| MTSU solves the FAU puzzle utilizing several Options
With MTSU starting off the game with a return to the 39 yard line of the Owls, the momentum for the Blue Raiders went on, stacking up yards through lateral passes and rushes up the middle.
Play action for the fleet of foot during the first possession, with a final pass for a touchdown to Malcolm Billa, via Logan Kilgore for MTSU set the tone on the first possession.
The Owls Quarterback Graham Wilbert was good on several passes from the play action and in the flat, where he threw two for 25 yards to DeAndre Richardson.
Due to a penalty from fourth and 6”, the Owls backed up 5 yards which turned it into 4th and 6 yards. The Blue Raiders drew the foul, a much often maligned trick, bringing out the special teams and punter Mickey Groody.
Tyler Mason was one Blue Raider to watch, with stealthy runs out in the flat and on the sweep. Devar Jefferson also added yards to the MTSU total with a 20 yard scamper and down field catch . With the conversion, Andrew Banks scored his first career touchdown on that same possession.
Graham Wilbert was going to the deep pass late in the first quarter, pushing his team into the second quarter.. Xavier Stinson made his first reception for an FAU first down over the top at midfield.
Stinson was especially stellar today, on the rush and in the air, catching four balls for 20 yards and rushing three times for seven yards.
On Alfred Morris' first touch, he gained six yards just before the end of the quarter and found himself on the positive end of qualifying rushes on the credit side of the ledger.
MTSU total yards at the end of the first quarter was 211 to FAU's 32. Subsequent to the first play, FAU coughed up the ball but was collected by an FAU lineman, deleting any change of possession.
With Kilgore, Pratcher and Beyah taking on the lions share of duties on offense, all MTSU needed was a nice effort from their defense to shut the Owls down completely.
Instead FAU scored a touchdown in the second quarter and seven in the fourth and final quarter. MTSU compiled 10 more first down than the Owls in the tilt.
Add to that, a 479 yard effort for the Blue Raiders, while the Owls scored 276. With MTSU piling up 479 yards on offense, nearly double of what the Owls put up, the layers of the production began to show significant differences.
On the ground, MTSU had 13 more attempts on the rush than FAU. Graham Wilbert was showing a yeoman’s effort on his passes, hand offs and runs out of the pocket. He passed for 104 yards during the game.
Second string Quarterback for the Owls was Steven Curtis, who passed for 31 yards. Meanwhile Alfred Morris ran for 153 yards, an average 8.5 yards per carry. The receiving corps, and the distribution of the ball was well below three digits and did not have one specific target blocked out.
Special teams was a bright spot as Keith Reaser and Brian Harsted each collected an interception. MTSU on the other hand intercepted only one but returned the catch for 64 yards.
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