is, “Go Navy!”
Available now on Kindle – Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the fun and the Ugly – click here! In Paperback soon.
