Middle Tennessee football kept things interesting through one half at AmFirst Stadium but could not slow down the tempo offense of Jacksonville State enough in the second half to pull out a result, losing to the hosts 42-20 on Wednesday night in Conference USA play.
The Blue Raiders (2-6, 1-3 CUSA) got off to a red hot start on their very first drive, with a 13-yard run from Jaiden Credle setting the stage for a play-action pass on MTSU’s fourth play from scrimmage, where Holden Willis got behind every member of the defense for a 61-yard pitch and catch from Nicholas Vattiato to give the Blue Raiders an early 7-0 lead. The Gamecocks (4-3, 3-0 CUSA) responded with an even quicker drive, however, to tie the game at 7-7 with just over four minutes elapsed on the clock.
MTSU put together a 10-play drive that ended in a 47-yard field goal from Zeke Rankin to retake the lead, but Jax State kept their foot on the gas, capping off a 12-play, 75-yard drive with a four-yard touchdown run to give themselves a 14-10 lead that would hold through the end of the first quarter…