Clutch Playmaking and Record-Setting Kicking Lift MTSU Past FIU, 26-23

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Photos / MTSU Athletics

Terrence Brown Jr.'s career night and Dominic Bourgeois' historic leg propel the Blue Raiders over .500 in CUSA action.

MIAMI, FL - Middle Tennessee football earned a pivotal Conference USA road victory on Tuesday night, battling through a tight contest to edge past FIU 26-23. The win improves the Blue Raiders to 4-3 overall and 2-1 in CUSA play, pushing the program back over .500 on the season.

Head coach Derek Mason set a personal best for single-season victories at MTSU with the win, matching his highest single-season conference win total with five CUSA contests remaining. "To come on the road in a conference matchup and handle business down the stretch says a lot about this group," Mason said following the win.

Explosive Offense & Special Teams History

The Blue Raiders jumped into the scoring column in the first quarter when redshirt sophomore quarterback Roman Gagliano connected with tight end Brody Benke down the left sideline for a 30-yard touchdown. The play marked the first career catch and touchdown for Benke, making him the second MTSU tight end to find the end zone in as many games.

While the offense built momentum, senior kicker Dominic Bourgeois delivered a historic performance. Bourgeois connected on all four of his field goal attempts, including a pair of long-distance bombs from 51 and 50 yards out. In doing so, he became the first kicker in Middle Tennessee history to nail two field goals of 50-plus yards in a single game.Bourgeois also broke the program record for 50-yard field goals in a single season (3) and accounted for 14 total points on the night.

Special teams delivered another key momentum swing in the third quarter when linebacker Ashton Taylor blocked an FIU field goal attempt—MTSU’s second straight week blocking a kick following an extra-point block against Delaware.

Brown and Gagliano Seal the Deal

Running back Terrence Brown Jr. provided the explosive punch in the backfield. The senior back rushed for a career-high 158 yards on 18 attempts, headlined by a season-long 54-yard touchdown burst through the middle in the third quarter that put MTSU ahead for good. Brown added 25 receiving yards to end the night with 183 total all-purpose yards.

FIU closed the gap to 26-23 midway through the fourth quarter on a 21-yard touchdown pass from JJ Kohl, but Middle Tennessee's offense executed when it mattered most. Facing a daunting 4th-and-10 from the FIU 40-yard line with just 1:38 remaining, Gagliano showed supreme composure under pressure. The quarterback fired a strike down the middle to Cam'ron Lacy for a 25-yard gain to move the chains.

Lacy finished as MTSU’s leading receiver with six catches for 68 yards, extending his active streak to 15 consecutive games with at least one reception.

On the next snap, Brown ripped off a 14-yard run to put the game out of reach, allowing Gagliano to take a knee in victory formation. Gagliano finished with 200 passing yards and 41 rushing yards without turning the ball over—his fifth turnover-free game of the season.

Defensively, cornerback Jackson Lowe led the Blue Raiders with six tackles, while outer linebacker Mathias Malaki-Donaldson picked off his first career pass in the opening quarter.

Next up: Kennesaw State University @ Murfreesboro - Oct. 28, 6 pm