FINAL: Jacksonville State 24, Middle Tennessee 21

MTSU’s (1-7, 0-4 CUSA) pursuit for its first conference win of the season falls short once again as Jacksonville State (5-3, 4-0 CUSA) proves to be too much for the Blue Raiders with 17 fourth-quarter points propelling them to victory.

Middle Tennessee will stay home for its next matchup, as Florida International (3-4, 1-2 CUSA) heads to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, for a conference clash.

Stay tuned for final stats and postgame coverage.

Q4 1:11 TURNOVER ON DOWNS

Three incompletions and a pass for negative yardage will end the Blue Raiders’ night. With one timeout remaining, Jax State will look to run out the clock.

Q4 1:53

Middlebrook calls for a fair catch at the MTSU 48-yard line. Trailing by three, the offense has one timeout on what will likely be a drive to decide the game.

Q4 2:00

MTSU has burned two of three timeouts, but has Jax State at fourth and three with the ball on its own 12-yard line. Appears that the Gamecocks’ punt team will come on the field after the two-minute timeout.

Q4 2:42

The Blue Raiders are forced to punt on fourth and 25 after three straight Vattiato incompletions cause the offense to sputter at midfield. Jax State will take over at its own five-yard line. MTSU has all three timeouts available.

Q4 7:45 TOUCHDOWN

MTSU takes the lead once again, with Middlebrook stealing the show on offense in the last two plays. After securing a 34-yard gain on a pass from Vattiato, the redshirt sophomore ran it nine yards to the house to put the Blue Raiders up once again.

Extra point from Jacob Hathaway is good, and Middle Tennessee leads 21-17.

Q4 10:06 TOUCHDOWN

After originally being called incomplete on the field, replay review overturns and gives Jax State a touchdown on a 30-yard pass from Creel to Johnson. It appeared that Johnson bobbled the ball while his left foot was down on the initial call.

Extra point from Rippa is good, Jax State leads 17-14.

Q4 13:35- FIELD GOAL

After two blown-up plays to start the fourth quarter, including Creel falling victim to the turf monster in the pocket, the Gamecocks are pushed back to the 30-yard line on fourth down. Kicker Garrison Rippa is good from 47 yards, and Jax State now trails Middle Tennessee 14-10.

END Q3, MTSU LEADS 14-7

Middle Tennessee takes its second lead of the night after finishing an 80-yard drive in the endzone with Vattiato finding Middlebrook from two yards out, and extended the lead with a successful two point conversion.

Jax State will begin the fourth quarter with the ball on MTSU’s 13-yard line, after a 14-yard tunnel screen from Creel to Brock Rechsteiner set the Gamecocks up in the red zone.

Q3 5:32 TOUCHDOWN

MTSU finishes a methodical, five and a half minute drive with Jekail Middlebrook finding blue turf for a score on a two-yard pass from Vattiato. The Blue Raiders go for two, and convert with Vattiato finding tight end Hunter Tipton in the back of the endzone. Tipton came up big with a 28-yard catch on third and 12.

Middle Tennessee leads Jax State 14-12 in the third quarter.

Q3 11:06- MTSU’s defense comes out of the break and forces a stop, after allowing a fourth-down conversion earlier in the drive. The Blue Raider offense will take over on its own 20-yard line.

HALFTIME, Jax State 7 MTSU 6

A touchdown apiece for each offense in the first half, with Taylor picking up his first career touchdown for the Blue Raiders in the first quarter. Jax State found paydirt in the second quarter, with Wimsatt finding Johnson for 56 yards.

The Gamecocks will receive to begin the second half.

MTSU Stats

Total yards: 141

Pass yards: 102

Rush yards: 39

Turnovers: 1

Sacks: 0

Jax State Stats

Total yards: 163

Pass yards: 103

Rush yards: 60

Turnovers: 0

Sacks: 1

Q2 0:00- Review determined that Nix was out of bounds on the return, prior to the illegal forward pass. Jax State heads into halftime leading MTSU 7-6.

Q2 o:00- Vattiato’s Hail Mary attempt to end the half is intercepted by Caleb Nix around the five-yard line. Nix had a lengthy return, and Jax State ended up in the end zone. The play is currently under review, looking at an illegal forward pass.

Q2 1:27- MTSU’s defense forced a Jax State punt, giving the offense a chance with under 90 seconds to play in the second half. Vattiato and the offense will take over on its own 22-yard line. Linebacker Reggie Johnson made a solid tackle on third down to force the punt.

Q2 7:25- TOUCHDOWN

Jax State takes the lead on a 56-yard strike as Gavin Wimsatt finds six-foot-eight wideout Deondre Johnson for six points. The extra point from Garrison Rippa is good, and Jax State leads 7-6.

Q2 14:37- After originally calling a Caden Creel scramble a first down on fourth and four, the call on the field has been overturned. Replay determined the spot of the ball, and the chain gang showed the spot was short.

MTSU’s offense will take over on its own 39-yard line.

END Q1

After trading four punts to start the night, MTSU gets on the board after Vattiato found Taylor for his first career touchdown to finish off a seven play, 54-yard drive. Jax State will be faced with fourth and four from the MTSU 42-yard line to begin the second quarter.

Q1 4:05- TOUCHDOWN 

Freshman running back DJ Taylor hauls in his first career touchdown from Nick Vattiato on a ten-yard reception on a swing pass out of the backfield. The extra point is no good due to a fumble on the play. Middle Tennessee leads 6-0.

Q1 7:16- The Blue Raiders’ defense has started strong against Jax State, forcing two straight three-and-outs. MTSU will begin its third drive of the game on its own 46-yard line.

Q1 12:59- Jax State forces and three-and-out on MTSU’s first drive of the game. The Gamecocks’ offense will take the field for the first time tonight, led by CUSA rushing leader Cam Cook.

Jax State has won the toss and elected to defer to the second half. Middle Tennessee will receive to begin the game.