MTSU football trying to rebound against North Texas on The Murfreesboro Post

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MTSU football trying to rebound against North Texas

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By: JOSH EZZELL, Staff Writer

Posted: Friday, September 29, 2006 12:29 pm

MTSU will try to forget a brutal 59-0 thumping this week and get back on the winning track.

Doing so, however, will require the Blue Raiders doing something they've never done before — beat North Texas. MTSU (2-2, 1-0 in the Sun Belt Conference) is 0-5 all time against the Mean Green (1-3, 0-0), which lost 33-13 to Akron last week and endured a 56-7 beatdown at defending national champion Texas to start the season. The two squads meet at 6:05 p.m. Saturday at Fouts Field.

"I understand the importance of this game, not because we have never beaten them but because it's a big conference game," MTSU head coach Rick Stockstill said. "This team has never lost to North Texas. It's a different team than last year or the one before, etc. There is no ulterior motive to this game other than it is a big conference game."

North Texas has made a habit of hurting MTSU. In 2001 the Blue Raiders and Mean Green shared the conference title, but North Texas played in the New Orleans Bowl despite a losing record because it defeated MTSU.

Last season North Texas defeated MTSU 14-7 despite being outgained 383-274. In that game MTSU committed five turnovers — North Texas had no giveaways — and linebacker Mean Green Maurice Holman returned an interception 99 yards for a touchdown, negating a scoring opportunity for the Blue Raiders and tying the game at 7. MTSU has committed 17 turnovers in five games against North Texas.

"We are approaching this game as one game," Stockstill said. "If we win it we are 2-0, and if we lose it we are 1-1. We are not going to put any pressure on this team that we have to win or we have no chance to win the conference."

This game might not be one for those who love offensive fireworks. MTSU ranks 114th in total offense with 223 yards per game and averages only 3.91 yards per game. North Texas is 117th out of 119 teams in total offense with 196 yards per game and 3.63 yards a play.

MTSU's scoring high is 44 points against I-AA Tennessee Tech. Against I-A opponents MTSU averages only 5.6 points per game and has netted double digits only once.

"It all goes back to practice," MTSU junior tight end Clint Corder said of MTSU's offense. "You practice how you play. It makes sense. We had a pretty good fall camp. We've got to come out and execute."

What MTSU's got to do is eliminate turnovers. Last week the Blue Raiders committed five turnovers — four in the first half — and tallied only 95 yards, which was the lowest total since 1998 when MTSU lost to Illinois.

"We did some things that cost us and gave them some easy shots," Stockstill said of committing turnovers against Oklahoma. "We have to correct our mistakes. We probably gave up 21 points or 24 in the kicking game. We threw an interception for a touchdown. We did enough to beat ourselves in a normal game, but then playing Oklahoma, that was a good football team, and that will prove out through the season."

Senior running back Eugene Gross leads the MTSU rushing attack with 165 yards on 49 carries, which is good for 3.4 yards per carry. Senior quarterback Clint Marks is 45-of-87 for 441 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions.

Jamario Thomas leads the North Texas rushing attack with 281 yards on 41 carries, which is good for 4.0 yards a carry. Woody Wilson, who's 32-of-50 through the air, leads the Mean Green passing game with 322 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions.

"North Texas is a big game, but we treat every game the same," MTSU sophomore defensive lineman Trevor Jenkins said of playing North Texas. "We don't have highs or lows because it's about one game at a time. I love the rivalries and the conference games, but coach Stock is teaching us to treat every game like a rival game, and then everything takes care of itself."

Jenkins has been solid defensively for MTSU with two tackles for loss against Tennessee Tech and Oklahoma. Junior linebacker J.K. Sabb leads MTSU's defense with 27 stops and 8.5 tackles for loss.

The Blue Raiders venture out of conference next week to play No. 8 Louisville.

Tagged under Blue Raiders, Football, MTSU

Member Opinions:

By: DMW37128 on 9/30/06
Stockstill was told to win the first opening home game. DONE!

Stockstill was told to beat NT.
So far Saturday Night, late - DONE.

Stockstill was told to get MT to the New Orleans Bowl.
It is coming. Just imagine when he gets his own recruits in the house, and gets MT back to full scholarship.
Could not be more proud!

By: opnsgreg on 9/30/06
Middle is simply dominating NT. Defense let up for a couple of plays in the 4th then brought back the pressure and stopped the drive, almost as if Middle wanted to prove they controlled where NT drove. One of the best performances I've seen by a football team in a while (although it's still 9 min left as I type)