Middle Tennessee falls to Missouri State 22-20

Written By RJ Schafer

Murfreesboro, Tenn. — Whether it was the Blue Raiders’ trip to Nevada, the home opener against Austin Peay, or the homecoming matchup against Marshall, the team hadn’t faced as much pressure as they would coming into their matchup against the Missouri State Bears. This game was Middle’s second C-USA game of the year, their first home conference game, and their first Weekday C-USA game, which would be nationally broadcast on ESPN2. This was the biggest stage the Blue Raiders had played on this season, and it came at a very pivotal point in the season. With a win, the Blue Raiders could find their footing in conference play and turn around what has been an underwhelming year for Derek Mason’s squad. With a loss, MTSU drops to 1-5, and its bowl odds become that much more unlikely.

Middlebrook Starts Quick

Jekail Middlebrook started this game off motivated, coming off two consecutive 100+ yard games. Heading into this game, according to Cam Mellor, Jekail Middlebrook was seventh in the Group of Five in yards after contact with 4.54.

Middlebrook had multiple big runs on the first drive. Most of the big plays came on plays where Middlebrook bounced the run all the way to the other end of the field, willing the Blue Raiders down the field on his back. The Blue Raiders would end up getting stuffed after they passed the thirty-yard line and would be forced to kick a field goal, allowing Jacob Hathaway to give the Blue Raiders the lead, 3-0.

Middle Tennessee set the tone defensively quickly as Reggie Johnson took down Duece Bailey on a speed option. Bailey was under immense pressure the entire drive, and the Bears punted the ball right back to the Blue Raiders.

Hunter Tipton had a huge catch negated by an ineligible man downfield penalty. That penalty essentially ended the drive from the first play, and the Blue Raiders punted the ball back.

On the next drive for Missouri State, Ronnel Johnson was wide open for a big third-down conversion, but for the second drive in a row, Missouri State backup quarterback Duece Bailey was under an unreal amount of pressure. The Bears slowed down and were in punt formation on fourth and four, but Middle Tennessee made a curious decision to leave no man deep to return the punt. This decision didn’t end up hurting MTSU as much as it could have, but the Blue Raiders still had to start their drive on the seven-yard line.

The next drive was an interesting one for the Blue Raiders. On the first play of the drive, Middle Tennessee tight end Hunter Tipton caught a short pass, didn’t tuck the ball, fumbled, and luckily the fumble went out of bounds. Jekail Middlebrook had another impressive run, but the Blue Raiders would be forced to punt, incurring a penalty on the punt as well.

On their next drive, Missouri State began to drive deep into MTSU territory, punishing the Blue Raiders’ weak tackling. Similar to the Blue Raiders’ earlier drive, though, MTSU’s defense hunkered down on their side of the field, with a big sack by Christofer Noble and great defensive coverage by Muazz Byard. MTSU forced Missouri State to kick a field goal, had twelve men on the field, and called a time-out. Missouri State missed the subsequent field goal, but still, the Blue Raiders headed into the second quarter with the ball up 3-0.

Disaster struck for Middle Tennessee on the next drive, a bad snap allowed Missouri State’s Jalen Brooks to get a fumble recovery deep in MTSU territory.

Poor tackling on a broken play allowed Missouri State to get first and goal, and the backup quarterback, Duece Bailey, ran it in for a touchdown. Bears lead 6-3 with just under twelve minutes to go in the half.

There’s Life in Murfreesboro

After things felt dim in Johnny “Red” Floyd Stadium, the Blue Raiders fought back instantly. Jekail Middlebrook bounded another run to the other side of the field for a big gain, then Nick Vattiato unleashed his best deep ball of the season, finding Cam Lacy deep for a 52-yard touchdown, taking the lead back in Murfreesboro.

On the next drive, Missouri State would benefit from a controversial targeting call on Kalen Woods. Duece Bailey looked extremely fast and found Ronnel Johnson for a big touchdown catch.

A squib kick out of bounds would give the Blue Raiders a chance to punch right back, but an illegal formation penalty plus a Nick Vattiato stumble would end the drive and force another punt out of Ashton Logan.

At their own seven-yard line, the Missouri State Bears drove down the field and apparently completed a 69-yard touchdown pass, but after review, Tristian Gardner’s knee was down, allowing MTSU to end the drive with only three points given up. De’Arre McDonald came up with a huge breakup on a potential touchdown, and forced the Bears to kick, making the score 16-10.

With less than a minute before the half, Nick Vattiato led an impressive two-minute drill with catches from Hunter Tipton and Cam Lacy to allow Jacob Hathaway to get into field goal range and finish the half with a 40-yard make.

Second Half in Murfreesboro

Missouri State receivers had been open all night, and on the first drive of the second half, that was evident again. Missouri State running back Ramone Green Jr. logged a 76-yard catch, but yet again, the Middle Tennessee defense hunkered down to force a 25-yard field goal.

Middle Tennessee, down 19-13, drove into Missouri State territory, but turned the ball over on downs, setting the stage for what was an uneventful quarter for the Blue Raiders. A curious speed option play call later in the quarter resulted in another turnover on downs.

To start the fourth quarter, MTSU drove methodically deep into Missouri State territory. Nahzae Cox, who had been mostly inactive this game, caught his second pass, and Nick Vattiato caught Cam Lacy in the end zone for another big touchdown. This touchdown gave the Blue Raiders the lead, 20-19, and allowed them to control their own destiny against Missouri State.

On the next drive for Missouri State, a crucial facemask penalty gave the Bears a first down plus momentum. After the Bears recovered their own fumble, Alex Mitchell suplexed Duece Bailey for a sack with no penalty. The Blue Raiders’ defense, again, gave the offense the opportunity to win the game by forcing Missouri State to kick a field goal, giving the Blue Raiders a two-point deficit to work with.

Cam Lacy had another crucial catch, and yet another facemask penalty gave Middle the ball at the Missouri State 30 yard-line, but Middle Tennessee chose to play conservative, setting Jacob Hathaway up for a 50-yard field goal, and as the kick missed, the game flew out of the hands of the Blue Raiders, allowing Missouri State to kneel the game out and win in Murfreesboro, 22-20.

RJ Schafer
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