MTSU 40, Rice 34: Blue Raiders survive insane missed field goal, win in double OT

The win was there and then it wasn't and then it was again.

After Middle Tennessee State blew a double-digit fourth-quarter lead, Asher O'Hara scored the game-winning touchdown in a 40-34 victory in double overtime against Rice on Saturday in Houston.

MTSU (2-5, 2-3 C-USA) led by 12 but didn't score in the fourth quarter and Rice (0-1, 0-1) had a pair of touchdowns, including one with less than a minute to play to take the lead.

MTSU's Crews Holt kicked a 48-yard game-tying field goal as time expired in regulation, but he missed a 50-yard attempt in the first overtime.

Rice had a shot at winning with a 45-yard field goal, but Collin Riccitelli's attempt hit off of both posts and the crossbar twice, sending the game to the second overtime.

"You can never give up hope," MTSU coach Rick Stockstill said. "I didn't tell anyone after the game but after it hit the right upright and then the left upright and then laid on the crossbar for a second before it fell forward, I said that we were destined to win this game." 

Rice attempted another field goal in the second overtime period but a bad snap led to Jalen Jackson blocking Riccitelli's try from 40 yards out. From, there, O'Hara capped things off with a 14-yard touchdown run. 

"That was unreal," O'Hara said. "That was easily my favorite football moment ever. To get through that end zone for my guys, it was special." 

Here are five things we learned from MTSU's victory:

A polar opposite start to the second half 

Learning from its mistakes last week, MTSU took control in the third quarter, outscoring Rice 17-6. 

O'Hara and C.J. Windham got things going early in the quarter, connecting on a pair of passes that totaled 51 yards. On the 2-yard line, O'Hara scored for the first touchdown of the half.

Rakavian Poydras sacked Rice quarterback Mike Collins, forcing a fumble that Jonathan Butler scooped up and took to the end zone from 32 yards out. 

Rice cut into the MTSU lead on its next drive but late in the quarter, the Owls fumbled a punt that MTSU turned into a field goal as the quarter came to an end.

Rice's Trammell takes over in the second half

After no touches in the first half, Rice's Austin Trammell caught three passes for 76 yards and scored twice.

Trammell scored on a short touchdown reception in the third quarter that cut the MTSU lead to nine.

In the fourth quarter, Trammell did most of his damage. Facing a fourth-and-24, Collins hauled up a 48-yard pass that Trammell pulled in. A couple of plays later Trammell caught a 20-yard pass that put the Owls up with less than a minute remaining. 

O'Hara showing improvements as a passer

Since conference play began, O'Hara has shown improvement in his passing.

O'Hara finished 24-of-33 for 333 yards. Most importantly, O'Hara had two touchdowns and had no interceptions for just the second time this season.

"Asher did a really nice job today," Stockstill said. "He didn't force a lot of balls and he did a good job throwing the ball away. He threw the ball probably better than he has all year."

Jalen Jackson's block comes at the biggest moment

, Johnson, a redshirt cornerback, has primarily been used on special teams this season. 

He made the biggest play of his young career against Rice when he blocked the field goal in the second overtime period.

Jackson said he had never blocked a kick. 

"I was thinking before that I wanted to block it and not give them a chance to get it," Johnson said. "He fumbled the snap a little bit and then the second he got it down he tried to kick it so I just went up and blocked it."

Greg Grate and C.J. Windham set career highs

Grate has been one of the Blue Raiders' breakout players. He entered the game  leading MTSU in tackles with 47.

Grate set a career high with a team-high 14 tackles. His previous best was 11.

Grate also took the team lead in interceptions when he picked off Collins midway through the first quarter.

Windham was O'Hara's go-to target, setting a career-high for in receptions (7) and yards (109). 

At the end of the second quarter, Windham hauled in a 21-yard touchdown reception that put the Blue Raiders ahead for the first time. 

Rice limits the Blue Raiders ground game

Rice held MTSU to 118 yards on 39 carries.

O'Hara once again led the Blue Raiders' ground game with 69 yards on 22 carries and had both of the Blue Raiders rushing touchdowns.

MTSU's backs only accounted for 17 carries and 49 yards. Chaton Mobley was the most productive of the group with 22 yards.

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Reach Joe Spears at jspears2@gannett.com or 731-343-4923. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter @joe_spears7.