Featured Photo by Myles Valrie
Story by Brett Walker
The Derek Mason era of MTSU football kicked off on Saturday in less-than-ideal fashion.
After months of anticipation for the first game, 16,000 reported attendees evacuated Floyd Stadium and waited over two and a half hours to see the team play after a severe weather delay.
MTSU squeaked out a win against in-state opponent Tennessee Tech 32-25 in a game that concluded well into the early hours of Sunday morning. Even though it’s only game one, there are still positives and negatives to take away as the Blue Raiders prepare for a challenging stretch.
Positives
A fast start
Concerns that the weather delay would spell trouble for the Blue Raiders were put to rest early as they got off to a lightning-fast start. Middle Tennessee’s first drive under Mason and more impactfully offensive coordinator Bodie Reeder resulted in a 15 play, 72-yard drive that culminated in a three-yard Frank Peasant touchdown. The opening drive burned 7:56 off the clock as the Blue Raiders jumped out to a 7-0 lead.
Middle Tennessee carried that momentum into the second quarter, as they scored two more touchdowns; a seven-yard touchdown pass from Nick Vattiato to Myles Butler and a 10-yard rush by running back Jaiden Credle to take a 21-0 lead.
MTSU’s early success against Tech was due in part to the team taking what they’ve learned in the classroom to the grass, Mason said.
“Those things that we saw early in the game we were able to adapt and adjust to,” Mason said. “It led to scores, it led to stops, and it gave us some momentum early enough in the ball game where we felt like we had a great opportunity to start pushing the envelope a little bit.”
Outline for success
The Blue Raiders certainly didn’t play well throughout the game’s entirety, but the early going held promising signs of things to come.
In the first half, a balanced offensive attack gashed Tennessee Tech and a stonewall Blue Raider defense allowed a mere five points in the first half. MTSU eventually fell into an offensive slump, and Tech quarterback Jordyn Potts carved up the secondary late, but the opening half may have offered a glimpse into what this Middle Tennessee team could look like down the road.
MTSU particularly found success in the quick pass game. On passes at or behind the line of scrimmage, Vattiato attempted five passes with five completions, equaling 36 total yards; good for an average of 7.2 yards per completion. For the offense to have consistent success, the Blue Raiders will have to continue to implement the quick game into their passing playbook.
“Whenever we’re getting attacked on the line of scrimmage like that, we have to get the ball on the perimeter,” Mason said. “I think every time we threw a running back perimeter screen it went for like 10 yards. So, you could’ve probably spit it out there on the perimeter all day with receiver screens and running back screens, because if they want to load the box like that then there’s just not enough guys to bring you down.”
When it mattered most
Late in the game, MTSU found itself trailing for the first time all night. After only managing three points in the second half, the offense found its footing once again. Junior wide receiver Omari Kelly finally made his presence known in the last minute of the contest. Kelly’s second catch of the drive, fourth of the night, came on a make or break fourth and five at midfield. Vattiato fired over the middle of the field to the Auburn transfer for a game extending first down. Vattiato’s poise in such a tense moment, won’t be soon forgotten by his head coach.
“I just think this kid’s a special talent,” Mason said of Vattiato’s late game heroics. “We do have to keep him upright, but I think there’s other things that we can do to make sure that we spread it around that we get the ball in our playmaker’s hands because we’ve got way too many playmakers not to make sure we spread the love.”
Middle Tennessee’s late fourth and five conversion proved to be the back breaker for Tennessee Tech. Running back Frank Peasant roared in for the game winning touchdown with 16 seconds to play, sealing the victory for the Blue Raiders. Getting a walk off touchdown was something that he had always wanted, Peasant said.
“It was very exciting for my teammates, very exciting for me,” Peasant said of his winning touchdown. “It was a great feeling.”
Negatives
Offense, where art thou?
The efficient Middle Tennessee offense that scored a touchdown on each of their first three possessions was nowhere to be found in the second half until the final drive following a safety by Tennessee Tech late in the first half. After Credle scored to put the Blue Raiders ahead by 21, nearly 30 minutes of game time passed before senior kicker Zeke Rankin put Middle Tennessee on the board again.
MTSU’s rushing attack became nonexistent in the third quarter. The Golden Eagle defense adjusted at half and held Middle Tennessee to 18 rushing yards on seven attempts in the third quarter. When Tech neutralized the conservative run game of MTSU, the lead began to shrink. Tennessee Tech bet hard on MTSU running the ball by stacking the box and the Blue Raiders missed opportunities to capitalize on it, Mason said.
“We just have to learn how to roll this thing over and make sure that we can flip the momentum,” Mason said. “But we didn’t. It just seemed like we stalled, and we became stagnant.”
Losing a centerpiece
Injuries are a constant in football, which is why coaches consistently preach the “next man up” mentality. On Saturday, Middle Tennessee fell victim to the injury bug, losing a crucial piece to the team’s offensive line. Eight seconds into the fourth quarter, MTSU starting center Julius Pierce went down due to injury. Medical staff brought the cart onto the field and took Pierce to the locker room with an air cast on his right leg.
At this time there has been no official announcement on Piece’s status for the rest of the season, but the initial indication for the graduate student based off of the cast and cart, is not a good one.
“We had a couple of losses injury wise in this ball game so I hope we can get some of these guys back as we get ready to turn the corner and to play Ole Miss,” Mason said in his opening postgame remarks.
Airial assault
The Blue Raider defense bullied Tennessee Tech on rush attempts, holding the Golden Eagles to 67 yards on the ground. The same cannot be said for the passing attempts, however.
Early in the second quarter, Tennessee Tech starting quarterback Dylan Laible went down with injury after a James Gillespie sack. Sophomore signal caller Potts replaced Laible and provided a spark for the offense. Defensive coordinator Brian Stewart’s defense had no answers for Potts and company in the second half with prominent starters Tyrell Raby and De’Arre McDonald battling through and succumbing to injury.
The Blue Raiders forced one turnover, an interception by starting free safety John Howse IV, but it was against the original starter in Laible.
“We had to make some sideline adjustments,” Howse said when asked what made guarding Potts more difficult. “Just figure out what we can do to stop it. I feel like we prepared well for that.”
The defense played well enough against Potts early; only allowing three points in the second quarter. As he became more comfortable though, his numbers increased, as did the production of the Tech offense. MTSU’s defense played a phenomenal first half but was torched in the second half through the air.
Potts finished the night with 27 completions on 38 attempts for 256 yards and three touchdown passes.
Poor passing defense may prove detrimental next week, as the Blue Raiders travel to Oxford to face Ole Miss on Sept. 7. MTSU’s defense must flip the switch if it wants to hang with the Rebels in week two.
Brett Walker is the sports editor for MTSU Sidelines
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