October 22, 2025 — Middle Tennessee’s late rally came up just short as the Blue Raiders fell 31-28 at Delaware, dropping to 1-6 overall and 0-3 in conference play. MTSU trailed 31-21 entering the fourth quarter but drove 89 yards for a touchdown with 1:03 remaining, only to see Delaware recover the onside kick and run out the clock.
The loss marked Middle Tennessee’s sixth consecutive defeat despite outgaining the Blue Hens 384-360 in total offense.
Vattiato Delivers Career Performance
Nicholas Vattiato completed 31 of 48 passes for 281 yards and three touchdowns in one of his best performances this season.
| Quarterback | Team | Comp/Att | Yards | TD | INT | Sacks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicholas Vattiato | Middle Tennessee | 31/48 | 281 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Nick Minicucci | Delaware | 27/42 | 276 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
Vattiato spread the ball to eight receivers, with Hunter Tipton catching five passes for 56 yards and a touchdown. AJ Jones added five catches for 34 yards, including the game’s final touchdown. Nahzae Cox contributed three receptions for 37 yards and a score.
Middlebrook Powers Ground Game
Jekail Middlebrook led the rushing attack with 68 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries, averaging 6.2 yards per attempt.
| Running Back | Team | Attempts | Yards | TD | Long | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jekail Middlebrook | Middle Tennessee | 11 | 68 | 1 | 27 | 6.2 |
| DJ Taylor | Middle Tennessee | 5 | 30 | 0 | 13 | 6.0 |
| Jo Silver | Delaware | 14 | 51 | 0 | 17 | 3.6 |
| Viron Ellison Jr. | Delaware | 11 | 30 | 0 | 6 | 2.7 |
Middlebrook’s 27-yard run set up an early touchdown, and he scored on a four-yard run after Abdul Muhammad’s fumble recovery gave MTSU a brief 14-7 lead. The Blue Raiders totaled 103 rushing yards, outgaining Delaware’s 79 on the ground.
Second Quarter Dooms Blue Raiders
Middle Tennessee jumped ahead 14-7 in the first quarter on touchdown catches by Cox and Middlebrook’s short scoring run. However, Delaware scored 17 unanswered points in the second quarter to take a 24-14 halftime lead.
Nine penalties for 80 yards proved costly for MTSU, extending Delaware drives at critical moments. A third-quarter interception by Delaware’s KT Seay killed a promising Blue Raiders drive, while the failed onside kick in the final minute ended any comeback hopes.
Anthony Bynum led the defense with nine tackles and a sack, but the Blue Raiders couldn’t contain Delaware quarterback Nick Minicucci, who threw four touchdowns without an interception. Middle Tennessee converted 6 of 14 third downs and scored touchdowns on all four red-zone trips.
The Blue Raiders continue searching for their first conference win as they extend their losing streak to six games.
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