The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

RETURNING for their second appearance at the Bahamas Bowl, Middle Tennessee’s offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Brent Dearmon said the Blue Raiders are ready for the challenge ahead of them this year.

The Blue Raiders, coached by Rick Stockstill, will be out to redeem themselves after losing their first appearance here in 2015 in the second Bahamas Bowl. In that game, the Western Michigan Broncos outscored Middle Tennessee 45-31.

On Friday at noon at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium, Middle Tennessee will tackle the Toledo Rockets, who represent the Mid-American Conference with a 7-5 win-loss record. Middle Tennessee, representing Conference USA, finished the season at 6-6.

For Middle Tennessee, this will be their 13th all-time bowl appearance, including the ninth in its FBS era.

Since its last trip to the Bahamas Bowl, MTSU fell to Hawaii in the 2016 Hawaii Bowl, defeated Arkansas State in the 2017 Camellia Bowl, and fell to Appalachian State in the 2018 New Orleans Bowl.

This year, Middle Tennessee won two of its last three games to become bowl eligible, including a 27-17 victory over Florida Atlantic in the regular season finale.

In preparation for this year’s game, Dearmon said the Blue Raiders’ practice yesterday at the TAR National Stadium was intense.

“It was awesome out here. We are not accustomed to 80 degrees this time of year. Our guys have been more used to 45, 50 degrees back at Middle Tennessee, so getting down here and getting used to this weather has been really nice,” Dearmon said.

“We practiced with palm trees in the background, beautiful stadium in the background…I thought our guys did a good job of bringing energy today.”

In analysing their offensive attack this year, Dearmon said they are looking much better going into Friday’s game.

“Looking back and seeing how many guys we played. We played four quarterbacks,” Dearmon said. “We have had six different offensive line match-ups that we’ve put out there with injuries and COVID-19.

“Being able to see how many guys we put on the field and be in a position to win a bowl has been awesome for our guys.”

Dearmon said their quarterback Mike DiLiello has more of a running back body, but he throws the ball well.

“He’s more of the running quarterback who can run the nakeds and can run the bootlegs, build in some quick game with some shots for him,” Dearmon said. “Nick (Vattiato) is more of a pocket passer. He can run if he needs to, but that’s not who he is.

“It’s more of a progression-based system for him, where he can drive the ball down field. The offensive line feels comfortable with either one of those guys playing. So, I’d say it’s about 50-50 percentage-wise for those guys getting reps.”

On the flip side of the coin, Dearmon said Toledo presents a lot of challenges for them on the defensive end.

“They are sound. A lot of teams are not sound all the time, a lot of teams don’t stay in their gaps, a lot of teams have busted coverages, but they are coached really well,” he said.

“They chase the ball, they run to the football well. They do a good job of finishing plays.”

Redshirt senior wide receiver Jarrin Pierce said after their first practice on Tuesday, they are clicking on all cylinders.

“Today (Tuesday) was amazing. It felt good just to be out there with the teammates – playing and practicing for the bowl game,” he said. “Today we got a lot of productive work done, and it just felt good to be out there.”

When asked about their off-field adventures at Atlantis this week, Pierce said it’s all that they anticipated and more.

“The beach was pretty good. I’m looking forward to hitting the water slides and getting on the jet skis, and seeing the aquarium,” he said. “At least I hope they let us get on the jet skis.”

And when he looked at Toledo’s defence, Pierce noted that they will have their work cut out against them.

“I know they are a good team. I know that we respect them. We will not underestimate anyone,” he said.

“I know they have a good defence. We will be prepared for anything that is thrown our way.”

Hopefully, they will be able to prevail with a victory this time around.