Senior running back Philip Tanner led MTSU’s offensive attack with three touchdown runs. The Blue Raider offense had a total of 97 plays and 654 yards on the night. The 97 plays broke a school record that was set way back in October 1987.

The 654 total offense yards is third most in school history. That was the good news for the offense but the offense also committed five turnovers, including three fumbles. New starting quarterback junior Jeff Murphy also threw two interceptions.

In fairness, Murphy had only been on campus since July and he was pushed into the starting role after sophomore Logan Kilgore was ruled out late in the week because of an injury. Murphy was pretty hard on himself after the win.

“I thought it was average, if that,” Murphy said of his performance. “I did some good things, but there are a lot of things I didn’t do that well.” He added he needed to improve on his turnovers, but felt like he made some good reads.

Murphy finished the game by going 23 for 36 for 301 yards passing. He also added 67 rushing yards on the ground, including an 11-yard score in the second quarter.

Tanner, who is regarded as a team leader, praised MTSU’s new single caller on his attitude.

“He (Murphy) came in and played well,” Tanner said. “What I liked most is he overcame adversity. Not the plays that he made, but after fumbling the ball. He didn’t hang his head. He showed me that when he came back in he was going to keep playing. That won me over after he fumbled; he didn’t crawl into a shell and not want to play anymore.”

Head coach Rick Stockstill said after the game, he might hear something on suspended senior quarterback Dwight Dasher this week. Also, he will evaluate Kilgore’s injury heading into this week’s contest at Memphis.

Tanner rushed for 129 yards in the win and his three touchdowns tied him for ninth place all-time in school history with a career total 24 on the ground. Fellow running backs, junior D.D. Kyles scored twice and sophomore Benjamin Cunningham added one of his own and the Blue Raiders had a total of 353 yards rushing.

The defense also made some plays, including junior Darin Davis’ first career interception, which he turned into a 38-yard touchdown in the opening quarter.

“It was fun to get into the end zone,” Davis said after the game. “I have been dreaming about it, but it never happened. To get in the end zone for the first time in college is a remarkable feeling.”

Stockstill said he was disappointed at times with the defense’s performance. However, he added MTSU has been fighting the injury bug up front.

“We have a long way to go offensively and defensively before we can say we are a good football team,” Stockstill said.

The Blue Raiders head to Memphis on Saturday. The Tigers last win against MTSU came in 1954.

David hunter can be contacted at sports@murfreesboropost.com.