Dasher bad track record vs. Troy

[IE]

MTSU quarterback Dwight Dasher's next good game against Troy will be his first.

Dasher, who returns from a four-game suspension Tuesday night, will face a Trojans squad that has been his career-long nemesis.

Dasher admits he has yet to solve Troy's defense.

"I grade myself each game and they are the only team that I think I've never played good against," Dasher said. "This year this is my first game back and it's against Troy, but I want to make sure everything goes right."

MTSU has lost four straight meetings to four-time defending Sun Belt Conference champion Troy. Dasher has played in the last three, though in varying degrees.

Overall, Dasher has completed less than 50 percent of his passes and averaged about one yard per rushing attempt in three lopsided losses to Troy. That's quite a drop-off for the Sun Belt preseason offensive player of the year.

"You can make an excuse for him because the first year (against Troy) he wasn't healthy as a freshman. The second year and third year, he just didn't play good," MTSU coach Rick Stockstill said. "I don't think he pressed. He just didn't play good. He'll tell you that. I'll tell you that.

"He's got to play better, but I don't think it was anything of him trying too hard or anything like that. He just didn't play good."

In 2007, Dasher played sparingly against Troy due to knee and ankle injuries. He gained two total yards on seven rushing attempts and three incomplete passes. He also fumbled once in MTSU's 45-7 loss.

In 2008, he temporarily relieved starter Joe Craddock, but had a negative impact. He was sacked twice, lost a fumble inside the 10-yard line and tossed two incomplete passes in a 31-17 defeat.

Last season, Dasher struggled early, completing only 6 of 21 passes in the first half. He finished 24-of-44 passing for 245 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also rushed for 53 yards on 18 carries in the 31-7 loss.

Dasher flourished in MTSU's 12 other games last season, becoming only the fourth player in NCAA history to rush for 1,000 yards and pass for 2,500 yards in the same season. Dasher returns against Troy because of a four-game suspension for accepting a loan in violation of NCAA rules.

MTSU needs Dasher to make an impact in the Sun Belt showdown, but coaches don't want him to try to do too much in his season debut.

"The thing he can't do is all the sudden try to be Superman and think he has to do everything," Stockstill said. "He has good players around him, and he just has to play within the offensive system."

Troy coach Larry Blakeney said his team is well aware of Dasher's dual-threat abilities.

"You certainly have to prepare for him," Blakeney said. " ... In your mind you have to upgrade to the fact that he is going to run it about half the time they run the ball, if not more. He is also not bad throwing the ball. We had a good game against him last year, but he is a viable guy who makes a difference."

Troy linebacker Kanorris Davis relishes facing Dasher one last time.

"I am going to take advantage every time I get the chance (to hit Dasher)," Davis said. "Any time I see someone with the ball I want them to feel me. I want them to know that number 44 is coming to get them."

 

[IE]

Who will make the statement tonight?


It's statement night in the Sun Belt Conference.

MTSU plays host to Troy tonight in a matchup of the teams picked No. 1 and 2 in the preseason poll.

A championship won't be decided at Floyd Stadium in MTSU's annual Blackout game that will be televised nationally on ESPN2, but a message will be sent.

If Troy defeats the Blue Raiders for the fifth consecutive time, it will mean despite losing a wealth of talent the Trojans are still plenty good enough to come to Floyd Stadium and leave the victor.

While rings won't be distributed on this evening, if Troy defeats the Blue Raiders consider the league race all but done.

If MTSU can find a way to get the Troy monkey off its back, rings won't be distributed either. However, if the Blue Raiders can start Sun Belt play with a win at Lousiana-Lafayette and at home against Troy, the rest of the conference is in trouble.

And then there is the Dwight Dasher factor.

Which quarterback will show up? The one that struggled mightily at Troy last season, or the one who has uncanny skills that few in college football possess.

Dasher's four-game suspension for accepting a loan is over, but the senior has a lot to prove.

Will he immediately regain his form from a year ago when he threw for more than 2,700 yards and rushed for more than 1,100?

Such an effort will be needed tonight.

Will Dasher be rusty? Will Dasher try to do too much?
They are certainly questions worth asking as the talented playmaker makes his season debut.

Like any quarterback, though, Dasher needs to let the game come to him. He doesn't have to try and win it by himself. He has to play within himself, make good decisions and not turn the ball over.

Simple stuff, indeed, yet it will likely determine the outcome.

People like to consider MTSU and Troy the top rivals in the Sun Belt Conference, but in order to make it a rivalry you have to win every now and then.

The Blue Raiders have yet to beat the Trojans under Blue Raider coach Rick Stockstill, and the Trojans have won their last two meetings at Floyd Stadium.

History won't necessarily dictate the outcome of tonight's game, but it has to be somewhat of a factor.

The Trojans own MTSU right now, and if they leave Floyd Stadium a winner tonight, it will certainly be deflating for the Blue Raiders. Will MTSU's season be over? Absolutely not, but winning a Sun Belt title just might be a pipe dream.

If MTSU emerges the winner, it will certainly be too early to think about hanging up a championship banner.

However, make no mistake ? somebody is going to make a major statement at Floyd Stadium tonight.

 

[IE]

Trojans play Middle Tennessee in primetime Tuesday night


Jerrel Jernigan has never lost to Middle Tennessee. He?s not about to let that change during his senior season.

For that to happen, Troy must be at its best in all three phases Tuesday at 7 p.m., when the Trojans (2-2, 1-0 Sun Belt) play at MTSU (2-2, 1-0) in an early but critical game for both teams? Sun Belt championship hopes.

MTSU was picked to win the league by coaches and media, with Troy at No. 2, despite the fact the Trojans have won or shared the past four league championships.

