Blue Raiders Fall 55-0 at Kansas in Final Non-Conference Game
LAWRENCE, KS - Middle Tennessee football (2-3, 0-1 CUSA) dropped its final non-conference contest of the season, falling 55-0 to the Kansas Jayhawks (2-2) on Saturday afternoon at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.
The Blue Raider defense started solidly, holding Kansas to a 3-0 lead after the first quarter on a 43-yard field goal. Kansas found its rhythm in the second quarter, adding 17 points to take a 20-0 halftime advantage. The Jayhawks continued to pour it on after the break, outscoring MTSU 35-0 in the second half.
Kansas dominated on the ground, racking up 480 rushing yards with two 100-yard performers. Middle Tennessee managed just 55 yards rushing as a team. Antonio Martin Jr. led the Blue Raiders with 40 yards on the ground.
Through the air, redshirt sophomore quarterback Roman Gagliano completed 9 of 26 passes for 81 yards with no interceptions. Freshman wide receiver Ziyon Butler paced the receiving corps with two catches for 44 yards, including a career-long 36-yard reception in the fourth quarter. Cam’ron Lacy added two receptions.
Defensively, Jackson Lowe and Ashton Taylor each recorded nine tackles to share the team lead. Lowe added a tackle for loss and a pass breakup, while Taylor posted six solo stops. Jayson Lowe contributed eight tackles, including his first career tackle for loss.
Special teams provided bright spots. Redshirt senior punter Ashton Logan launched a 76-yard punt in the fourth quarter—the longest of his collegiate career and the fifth-longest in program history. Logan averaged 51.8 yards per punt and boomed four punts of 50-plus yards for the second consecutive game. Wide receiver/kick returner Santana Fleming led the Blue Raiders in all-purpose yards with two kick returns, including a 52-yarder in the second quarter that helped him average 45 yards per return.
The game marked MTSU’s first-ever football contest in the state of Kansas and its first matchup against a Big 12 opponent since 2006. The Blue Raiders were held under 100 passing yards for the first time since Nov. 29, 2014. Lacy extended his reception streak to 13 consecutive games, while Gagliano recorded his seventh start without an interception in just eight career starts.
Middle Tennessee now enters its bye week before opening a stretch of Conference USA play at home against Delaware on Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 6 p.m. inside Floyd Stadium.
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