image via Tennessee State Football
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee State struggled to generate offense and committed three costly turnovers in a 20-7 loss to Charleston Southern on Saturday at Nissan Stadium.
The Buccaneers capitalized on Tennessee State’s mistakes, including a 32-yard interception return for a touchdown, to secure the 13-point victory. Charleston Southern also recorded six sacks and held the Tigers to just 146 yards of total offense.
Tennessee State finished with 11 first downs and averaged only 2.7 yards per play. The Tigers managed 17 net rushing yards on 24 attempts and struggled to protect their quarterbacks against a relentless Buccaneers pass rush.
Charleston Southern, meanwhile, accumulated 277 total yards, including 210 through the air, and controlled the clock for 34 minutes and 58 seconds.
Charleston Southern Takes Control Before Halftime
After a scoreless first quarter, Charleston Southern broke through early in the second quarter.
Quarterback Jared Echols connected with KD Dorsey for an 18-yard touchdown pass with 12:03 remaining in the first half, giving the Buccaneers a 7-0 lead.
Tennessee State’s next offensive possession resulted in another major setback. Tristan Lennon intercepted quarterback Daylin Lee and returned the ball 32 yards for a touchdown, extending Charleston Southern’s advantage to 14-0.
The Buccaneers added to their lead just before halftime when Matt Rolader connected on a 45-yard field goal with 42 seconds remaining in the second quarter. Charleston Southern carried a 17-0 advantage into the locker room.
The Tigers struggled to establish consistency offensively, while Charleston Southern’s defense continued to pressure the pocket and disrupt Tennessee State’s passing game.
Buccaneers Extend Their Lead
Charleston Southern added three more points late in the third quarter when Rolader converted a 26-yard field goal to make it 20-0.
The Buccaneers’ defensive pressure remained a defining factor. Charleston Southern recorded six sacks for 40 yards lost, repeatedly forcing Tennessee State into difficult passing situations.
The Tigers finished with 129 net passing yards according to the team statistics, but two interceptions and limited production on the ground prevented the offense from mounting a sustained comeback.
Tennessee State Gets on the Scoreboard
Tennessee State finally reached the end zone in the fourth quarter.
After entering the game late in the third quarter, Byron McNair connected with Cam Bulluck on a nine-yard touchdown pass with 9:35 remaining. Preston Hurless added the extra point to cut Charleston Southern’s lead to 20-7.
The Tigers had another opportunity to close the gap when Sammy Taylor recovered a Charleston Southern fumble at the Buccaneers’ 16-yard line following a defensive sequence that included a forced fumble by Epoki Fakaosi.
However, Tennessee State could not turn the opportunity into points, missing a 37-yard field-goal attempt.
Charleston Southern’s defense held firm the rest of the way to secure the 20-7 victory.
Tennessee State Individual Standouts
Despite the loss, several Tigers made notable contributions.
Passing
- Byron McNair: Completed 7 of 12 passes for 65 yards and a touchdown.
- Daylin Lee: Completed 9 of 19 passes for 54 yards and threw two interceptions.
Rushing
- Jerimiah Treadaway: Led Tennessee State with 42 rushing yards on 11 carries.
The Tigers finished with only 17 net rushing yards as a team after accounting for lost yardage.
Receiving
- Cam Bulluck: Recorded four receptions for 53 yards and Tennessee State’s lone touchdown.
Bulluck provided one of the Tigers’ few offensive highlights with his fourth-quarter scoring reception.
Defense
- Sammy Taylor: Recorded nine tackles, a tackle for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
- Epoki Fakaosi: Finished with eight tackles, two tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and two pass breakups.
- Mikeece Jones: Added seven tackles.
- Jaylon Price: Recorded a sack and a forced fumble.
The defense made several impact plays, but Tennessee State could not consistently translate those efforts into offensive momentum.
Charleston Southern vs. Tennessee State: Complete Team Statistics
| Statistic | Charleston Southern | Tennessee State |
| Final Score | 20 | 7 |
| First Downs | 18 | 11 |
| Rushing First Downs | 6 | 3 |
| Passing First Downs | 11 | 6 |
| Penalty First Downs | 1 | 2 |
| Total Offense | 277 yards | 146 yards |
| Rushing Yards | 67 | 17 |
| Rushing Attempts | 34 | 24 |
| Yards Per Rush | 2.0 | 0.7 |
| Passing Yards (Net) | 210 | 129 |
| Completions-Attempts-INTs | 22-30-0 | 16-30-2 |
| Passing Touchdowns | 1 | 1 |
| Total Plays | 64 | 54 |
| Yards Per Play | 4.3 | 2.7 |
| Fumbles-Lost | 4-1 | 1-1 |
| Penalties-Yards | 12-101 | 7-60 |
| Punts-Yards | 3-109 | 4-114 |
| Third-Down Conversions | 7-of-15 | 6-of-15 |
| Fourth-Down Conversions | 0-of-0 | 0-of-1 |
| Sacks-Yards Lost | 6-40 | 1-10 |
| Field Goals | 2-of-4 | 0-of-1 |
| Red-Zone Scores-Chances | 1-of-1 | 1-of-2 |
| Time of Possession | 34:58 | 25:02 |
Charleston Southern held a 131-yard advantage in total offense and controlled possession for nearly 10 additional minutes. The Buccaneers also won the battle up front, recording six sacks while limiting Tennessee State to fewer than three yards per offensive play.
Although Tennessee State’s defense created disruption, the offense’s inability to sustain drives and capitalize on opportunities proved decisive.
What’s Next for Tennessee State?
The Tigers will look to regroup as they continue their 2026 campaign. Tennessee State will need to improve its offensive consistency, protect the football and find more production on the ground to get back on track.
The loss to Charleston Southern serves as another reminder of how quickly turnovers and negative plays can change the course of a game.
For Tennessee State, the next step is turning defensive stops into points and finding a more consistent offensive rhythm.
