SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 8, 2012
Middle Tennessee 31, Florida Atlantic 17: Graham Wilbert threw two touchdown passes as Middle Tennessee exploded for 24 second-half points, pulling away from visiting Florida Atlantic in the Sun Belt Conference opener for both teams.
The Blue Raiders (1-1, 1-0 SBC) did it on the ground, rushing for a team total of 302 yards. Jordan Parker rushed for 117 yards on 17 carries, Drayton Calhoun had 102 yards on the ground and Jeremiah Bryson pitched in with 56.
MTSU quarterback Logan Kilgore was 10 of 14 passing for 178 yards and a pair of scores.
Florida Atlantic (1-1, 0-1 SBC) trailed just 7-0 at the half, but couldn't keep pace in the second half. A 3-yard touchdown run by Kyle Griswould and a 26-yard touchdown strike from Kilgore to Anthony Amos helped MTSU seize control in the third.
The Owls could only manage 96 yards on the ground, relying instead on the arm of Wilbert. The junior went 25-for-32 for 260 yards.
Florida Atlantic drew with 31-17 with 5:17 to go on a Wilbert to Byron Hankerson 8-yard TD pass – but it would be as close as FAU would get.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Amos finished with four catches for 102 yards, hauling in two TDs. ...MTSU averaged 12.7 yards per play. ... Middle Tennessee kicker Carlos Lopez was 4-for-4 on extra points and booted a 36-yard field. ... The Blue Raiders bounced back from a 26-21 home defeat against McNeese State of the FCS.