MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Rick Stockstill could sense the knockout punch was coming. His Middle Tennessee football team opened the game with a 14-play, 75-yard drive for a touchdown. They followed up a field goal from FIU with a 15-play, 75-yard drive for a touchdown. And then followed a Panther punt with a 12-play, 58-yard drive for a touchdown.
But even up 21-3, the veteran coach knew there was still work to be done to get in a spot where his team could utilize its current strengths.
"I told our defensive guys that we've still got to stop the run," Stockstill said ahead of FIU's next drive.