MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee offensive coordinator Brent Dearmon sent the play to the huddle. With 6:24 left in the fourth quarter of the Bahamas Bowl, the underdog Blue Raiders were hanging on to a slim 21-17 lead. Freshman quarterback Nicholas Vattiato called the play in, looking in the direction of senior wideout Jarrin Pierce for a moment before they broke the huddle.
Recognizing the coverage was exactly what he'd seen when they practiced this play, Vattiato's mind raced before the ball was snapped. While the 18-year old quarterback's mind might've been racing, his demeanor and even-keeled personality is what led both him and his team to this moment.