Middle Tennessee’s I’Tavius Mathers was named the Offensive Player of the Week by the Tennessee Sportswriters Association for his play in keying the Blue Raiders’ upset win at Missouri.
Mathers continued his recent assault on opposing defenses with a career-best performance to help lead Middle Tennessee (5-2) to a 51-45 win at SEC foe Missouri in winning his second such honor.
Mathers rushed for a career-high 215 yards, including a 71-yard touchdown run. It marked the fifth consecutive game of 100-plus yards rushing for Mathers which equals the second longest stretch in school history.
Mathers, who ranks third nationally in scoring, scored the game winning touchdown when he hauled in a 4-yard pass from quarterback Brent Stockstill in the third quarter to give the Blue Raiders a 41-35 lead they would not relinquish.
Mathers set personal bests for longest career run (71 yards) in the win, and he also set new personal standards for receptions with eight.
Mathers heads into this week’s C-USA game at FIU only 60 yards shy of reaching 1,000 rushing yards for the season. It would be the first time a Blue Raider running back has topped the 1,000-yard mark since Dwone Hicks in 2002.
