MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee Football rode the momentum of two second-quarter takeaways to take charge in Saturday night's season opener, converting two Monmouth fumbles into touchdowns to power the Blue Raiders to a 50-15 win at Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium.
Jaylin Lane got the scoring started in the second quarter, returning a punt 70 yards for his first career punt return touchdown to give Middle Tennessee an early 7-0 lead. It was MT's first punt returned for a touchdown since Wayne Parks scored against UT Martin in 2018.
After the Hawks tied the game, Jordan Ferguson forced the first fumble of the night with a sack on Monmouth's Tony Mustkett with 2:47 to go in the second quarter, where Richard Kinley's recovery set up a 29-yard touchdown pass from Bailey Hockman to DJ England-Chisholm.