2015 Week 14

The Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders fell to 4-7 on the season with a 59-21 loss at the hands of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Integral to the success of the Wake Forest offense on the day was wide receiver Chuck Newman, who played for two seasons under Coach Clark with the Virginia Cavaliers.

Newman transferred due to playing time issues, and yesterday he showed the former coach the full breadth of his talents.

After a 51-yard touchdown pass from Anthony Singleton to Brandon Douglas early in the game, Newman evened up the score at 7-7 with a 58-yard touchdown catch and run from the arm of QB Ray Hixon.

Newman would catch 8 passes for 163 yards and two touchdowns on the day, and wasn't voted the player of the game on his own team. That honor went to Hixon, who torched the swiss-cheese defense of the Blue Raiders for 332 yards on an astounding 24 of 26 passing, with four touchdowns and no interceptions.

Hixon's surgical performanced was in contrast to a slap-happy offense for the Blue Raiders, who allowed the fleet-footed Singleton to be sacked seven times and fumbled the ball away twice. They were held to just 63 rushing yards.

The offense struck for three long bombs on the day, and other than that was virtually stagnant from start to finish.

"We were inconsistent," understated J.D. Clark. "We don't seem to be able to maintain our drives the last couple of games, and it's hurting our defense. We're not good enough or deep enough to just keep giving the other team the ball, we have to control the clock for our defense to have success out there."

Thanks in part to the offensive performance, the defense gave up 583 total yards. The passing wasn't the only thing that got the Blue Raiders' collective goat as running back P.J. Hall slashed and dashed his way for 131 yards.

"There's not much to say after a game like this," said Clark. "We've got to do better."