Middle Tennessee beat San Diego State 25-23 in the Hawaii Bowl
HONOLULU (AP) — Zeke Rankin made four field goals, including a 37-yarder, with 2:05 left and Middle Tennessee State beat San Diego State 25-23 in the Hawaii Bowl on Saturday night.
The Blue Raiders (8-5) overcame a 14-0 first quarter deficit to hold off the Aztecs (7-6) in a game that saw six lead changes.
Rankin made four of five field goal attempts to tie the Hawaii Bowl record for field goals. He hit from 44, 49, 26 and 37 yards and missed from 42.
San Diego State took a 23-22 lead with 5:43 to play on Jack Browning’s 52-yard field goal, but Middle Tennessee State drove 55 yards in 12 plays, capped by Rankin’s 37-yard field goal to put his team ahead for good .
Middle Tennessee State finished with 170 yards of total offense to San Diego’s 364 yards.
The Blue Raiders won despite allowing seven sacks and being held to minus-61 yards.
San Diego State led 14-13 at halftime.
It was the first meeting between the schools.
FOR TAKE AWAY
Middle Tennessee State: After being picked eighth (out of 11 teams) by the league media in the C-USA preseason poll, the Blue Raiders finished the season strong, winning their last four games to finish with their sixth bowl in eight seasons and 10th overall in 17 seasons under coach Rick Stockstill.
San Diego State: Mountain West media projected the Aztecs to finish second in the West division behind Fresno State. Their season saw personnel changes at offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach and quarterbacks that helped them to five wins in seven games after a 2-3 start to the year.
FURTHER
Middle Tennessee State will visit Bryant-Denny Stadium for its first game against Alabama since 2015 on September 2nd. The Blue Raiders have lost all three previous meetings against the Crimson Tide.
San Diego State opens with a home opener against Idaho State on Aug. 26 before facing Pac-12 rivals UCLA and Oregon State on Sept. 9 and Sept. 16, respectively.
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