MTSU football loses fifth straight game to Western Kentucky after lackluster start
BOWLING GREEN, Ky – Middle Tennessee State football dropped its Conference USA opener on the road at rival Western Kentucky, 31-10, Thursday.
MTSU (1-4, 0-1 CUSA) had plenty of opportunities in the second half after a slow first half but failed to convert on many. Western Kentucky (3-2, 1-0) did most of its damage in the first half, building a 23-3 lead.
"We did some good things, but not consistent enough on either side of the ball to get a win against a good team like them," MTSU coach Rick Stockstill said. It was disappointing, frustrating. But there's a lot of games left. A lot of conference left."
Here are things we learned about MTSU's second consecutive loss:
MTSU drought vs. Hilltoppers continues
Western Kentucky’s win was its fifth straight in the heated rivalry, nicknamed “100 Miles of Hate.”
The last three haven’t been very close.
The Hilltoppers have now outscored MTSU 114-48 over the past three meetings, after winning 48-21 in 2021 and 35-17 in 2022.
Western Kentucky leads the overall series 37-35-1.
A 29-10 victory at home in 2018 was the last win for MTSU over WKU. The last time the Blue Raiders won in Bowling Green was 2012.
Missed opportunities plague strong second half for MTSU
After a miserable first half for MTSU, the Blue Raiders showed signs of life in the second half, gaining more than 250 yards. The Blue Raiders scored on a 16-yard run by Frank Peasant to cap a 15-play, 75-yard drive to open the third quarter.
It was the first sustained drive of the game for MTSU, which drove inside the WKU 5-yard line earlier in the game, thanks in large part to a 40-yard completion.
MTSU then drove down to the WKU 3 on its next possession but failed to convert on a fourth-and-goal from there.
Then, after moving across midfield on the third possession of the half, MTSU QB Nick Vattiato threw his first interception on a ball that was tipped at the line of scrimmage. The Raiders then turned it over on downs on the following possession after crossing midfield and threw another interception after driving inside the WKU 25 later.
Vattiato was 27 of 46 for 252 yards and the two interceptions. Frank Peasant rushed for 76 yards and had the lone Raider TD.
"We just stuck to the running game," Peasant said, of the offense's second-half success. "We just kept pounding the ball and the running backs kept finding the gaps."
WKU offensive line handles MTSU pressure
MTSU’s defensive front had done a good job pressuring opposing quarterbacks, including vs. Alabama and Missouri.
However, Western Kentucky quarterback Austin Reed used a combination of solid protection and quick passes to neutralize the Blue Raiders.
"I think we got good pressure and great pressure," said MTSU safety Tra Fluellen, who had an interception. "We knew he was going to get the ball out fast. We put our guys to the test."
Reed had 31 passing attempts in just the first half. He finished 30 of 52 for 297 yards and two touchdowns. He was not sacked, hurried just once and turned the ball over once on an interception.
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MTSU offense ineffective in first half
Despite playing a team that had allowed 500 yards (220 on the ground) a game entering the game, MTSU’s offense could get nothing going early.
That is, other than a negated 72-yard touchdown strike from Nick Vattiato to Elijah Metcalf on the third play of the first offensive drive. It was called back on a holding penalty and MTSU eventually went three-and-out on their first three possessions.
MTSU mustered just 124 yards in the first half – 23 of those on a run by Jaiden Credle on the last play of the second quarter when Western Kentucky was in a prevent. That resulted in just three points on the scoreboard and a 20-point halftime deficit.
The Blue Raiders managed just 29 yards in the first half.
This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: MTSU football loses fifth straight game to CUSA rival Western Kentucky
