FINAL, MTSU wins 31-17 over SHSU

Middle Tennessee (2-9, 1-6 CUSA) takes down Sam Houston (2-9, 1-6 CUSA) on senior night after rattling after 31 unanswered points. The Blue Raiders fell behind early, allowing 10 first quarter points before the offense woke up.

Roman Gagliano led the way with two rushing touchdowns and a passing touchdown to help prevent the first winless season in the history of Floyd Stadium, in his first start at home. MTSU’s defense stepped up big in the second half, allowing only seven second half rushing yards to the Bearkats.

MTSU will travel to Las Cruces, New Mexico for the team’s final game of the year against New Mexico State (3-7, 1-5 CUSA).

Stay tuned for postgame coverage.

Q4 0:45 INTERCEPTION MTSU

Parker Hughes caps off senior night with his second career interception in as many weeks. Gagliano and company will come out to knee out the clock.

Q4 0:53

Sam Houston attempts and recovers an onside kick. SHSU will have first and ten from its own 42.

Q4 0:55, TOUCHDOWN SHSU

SHSU’s Locke finds Reed from four yards out for a score. The point after is good and cuts the MTSU lead to 31-17.

This ends a streak of 31 unanswered points scored by the Blue Raiders.

Q4 2:10, TOUCHDOWN MTSU

Gagliano finds paydirt once again with his legs, tucking the ball and finding the endzone from two yards out. The extra point is good, and MTSU’s lead extends to 31-10.

Middle Tennessee looks well on its way to win number two of the season.

Q4 4:55, Turnover on downs SHSU

The Blue Raiders force an incomplete pass in the endzone after a fourth-and-nine attempt by Sam Houston from the MTSU 22. This game is by no means over, as SHSU has two timeouts as Middle Tennessee looks to salt away the last five minutes.

Q4 12:55, TOUCHDOWN MTSU

The Roman Gagliano show continues as the redshirt freshman scampers for a 33-yard score after being flushed out of the pocket on third and ten. Hathaway’s extra point is good and the Blue Raiders extend their lead to 24-10.

This is the first two score lead of the year for MTSU.

END 3, MTSU leads SHSU 17-10

Gagliano’s touchdown pass to Middlebrook has the Blue Raiders on top as this game heads into its final 15 minutes. MTSU is looking to avoid its first winless season at home in program history, and move out of last place in Conference USA.

Sam Houston has the ball with a second and 12 on the horizon from its own 41.

Q3 4:52

The Blue Raider defense forces a SHSU three-and-out, sending tons of pressure in the backfield against Locke. MTSU’s offense will take over on its own 26.

Q3 5:26 TOUCHDOWN MTSU

The Blue Raiders take the lead as Gagliano finds Middlebrook on a wheel route on the left side of the field from 19 yards out. Hathaway’s extra point is good to make it a 17-10 ball game.

Middlebrook’s reception finishes off a seven play, 82-yard drive that was helped by a pair of personal fouls against Sam Houston.

Q3 10:13

Jacob Hathaway is no good from 48 yards out as his kick falls short. Blue Raiders fail to come away with points on their opening drive of the second half.

Running back Jekail Middlebrook with a strong performance on the drive, with two 11 yard rushes to get MTSU into field goal territory. Sam Houston will take over on its own 30.

HALFTIME, MTSU AND SHSU TIED AT 10

After the Bearkats’ offense dominated the first quarter, MTSU and Gagliano have stepped up to knot things up at half. Hunt punched in the Blue Raiders lone touchdown of the night, while Hathaway knocked in a field goal to tie it right before halftime.

SHSU quarterback Landyn Locke found the wideout Reed for a 54-yard score, while the Bearkats are 1-for-2 on field goal attempts due to a snap going awry in the second quarter.

STATS:

MTSU:

Score: 10

Total yards: 199

Pass yards: 125

Rush yards: 74

Turnovers: 0

Sacks: 0

SHSU:

Score: 10

Total yards: 203

Pass yards: 131

Rush yards: 72

Turnovers: 0

Sacks: 0

Q2 0:29, FIELD GOAL MTSU

Jacob Hathaway is good from 27 yards out to tie things up at 10. Red zone woes strike the Blue Raiders once again, as they were unable to convert from first and goal on the SHSU six-yard line.

If the score holds, this will be the first time all season MTSU has not trailed at half.

Q2 2:16

The Blue Raider defense steps up once again after allowing one first down to the Bearkats offense. MTSU gets the ball on its 15 to begin a drive that will likely turn into a two-minute drill.

Q2 4:43

MTSU is forced to punt after having a 44-yard touchdown from Gagliano to Nahzae Cox called back to an offensive pass interference call against AJ Jones. Sam Houston’s offense will take over on its own four-yard line.

SHSU leads 10-7 over Middle Tennessee.

Q2 7:52

MTSU’s defense forces its first punt of the day on a three-and-out by Sam Houston. The Blue Raider offense will take over on its own 30-yard line.

Q2 9:45- TOUCHDOWN MTSU

Running back Rickey Hunt punches it in from one yard out for MTSU. It finishes off a 10-play, 77-yard drive that was highlighted by a 23-yard scramble by Gagliano.

This was Hunt’s first score as a Blue Raider after transferring in from Tulsa this offseason.

END 1- SHSU 10, MTSU 0

Through 15 minutes, the Blue Raider offense has looked anemic behind the redshirt freshman quarterback Gagliano who has only two passing yards.

The SHSU offense has found success with the true freshman Locke at quarterback. He has led two drives that have ended in field goal attempts, and found a touchdown on a 54 yard pass to Reed.

MTSU will begin the second quarter with second and five on its own 29-yard line.

Q1 0:26– Turnover on downs for MTSU

A bad snap on a field goal attempt from the MTSU 23-yard line for Sam Houston led to an incomplete pass on fourth and four.

Blue Raider offense will take over on its own 23-yard line.

Q1 4:19- MTSU’s offense goes three-and-out on its second drive of the game. Gagliano is struggling early in his second start, going 2-for-5 and two yards.

Q1 5:22, TOUCHDOWN SHSU

Locke finds Chris Reed streaking down the sideline for a 54-yard touchdown pass. The extra point is good to put the Bearkats up 10-0 in the first quarter.

Q1 8:53- After a SHSU pass interference call led to a Blue Raider first down near the midfield logo, MTSU’s offense stalled out over the next three plays. An Ashton Logan punt sets Sam Houston up to take over on its own seven-yard line.

Q1 11:04- FIELD GOAL SHSU

After Noble’s targeting penalty added 15 yards and a first down to extend Sam Houston’s drive, the Bearkats took advantage and put points on the board with a 38-yard field goal by Christian Pavon.

Freshman quarterback Landyn Locke went 2-for-4 on the drive with 14 passing yards.

Q1 14:04– Freshman safety Christofer Noble has been ejected on the third play of the game for targeting after a late hit on SHSU quarterback Landyn Locke.

First and ten for the Bearkats from the MTSU 44-yard line.

Pregame: MTSU wins the toss and defers to the second half. Sam Houston will receive to begin the game.