Troy has beaten MTSU four straight times.

?It?s Middle Tenn,? said Jernigan, Troy?s star player. ?That?s all that should be said. It?s a big rivalry game.

?I haven?t lost to them in three years, and I don?t plan on losing to them. There?s nothing else to be said. Everybody on the team knows it?s a rivalry game, and we pretty much hate each other.?

The game will be televised on ESPN2, which gives the nation a chance to see Jernigan possibly break some records. The senior from Eufaula is second in the country in all-purpose yards per game (207.8).

The Sun Belt receiving yards record should pass today if all goes well, as Jernigan needs just 28 yards. One Troy career records could pass, too, as Jernigan needs seven receptions to pass Danny Grant (215).

Jernigan needs 218 yards receiving to pass Grant. It sounds tough, but Jernigan has topped 200 yards twice in his career, though 218 would be a career high.

?I go into every game looking to have a breakout game or 100 yards receiving,? Jernigan said. ?It depends on what kind of defense they?re playing against me. Hopefully I have a good night catching and running the ball.?

A good night by Jernigan could deflect the attention on MTSU quarterback Dwight Dasher, who will play for the first time after a four-game suspension for violating NCAA rules.

Dasher accounted for more than 2,700 yards passing last season and 36 total touchdowns as a dual-threat quarterback. His legs could give Troy problems, as last week Arkansas State quarterback Ryan Aplin ran for 89 yards in Troy?s 35-28 win.

?It?s coming, we know it is,? Troy defensive coordinator Jeremy Rowell said. ?It makes it difficult because there?s a gap not normally accounted for with the quarterback. When they start running the counter or the power, you?ve got to take a guy out of pass coverage, and it makes it difficult.?

Dasher threw for 245 and ran for 53 yards last year against Troy, but led the team to just one score in a 31-7 loss. Troy led 14-0 at halftime and led 24-0 before MTSU hit the scoreboard.

After that loss, MTSU lost just once more in a season where the Blue Raiders went 10-3, becoming the first Sun Belt team to win 10 games.

?The time in which they played us, they weren?t doing some of the stuff they were doing later in the year,? Rowell said.

But it was that early October loss to Troy that kept MTSU from getting the conference title.
?There?s a lot more on the line,? Jernigan said. ?Whoever wins this game is going to be in the driver?s seat in the Sun Belt.?

In Dasher?s absence, Logan Kilgore threw for 540 yards with three touchdowns and five interceptions in three starts. Jeff Murphy also played at quarterback.

MTSU uses three running backs like Troy does, but senior Phillip Tanner (309 yards) is the team?s best. D.D. Kyles has run for 220 yards and Ben Cunningham 161.

The return of defensive end Mario Addison (broken hand) should bolster a defense that has struggled replacing players due to injury this year. Troy is 111th in total offense (out of 120 teams), 117th against the pass, 81st against the run and 99th in scoring defense.

?It?s not always going to be like that,? defensive end Jonathan Massaquoi said. ?You have sunny days and you have rainy days. You never can tell. You?ve just got to have your rain boots and your umbrella.?

Middle Tennessee kicker Alan Gendreau booted a 55-yard field goal last week in a 34-14 win at UL-Lafayette.

The Blue Raiders will wear black jerseys for the game and are promoting the ?Blackout.? MTSU is 2-0 while wearing the black jerseys.

 

[IE]

GAMEDAY: Troy at Middle Tennessee



Should be some great cool football weather at 7 p.m. today in Murfreesboro. Today?s winner will have a big leg up on the Sun Belt championship race. I think it?ll end up Troy or Middle Tennessee, with FIU as an outside sleeper pick. Mostly I say that because FIU hasn?t played a league game yet, but they should have some talent. Of course, we say that about them every year.


***Don?t look for linebacker Donnell Golden to play much, if at all. He hurt his knee against ASU and while I don?t believe it?s a season-ender, it?s a deal that could keep him out a game or two. He?s not expected to start and Kanorris Davis is expected to go in his place.

***Defensive tackles Emmanuel Dudley and Riley Flowers didn?t practice last week because of injuries - same reason they didn?t practice the week before ASU but played a little. I wouldn?t expect a whole lot out of that duo and Sidell Corley other than effort and a few snaps. Tony Davis seems to be the only healthy defensive tackle, well the only one that hasn?t had to miss time with injuries. He did hurt his elbow in fall camp. I?d look for a small, fast look with more Jacoby Thomas in with Davis as well. Mario Addison will play after missing last week.

***So yes, Golden is another starter that?s hurt. Jeremy Rowell went from having a season-long plan for his defense to having to change it before every game. We?ll see how this one works, but I?m going to guess it will be a speed vs. speed match, and Troy can contend there. There?s just not much beef inside, so the Trojans will have to fill the gaps to stop the inside runs.

***Middle Tennessee has a good run game, but I?d hesitate to call it a power run game. Troy faced a guy with Dasher?s running ability vs. UAB and rendered him ineffective before the backup, a pocket passer, came in and lit the Trojans up. Troy can slow down Dasher, as they have in the past, but can?t allow the big runs and the big deep balls by a receiver who slips past the secondary.

***MTSU started off slow because of turnovers. Troy has had some problems filling the right gaps and with missed tackles, but there are some playmakers on the defense. Troy is 11th nationally in turnover margin per game, while MTSU is second-to-last (out of 120 teams). The Blue Raiders forced some turnovers last week in a big win.

 

[ageecee]

how good will Dasher be tonite? This is his first game this year will he be gassed by the 3rd qtr? How accurate will he be throwing the ball?