<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2UMtM3_1GsCRtfG00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2UMtM3_1GsCRtfG00" width="576" height="720" ><figcaption>MTSU’s Neo Clifton brings in a touchdown against Western Kentucky’s Ajay Allen during their game at Floyd Stadium on Saturday. MT ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS</figcaption></figure>Middle Tennessee (5-4, 3-2) snapped a seven-year losing streak in the “100 Miles of Hate” rivalry with Western Kentucky (3-6, 2-3) with a wild 51-42 home victory on Saturday afternoon at Floyd Stadium.“If this team wanted to be remembered, this is the one they needed to win,” Blue Raiders coach Derek Mason said. “It vindicates everything we’ve done (this year). You can’t climb that hill without this win.”Dominic Bourgeois connected on a 48-yard field goal with one second remaining to push the Blue Raiders ahead at 45-42. Western Kentucky scrambled with the ensuing kickoff but fumbled in the end zone. Aidan Singletary recovered the fumble for a late touchdown resulting in the 51-42 final score.“Seven years is a long time,” an emotional Mason said on breaking the self-proclaimed ‘generational curse.’ “To beat Western Kentucky, to finally make that climb, it shows what we’re trying to build here. We get to talk about this one for 365 days.”Middle Tennessee rebounded offensively from last week’s home loss to Kennesaw State, totaling 513 yards, including 312 yards passing from Roman Gagliano. Ziyon Butler led the receiving group with a career-high 129 yards and a touchdown.“Coach Lowry does a great job getting that group together,” Gagliano said of his wide receiver coach. “(WKU) manned us up and played their safeties down a lot tonight and gave me a lot of room for error over the top.”Antonio Martin rushed for 125 yards and two touchdowns pacing an offense that has rushed for over 200 yards in three of their last four games. He had a 75-yard touchdown burst on the first play of the second half.Saturday was the first time since 2016 MTSU had a 300- yard passer, 100-yard rusher and 100-yard receiver in a game.“We have so many play makers,” Gagliano said. “We ran the ball effectively. When you can attack from so many angles, that is a hard defense to stop.”MTSU looked poised to run away with the game leading 42-27 with 14 minutes remaining. Western Kentucky responded by scoring 15 unanswered points and tied the game when quarterback Rodney Tisdale rushed for a touchdown with 31 seconds remaining.“They left too much time on the clock for us,” Gagliano said. “No one batted an eye. We had all the confidence in the world in Dom (Bourgeois) to make it happen for us.”Thirty-one seconds was all Gagliano needed to complete two passes for 36 yards, plus a 10-yard holding penalty on the Hilltoppers put Middle Tennessee into Bourgeois’ field goal range with five seconds left.“I think a lot of people thought we would settle for overtime,” Mason said on the aggressive play calling to end the game. “We thought we could get ourselves into position to put one through the uprights.”The Blue Raiders inched closer to bowl eligibility, needing one win in their final three regular-season contests. They travel the next two weeks, visiting Liberty (7-1) and Sam Houston (1-7), before returning home for Senior Day against New Mexico State (3-5) on Thanksgiving weekend.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0wCXIB_1GsCRtfG00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0wCXIB_1GsCRtfG00" width="576" height="720" ><figcaption>MTSU’s Antonio Martin Jr. is on his way to a 75-yard touchdown run against Western Kentucky Saturday at Floyd Stadium. MT ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS</figcaption></figure><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0T0rwa_1GsCRtfG00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0T0rwa_1GsCRtfG00" width="768" height="960" ><figcaption>MTSU’s Aidan Butts grabs a hold of Western Kentucky quarterback Brock Glenn during their game at Floyd Stadium on Saturday. MT ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS</figcaption></figure></div></body>

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Middle Tennessee (5-4, 3-2) snapped a seven-year losing streak in the “100 Miles of Hate” rivalry with Western Kentucky (3-6, 2-3) with a wild 51-42 home victory on Saturday afternoon at Floyd Stadium. “If this team wanted to be remembered, this is the one they needed to win,”...

MTSU ends frustrations against WKU

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Middle Tennessee (5-4, 3-2) snapped a seven-year losing streak in the “100 Miles of Hate” rivalry with Western Kentucky (3-6, 2-3) with a wild 51-42 home v

MTSU ends frustrations against WKU

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