MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee football suffocated the opposition on Tuesday night in Floyd Stadium, limiting the Kennesaw State offense to just a field goal in a 14-5 win in Conference USA play. 

After the Blue Raiders (2-5, 1-2 CUSA) stuffed Kennesaw State (0-6, 0-2 CUSA) on the goal line on the Owls' first drive, the visitors promptly returned the favor by tackling Jekail Middlebrook in the end zone for a safety to opening the scoring. MTSU, however, was able to force a KSU punt on the ensuing drive and put together a strong drive down the field, going 80 yards in eight plays to score a touchdown on short run from Middlebrook to take a 7-2 lead.  

A scoreless second quarter kept lead at 7-2 for MTSU at the half, a scoreline that didn't change until Omari Kelly fielded a punt off the bounce at the MTSU 39 late in the third quarter, sprinting past a parliament of Owls for a 61-yard punt return touchdown. It was MTSU's first punt return score since 2021 and stretched the Blue Raiders' lead to 14-2.  

While the Owls moved the ball well to eventually convert a 37-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter, tight coverage and strong pressure forced myriad incompletions in KSU's comeback attempt while MTSU kept the ball moving well enough to ice the clock away most of the fourth quarter.  

Parker Hughes led the Blue Raiders with seven tackles on the night. Anthony Bynum followed closely behind with six total tackles, including a sack and two TFLs. Nicholas Vattiato finished the night 19-for-24 for 199 yards in the air. Jaiden Credle, Jekail Middlebrook and Terry Wilkins combined for over 100 yards rushing from MTSU running backs, including Middlebrooks' first quarter touchdown.  

By the Numbers 
149: Junior Omari Kelly logged 149 all-purpose yards, including 77 receiving yards on six receptions and 72 punt return yards. 

2: The Blue Raider defense recorded a pair of interceptions on the night. This marked the first game with multiple interceptions on the year for MTSU. 

5: The last time Middle Tennessee held an opponent to five or less points was against UAB in 2018. The Blue Raiders held the Blazers to just a field goal that day.
 

Blue Raider Notes  

• Today's game marks the first home midweek game of the season for the Blue Raiders. 

• Since Conference USA moved to midweek October games, Middle Tennessee is 2-4 in midweek contests.  

• R-Freshman Gamarion Carter recorded his first career start against Kennesaw State. 

• Today's game marks the first time this season the Blue Raider defense has recorded multiple interceptions.  

• MTSU has 49 total interceptions over the last four years combined. They had 17 in 2021, 20 in 2022, eight in 2023 and four in 2024. 

• Omari Kelly logged the first punt return for a touchdown by a Blue Raider since Jaylin Lane on Sep. 4, 2021, against Monmouth.
   

Offensive Player Notes 

#1 | Omari Kelly| WR | Jr. 

• Tallied 149 all-purpose yards, including 77 receiving yards on six receptions and 72 punt return yards. 

• Logged his first career punt return for a touchdown. 

#11 | Nick Vattiato | QB | r-Jr. 

• Made his team-leading 19th straight start today against Kennesaw State. 

• Finished 19-for-34 for 199 yards. 

#83 | Holden Willis| TE | r-Sr. 

• Tallied 92 yards on eight receptions.
   

Defensive Player Notes 

#0 | De'Arre McDonald | DB | r-Sr. 

• Recorded his first career interception against Kennesaw State. 

#6 | Marvae Myers | S | Gr. 

• Registered three tackles, including three solo stops, an interception and a pass break up. 

• Logged his first interception on the season – third of his career. 

#40 | Anthony Bynum | DE | r-Fr. 

• Posted a career-high six tackles, including three solo stops, a pair of tackles for loss and a sack. 

#92 | Damonte Smith | DE | r-jr. 

• Notched a career-high six tackles, including a solo stop.   

Thoughts from Head Coach Derek Mason  
"First of all, hats off to Coach Bohannon and his football team. Kennesaw State is a tough football team. Our guys fought hard tonight. Defensively, we came to play. It's exciting, excited for our first conference win. We needed it in the worst way coming off a short week. I really believed that our guys learned some things about themselves tonight.    

"Nicholas Vattiato woke up at 2 a.m., dead sick. I didn't even think he was going to play. We couldn't stop him from not playing. That's what's crazy. That's what we need, that's what we have. You need leadership when leadership is called for. To see him come and play was pretty cool for those guys in that locker room. 

"Defensively, it was nice to see those guys to bounce back after a tough week, especially on a short week trying to play triple option, which is something you haven't seen all year. Twenty guys had tackles tonight...it was called a mind your business game. Everybody had to mind their business and do their job. I thought they did a good job of doing that collectively." 

Up Next   

The Blue Raiders play their final #MidweekCUSA game of the season on Wednesday, October 23, traveling south to Jacksonville, Ala. to take on the Jacksonville State Gamecocks. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPN2 and the Blue Raider Network.