Missed opportunities doom Raiders
MURFREESBORO, Tenn.(AP) DuJuan Harris ran for 148 yards and scored three touchdowns to lead Troy to a 31-17 victory over Middle Tennessee on Thursday night.
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Harris scored on a 5-yard pass from Jamie Hampton to cap a 9-play, 70-yard drive with 11:40 left in the second quarter.
The Trojans (1-0, 1-0 Sun Belt Conference) capitalized off two Blue Raider turnovers to build a 17-3 advantage in the first half. Harris scored on runs of 5, 33 and 13 yards.
Middle Tennessee had its opportunities to come out on top, but missed several chances to make what could have been game changing plays.
The offense failed to score twice inside the five yard line, including a first half fourth-and-goal fumble by Dwight Dasher that Troy defensive tackle Steve McLendon returned 67 yards to the Blue Raider 21-yard line.
MT also had prime opportunities to thwart Troy's final drive when the Blue Raiders had rallied from a 24-3 deficit to 24-17, but safety Anthony Glover couldn't hold on to an interception and cornerback Alex Suber failed to wrap up receiver Jerrel Jernigan on what would have been a third down stop.
Joe Craddock, who completed 20 of 32 passes, threw for 200 yards and a 46-yard touchdown to Malcolm Beyah in the fourth quarter for Middle Tennessee (0-1, 0-1).
GoMiddle.com's Mark Rowand contributed to this story.