Blue Raiders Clinch Bowl Ineligibility in Heartbreaking Loss
Middle Tennessee's record falls to 1-7 after a 24-21 loss to Jacksonville State.
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee fell to Jacksonville State 24-21, dropping their sixth consecutive home game on Wednesday night.
The Blue Raiders were competitive with the Gamecocks throughout the game, never trailing by more than three points. However, similar to other games, the Blue Raiders struggled to finish in the fourth quarter, marking their fourth one-possession loss in a row.
Middle Tennessee drops to 1-7 on the year, and 0-4 in conference play. Jacksonville State improves to 5-3 on the year, and a perfect 4-0 in league games.
The Blue Raiders will take on Florida International on Nov. 8 in Johnny “Red” Floyd Stadium.
First Half
MTSU started off with the ball and traded three-and-outs until the Blue Raiders finally got something going on their second drive. A Hunter Tipton hurdle plus a Cam Lacy catch on a tight-window pass from Nick Vattiato kept the Raiders rolling, but after two airmailed passes from Vattiato and a fumble from the Middle Tennessee QB essentially ended the drive.
After another three-and-out from Jax State, Middle Tennessee got creative with a reverse run play to redshirt freshman wide receiver Kason Stokes, and eventually found true freshman running back DJ Taylor for a 10-yard receiving touchdown.
In a unique turn of events, after the start of the second quarter, Jax State seemed to come up short on a fourth-down conversion, and after a lengthy review, the referee announced that the “ball would be spotted at the middle of the zero”. This arbitrary spot of the football allowed MTSU to force a turnover on downs.
Later in the quarter, Jax State took over possession and after not completing any passes on their first four drives, found success on two consecutive double passes. The first went to Cam Cook, and the other went to 6-foot-8 wide receiver Deondre Johnson for a 56-yard touchdown.
Some untimely Blue Raider penalties gave Jacksonville State opportunities to score late in the quarter, but the most notable piece from the end of the first half was one of the most chaotic plays in college football history.
As time was set to expire in the first half, Nick Vattiato threw up a Hail Mary pass just short of the endzone that was tipped right into the hands of Jax State’s Caleb Nix. The senior safety’s return was ended near the MTSU 25-yard line before he jumped to throw the ball to a teammate. That teammate took the ball just short of the endzone before he fumbled the ball forward into the endzone. One referee called it a touchdown on the field, but after review, Nix stepped out of bounds, and the half was over.
Second Half
The second half started off as more of the same from the Middle Tennessee offense. Vattiato overthrew a couple of receivers, but the Blue Raiders did end up getting into rhythm. Vattiato found Hunter Tipton for a 28-yard catch and Nahzae Cox for a 23-yarder to get MTSU in the red zone.
In something that came straight out of Heisman candidate Haynes King’s playbook, Vattiato offered his body for a first down, opening up for a Jekail Middlebrook touchdown on a swing pass two plays after. Hunter Tipton snagged the two-point conversion, giving MTSU a 14-7 lead in the third quarter.
As time wound down in the third, Jax State kept driving, and the nation’s leading rusher Cam Cook started to get going after starting the game with fourteen carries for thirty-eight yards.
A tackle-for-loss followed by a sack from MTSU DE Reggie Johnson pushed the Gamecocks out of the red zone and forced a 47-yard field goal from Garrison Rippa. 14-10 Blue Raiders with 13 minutes to go in the fourth quarter.
Middle Tennessee punted the ball away on their next drive, and Jax State receiver Deondre Johnson’s career night continued for the Gamecocks. Johnson mossed MTSU cornerback De’Arre McDonald for a 38-yard gain, then made a highlight reel 30-yard touchdown catch on the next play.
A roughing the passer penalty on Jax State defensive lineman Khurtiss Perry, followed by a tight window pass to Jekail Middlebrook, gave MTSU the ball on the Jax State 6-yard line. Middlebrook was able to punch it in, giving Middle Tennessee a 21-17 lead with 7:42 to go.
Cam Cook couldn’t be denied, though. Cook dodged about five tacklers for a 41-yard gain and found the endzone just a few plays after.
With two drives to equal the score, the Blue Raiders finished the game with seven consecutive incompletions, giving the Gamecocks their fourth successive win against the Blue Raiders.
Middle Tennessee’s last win over Jacksonville State was in 1997, before the Blue Raiders competed at the FBS level.
Takeaways & Standout Performances
1. Middle Tennessee CAN contend with any team in the C-USA
As every week passes, losses keep piling on, but the Blue Raiders continue to battle with their Conference-USA opponents. ESPN Analytics gave Middle Tennessee an 89% chance to win the game with eight minutes left in the fourth quarter. The Blue Raiders were not only competitive in this game, but they outplayed the Gamecocks for the majority of the contest.
2. Fourth Quarter woes haunt the Blue Raiders
Whether it’s a Nick Vattiato fumble (Delaware), a missed field goal (Missouri State), two consecutive turnovers-on-downs (Kennesaw State), or a meltdown on the final drive (Jacksonville State), Middle Tennessee just can not find ways to end a game with any sense of urgency.
3. Middle Tennessee clinches bowl ineligibility
Just eight weeks into the season, Middle Tennessee is just one of ten teams with seven or more losses, effectively clinching bowl ineligibility. The last time Middle Tennessee finished with a record of six wins or more was the 2022 season, when former head coach Rick Stockstill led the Blue Raiders to the Hawaii Bowl, finishing 8-5 on the season.
Standout Performances
WR Deondre Johnson (JSU): 4 receptions, 131 receiving yards, 2 TDs
RB Cam Cook (JSU): 21 carries, 105 rushing yards, 1 TD, 3 receptions, 21 receiving yards
RB Jekail Middlebrook (MTSU): 10 carries, 20 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD, 6 receptions, 87 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD
LB Alex Mitchell (MTSU): 16 total tackles, 7 solo, 9 assisted, 2 TFLs
DE Reggie Johnson (MTSU): 7 total tackles, 5 solo, 2 assisted, 3 TFLs, 1 sack, 1 QBH
This article was written by Sidelines Sports Network staff writer RJ Schafer.