Coming off win over Miami, MTSU football rally comes up short against UTSA
Middle Tennessee State was unable to carry the momentum it gained after beating No. 25 Miami last week but was able to give defending Conference USA champion Texas-San Antonio a scare before falling 45-30 Friday night before a Floyd Stadium crowd of 15,020.
After falling behind 38-20 late in the third quarter MTSU (3-2, 0-1) rallied and scored a touchdown and field goal over a span of three minutes.
MTSU cornerback Decorian Patterson came up with his second interception midway through the fourth quarter and set the Blue Raiders up for what could have been the game-tying drive at their own 13. The drive, however, stalled at midfield.
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"Everybody was picking each other up on the sideline," MTSU defensive tackle Zaylin Wood said. "We believed we could get back in the game and keep getting back in the game and help the offense out."
The Roadrunners (3-2, 1-0) sealed the victory with a 26-yard touchdown run by Brenden Brady with 1:32 remaining.
Defense to the rescue
With MTSU barely hanging on early in the fourth quarter the Blue Raiders came up with their biggest defensive play.
Defensive tackle Jordan Branch intercepted UTSA quarterback Frank Harris at the Roadrunners' 37 and raced into the end zone.
Harris was the only Roadrunner who had a shot at stopping the 6-foot, 276-pound Branch and Branch stiff-armed him near the goal line as he scored. It trimmed UTSA's lead to 38-30.
The defense came up big again on USTA's next possession.
Cornerback Decorian Patterson, who sat out the second quarter with an injured shoulder, made his second interception. He jumped high in the air and came down with a long pass intended for Zakhari Frankin at the MTSU 13 with 7:03 remaining.
"We fought our guts out," coach Rick Stockstill said. "We didn't play real good in the first half defensively; gave up too many explosive plays. We kept fighting and got it to a one score game with a handful of minutes left. We just couldn't get one more stop."
Patterson's first interception came when he picked off Harris late in the third quarter at the MTSU 1-yard line.
That set up an 88-yard Blue Raiders' drive capped by Zeke Rankin's third field goal (28 yards).
Help for Cunningham
Quarterback Chase Cunningham accounted for 139 of MTSU's first 155 yards. Cunningham had 118 passing yards and 21 rushing.
He finally got some help early in the second quarter when Darius Bracey broke free up the middle on a 53-yard touchdown run. It was the longest run of Bracey's career.
"I have to give the offensive line credit because when I make a big run like that I just kind of blackout," Bracey said. "All I know is I ran through the line and it just opened up."
Bracey transferred this season from Central Michigan. His longest run there was 48 yards against Missouri.
Bracey, who backs up starting running back Frank Peasant, came into the game with only 44 yards on 19 carries.
Another QB show
In the win over Miami, Cunningham staged one of the best offensive performances in the nation throwing for 408 yards and three touchdowns.
Friday night Harris had an even bigger game.
The 2021 Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award semifinalist completed 27-of-36 passes for 414 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions.
Cunningham wasn't bad. He completed 35-of-56 for 368 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. That tied the MTSU record for passing attempts held by Brent Stockstill (2015 vs. Louisiana Tech).
Cunningham's favorite receiver Jaylin Lane had a career-high 179 receiving yards on 10 catches.
A different start
MTSU jumped to a surprising 17-3 first quarter lead Miami. It set the tone for the rest of the game.
The Blue Raiders struggled to get going Friday night and fell behind 17-7. It also set the tone.
The offense was unable to into a rhythm early while UTSA struck fast.
The Roadrunners scored on their fourth offensive play - a 43-yard touchdown pass from Harris to Franklin - and added a short field goal on their second possession.
After MTSU's first touchdown early in the second quarter, UTSA answered less than two minutes later when Harris found Franklin again, this time for a 28-yard touchdowns.
Harris completed 13 of his first 15 passes for 253 yards.
When a safety is not a safety
Late in the first half with UTSA backed up deep in its own territory it appeared MTSU scored a safety when Wood pulled Harris down in the end zone.
As Harris struggled to find an open receiver Wood tackled him and both players landed in UTSA's end zone.
Officials, however, ruled Harris was down at the one-half yard line.
The Blue Raiders managed to get something out of the defensive stand. After forcing UTSA's Lucas Dean to punt from deep in his own end zone Lane returned it 26 yards to the Roadrunners' 41.
Six plays later Rankin added his second field goal (33 yards) to trim USTA's halftime lead to 31-20.
Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on Twitter @MikeOrganWriter.
This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Coming off Miami win MTSU football rally comes up short against UTSA
