While WKU football prepares to try and continue its dominance against rival Middle Tennessee State on Saturday, College Heights Herald Sports Editor Jake McMahon sat down with Brett Walker, sports editor of MTSU Sidelines, to talk about the 74th edition of the ‘100 Miles of Hate’ rivalry.
The Blue Raiders head into their matchup with the Hilltoppers coming off a 52-3 shellacking from current No. 5 Ole Miss. MTSU struggled to get anything going against the Rebels, tallying only 278 yards of total offense.
Part of the Blue Raider detriment came from MTSU’s struggle to keep the ball moving on the ground. In MTSU’s 32-25 week one win against Tennessee Tech, the Blue Raiders totaled 118 rushing yards. Against Ole Miss, however, MTSU was held to 28 yards on the ground.
“They [MTSU] will try to establish the run. It can come to their detriment,” Walker said. “They did it very well against Tennessee Tech, obviously Ole Miss [is a] different caliber of opponent so they weren’t able to do it well at all.”
Even though Walker said an established run game is an important key to MTSU’s offense, he did say the Blue Raiders have found success with the “quick pass game.” Through the first two games of the season, MTSU quarterback Nicholas Vattioto has thrown for 419 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
“I honestly think he’s a pretty good out of the pocket passer but they haven’t been able to utilize that so far,” Walker said of Vattiato. “Offensive line injuries have prohibited him from getting too deep into the offense. There hasn’t been a lot shown… . He’s had moments, it’s been there.”
While he said the Blue Raider offense has not gone too deep in their playbook just yet, Walker said MTSU is “probably going to be willing to open up the playbook a little bit more” in a conference game.
“There’s no reason not to,” Walker said.
On the defensive side of the ball, Walker said the defense looked better than the score in their week one win against Tennessee Tech, only allowing three points in the first half. However, he said the defense looked like their “bubble had popped” in the second half against Tennessee Tech. In MTSU’s game against Ole Miss, Walker said the Blue Raiders were simply “outmanned.”
With the added pressure of the ‘100 Miles of Hate’ rivalry, Walker said he would “certainly hope” MTSU brings “their most on Saturday. I would think they have every reason too.”
“They’ve been in those rowdy environments and they’ve been in the close game with Tech,” Walker said. “I think now would be the time for them to settle in. If it’s gonna happen this year I think you start to see it this week.”
Sports editor Jake McMahon can be reached at [email protected]
