Tag: Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders

Aug 30, 2024; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils quarterback Maalik Murphy (6) goes to throw the ball against the Elon Phoenix during the second half at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images

Middle Tennessee standing in way of 4-0 start for Duke

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Duke aims to finish nonconference play with an unblemished record when it visits Middle Tennessee State for a Saturday afternoon clash in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

The Blue Devils (3-0) also eye their second consecutive 4-0 start and momentum heading into a Sept. 28 tilt against rival North Carolina in their Atlantic Coast Conference opener.

But first up are the Blue Raiders (1-2), who, like Duke, are led by a first-year head coach.

Despite this being the second head coaching stints for both Middle Tennessee’s Derek Mason and Duke’s Manny Diaz, they have never faced each other from opposing sidelines. Diaz was an assistant at Middle Tennessee nearly two decades ago, serving as the defensive coordinator there from 2006-09.

While Duke is coming off its third straight win after a 26-21 victory over UConn last weekend, MTSU hopes to bounce back from a 49-21 loss to Western Kentucky that Mason put on himself and no one else.

“At the end of the day, I don’t blame players, I blame me,” Mason said. “My shoulders are big enough. What we will do as a staff and as a team is hold each other accountable. Because that’s where the winning gets done.”

Middle Tennessee’s issues have shown up on defense, where it ranks 129th out of 133 FBS teams with 42 points allowed per game. Even in its lone win against FCS side Tennessee Tech, the Blue Raiders allowed 25 points.

Duke hasn’t had a problem finding the end zone, especially in crucial moments. Each of the Blue Devils’ past two wins — against UConn at home and on the road against Northwestern — required late-game comebacks.

“A lot that we have to improve on, but it’s always more fun to improve when you’re winning than when you’re not winning,” Diaz said. “(Undefeated) and eventually, going into league play where you know you’re going to be in tough games, you know you’re going to be in close games.

“What they have learned through these last couple of weeks is going to really bode well as we get further down into our season.”

The Blue Devils have been powered on offense by Texas transfer Maalik Murphy, who has thrown for 801 yards with eight touchdowns and leads all ACC quarterbacks in pass attempts with 122.

MTSU has a strong passing attack as well, led by Nicholas Vattiato who threw for 456 yards and three TDs against Western Kentucky.

–Field Level Media

Sep 17, 2022; College Station, Texas, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Tyler Van Dyke (9) passes against the Texas A&M Aggies during the second half at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

No. 25 Miami in search of rebound vs. Middle Tennessee State

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Middle Tennessee State is well aware of the daunting task ahead when it hits the road Saturday to face No. 25 Miami and its intimidating defense.

“Those suckers can fly at every position,” Middle Tennessee State head coach Rick Stockstill said of Miami. “They have a really good and talented defense. They put a lot of pressure on you.”

Miami (2-1) is coming off a disappointing 17-9 loss at Texas A&M, although it is tied for the ACC lead in fewest points allowed per game at 12.3. Hurricanes linebacker Corey Flagg Jr. and defensive lineman Leonard Taylor are in the top 10 of the conference in tackles for loss per game at 1.17.

In the loss to Texas A&M, Miami’s defense produced three sacks and held quarterback Max Johnson to 140 passing yards.

“Our front seven, particularly our front four, put a lot of pressure on them,” Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal said. “We made them uncomfortable. Even some of the throws they made were under duress.”

Next up for Miami is its last nonconference test before beginning the ACC schedule against North Carolina on Oct. 8.

Middle Tennessee State (2-1) hasn’t defeated an ACC team since knocking off Syracuse 30-23 in 2017, but the Blue Raiders don’t lack for confidence.

Raiders quarterback Chase Cunningham, a second-year starter, has improved his accuracy from 62.5 percent last season to an impressive 72.6 in 2022.

Cunningham, who started MTSU’s first five games last year before he sustained a knee injury, is averaging 197.3 yards passing this season.

The Raiders, though, have not proven to be a deep passing threat. Their top two receivers, Izaiah Gathings and Yusuf Ali, are both averaging less than 8.1 yards per catch.

Top running back Frank Peasant is averaging 72.7 yards per game and 5.0 per carry as the Raiders have lost to James Madison (44-7) before beating Colorado State (34-19) and Tennessee State (49-6) the past two weeks.

When Miami has the ball, quarterback Tyler Van Dyke will be looking to redeem himself after a mediocre performance against the Aggies.

The primary issue for Van Dyke last week is that he couldn’t get the Hurricanes in the end zone. And while he did pass for 217 yards, he was just 21 of 41 in the air.

Miami running backs Henry Parrish Jr. (85 yards, 5.3 average) and Jaylan Knighton (77 yards, 5.5) were impressive against the Aggies.

But the Hurricanes have two issues to clean up Saturday.

Without injured receiver Xavier Restrepo, Miami will look for a go-to target, with candidates including tight end Will Mallory and wide receivers Jacolby George and Key’Shawn Smith.

And Miami’s special teams had a fumbled punt, a blocked field goal and a missed field goal against Texas A&M.

“We’ve got to score touchdowns,” Cristobal said.

Meanwhile, the Raiders could have some fun plays in store for the Hurricanes.

Last week, MTSU used a “heavy backfield” in a goal-line situation, taking out four wide receivers and inserting four defensive linemen: Ja’Kerrius Wyatt, Zaylin Wood, Jordan Ferguson and Marley Cook.

“They’re the most aggressive blockers I’ve ever seen,” Peasant said. “Once we called that, it was an automatic touchdown.”

–Field Level Media