However, Middle Tennessee’s night would end in horrific fashion when the team’s second half collapse against the Red Hawks of Miami (Ohio) led to a 35-21 loss.

It looked as though MTSU would have a chance to win the game until the fourth quarter saw three of the four Raider drives end in interceptions.

The Blue Raiders struck first in the game when senior Phillip Tanner ran the ball in from 18 yards out following a 27 yard pass completion from quarterback Dwight Dasher to receiver Sancho McDonald.

Miami responded immediately with a touchdown run of their own following after quarterback Austin Boucher’s screen pass to receiver Armand Robinson on third down was broken for 70 yards.

On the following Raider possession Dwight Dasher dropped back to pass on a third and five play before running up the middle untouched for a 51 yard touchdown run.

Just like the previous Middle Tennessee score, the Red hawks responded quickly, following a 40 yard Boucher pass with a 3-yard touchdown rush from running back Thomas Merriweather.

After back-to-back scoring drives in the first quarter the Raider offense stalled for the remainder of the half. The next three possessions for Middle ended in three and outs.

It looked as though Miami would enter halftime with the lead in the game after driving down field to a first and 10 inside on the Middle Tennessee 18 yard line. The defense was able to keep things tied at 14 when junior cornerback T.L. Edwards stepped in front of a pass at the goal line for the first interception of his career.

The third quarter provided viewers with the most unpredictable stretch of play from the game. It started when the Raiders committed back-to-back penalties to create a first and 23 for the offense.

Following the penalties, on third and long, Dasher threw a pass down the middle of the field that hung up in the air before being intercepted by Dayonne Nunley who returned the ball for a touchdown.

On the next Blue Raider possession Tanner took a handoff and was hit almost immediately. After a brief shuffle Tanner emerged from a group of Red Hawk player and ran unobstructed to the end zone for a 54-yard score.

The very next Miami play saw Middle’s Kevin Brown intercept the ball at the Red Hawk 42. The Blue Raider’s ensuing play saw Malcolm Beyah fumble a quick pass from Dasher. The quarter also saw a punt by Miami that went out of bounds after going only one yard.

Miami took a lead going into the fourth quarter after Boucher completed a 17-yard pass after scrambling away from pressure at the Raider 17.

In the game’s final quarter the Blue Raider offense completely fell apart. It began with Dasher’s second interception.

Middle Tennessee’s senior defensive end Jarrett Crittenton was able to block a field goal attempt by the Red Hawks to give the offense solid field position with the ball on the Raider 44.

Unable to capitalize on the block, Middle’s offense went three and out. Miami regained momentum in the game and drove the ball 71 yards to take a two-touchdown advantage.

With 5:25 remaining in the game the Blue Raiders took over with tall task ahead of them. However, the team was not up to the challenge. The team had two late drives in the quarter, both ending in interceptions.

Dasher’s play was strikingly different from last season’s record-breaking performance in the New Orleans Bowl of 201 rushing yards. His four interceptions gave him 18 for a season in which he missed four games for a suspension and tied him for second most in a single season for a Raider quarterback.

Tanner’s 121 all-purpose yards did make him just the 12^th Raider to top the 3,000 yard mark in a career. His 87 rushing yards also made him the 12^th to the 2,000 mark.