The Tigers of Tennessee State University were able to procure their first conference win this Saturday with a 45-21 win over Eastern Kentucky.
TSU’s defense came out strong, pitching a shut out in the first half and only giving up 119 yards of offense. Tennessee State would take a 17-0 lead into halftime, a Lane Clark 49-yard field goal, and two Michael Hughes TD passes (one of 11 yards to Patrick Smith and 8 yards to Steven Newbold) accounting for the Tigers’ scoring.
In the third quarter Eastern Kentucky would finally get on the board after a 10-play, 82-yard drive ended in a one-yard sneak by quarterback Tim Boyle. The extra point would pull the Colonels within ten at 17-7. With 1:05 to go in the third, EKU would post their second score of the quarter, on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Tim Boyle to Ryan Markush to draw closer at 17-14, following the PAT.
Early in the fourth quarter, EKU would take their first lead of the day when Boyle and Markush would connect for their second score of the day, this time a 6-yard TD pass. The Colonels would go up 21-17 following the PAT. Tennessee State responded with a 13 play, 88-yard scoring drive that ended in a 1-yard run from quarterback Michael Hughes. The PAT gave the Tigers a 24-21 lead.
Tennessee State’s next score would come from the defense. TSU’s Vincent Fuller jumped a route and returned the interception 34 yards for a touchdown, following the PAT, bringing the score to 31-24. Sellers would then add another pick-six, this time taking it 44-yards to the house, lifting the Tennessee State lead to 38-21. On EKU’s next series, Terrell Bonds got in on the act, intercepting a pass and returning it 36-yards for another score, making the score 45-21.
The win brings Tennessee State to 4-2 on the season. TSU will host Austin Peay on October 14 for their Homecoming. Kickoff is set for 6 P.M. CST. The Colonels will travel to Jacksonville, Alabama to take on Jacksonville State. Kickoff is 3 P.M. CST.
