MTSU's game plan vs. BYU: Stay grounded

MURFREESBORO – The numbers say the key to beating BYU is through the air.

But MTSU players and coaches say the key to their sixth win of the year is on the ground.

"We have been most effective when we have been able to run the ball," MTSU coach Rick Stockstill said when asked whether his team would try to exploit BYU's pass defense. "It is hard to run against these guys because they are so long, athletic and physical. We have to be able to run the football."

BYU (4-4) enters Saturday's game at Floyd Stadium (2:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network) against MTSU (5-3) allowing the ninth-most passing yards per game (305.5 per game) in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Since BYU's current four-game losing streak started Oct. 3, it is allowing 335.5 yards passing per game.

But MTSU boasts the nation's 29th-best rushing offense at 218.3 yards per game.

The Blue Raiders' five-headed rushing attack of quarterback Austin Grammer and running backs Jordan Parker, Shane Tucker, Reggie Whatley and Jeremiah Bryson have combined for 22 touchdowns. Twenty-four of 35 offensive scores have come on the ground this year, which is tied for the ninth-most in the country with Georgia.

"I say it all the time, but those (running backs) make it easy on me," Grammer said. "I feel like more times than not, they get us going. When they do that, it just opens everything else up.

"It's imperative for us just because our running backs are so good. You want to get them going because they are such great players. A lot of times, people don't realize, but that can be in the screen game, too. We've just got to get them going because it opens up everything else."

MTSU is averaging 4.9 yards per carry this season but just 3.9 per carry in its three losses.

Still, MTSU's commitment to running the ball doesn't mean it won't try to throw it as much or more than it has all season.

And Grammer will have to be more efficient than he was against a less-talented UAB team two weeks ago, when he completed just six of 19 attempts for a season-low 141 yards in MTSU's 34-22 win.

"Probably so," the sophomore said about needing more completions this week for a win.

Offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner "has been giving me a hard time about that this week," he said. "I definitely will need to complete a couple more than six."