Tennessee State built a big lead early and then was able to stave off a game Western Illinois team to preserve a 45-20 win.
After winning the coin toss and choosing to receive
Tennessee State got right to work, taking the opening kickoff and marching 65 yards in 6 plays that ended when CJ Evans scampered in from 15 yards to put the Tigers up 7-0. WIU responded with a 13-play 62-yard drive but the Leathernecks came away empty-handed, as Antonio Chadha’s 45-yard field goal was no good.
Getting the ball back, TSU traveled 72 yards in 9 plays, adding to their tally when Draylen Ellis connected with Bryant Williams on a 6-yard scoring toss that made the score 14-0 with the successful PAT,
Western got on the board with a 22-yard field goal that capped a 9-play 66-yard drive that made the score 14-3 at the 12:10 mark of the second quarter.
Tennessee State’s third possession ended in another touchdown when Ellis connected with an outstretched Williams on a 37-yard pass, that extended the TSU lead to 21-3.
The Tigers added another score on their next possession, completing an 8-play, 47-yard drive when Tevin Carter plunged in from a yard out to push the Tennessee State lead to 28-3.
On the Leathernecks’ first play of the ensuing drive, Eli Aragon coughed up the ball, which was recovered by TSU’s Ahmad Nelson setting up the Tennessee State offense at the WIU 30-yard line. The drive went nowhere and was ended when Draylen Ellis’s questionable decision to throw into double coverage was intercepted by KJ Coleman at the 5-yard line.
Western Illinois took advantage of the turnover, using plays of 27, 35, 19, and 14 to travel 95 yards in just 4 plays to get in the endzone when quarterback Nathan Lamb connected with Cameron Smith to bring the score to 28-10 with the successful PAT.
After stopping Tennessee State, Lamb and the WIU offense were in a rhythm and they were able to get into field goal range, allowing Chadha to boot a 36-yard field goal to cut the Tennessee State lead to 28-13 lead with:02 left in the half.
Early in the second half the Leathernecks and Tigers would exchange unsuccessful offensive possessions. Tennessee State got the second-half scoring going on their second possession of the quarter. Taking advantage of a punt that started them on the WIU 45, six plays later Ellis would complete his fourth touchdown pass of the afternoon, a 24-yard strike to Karate Brenson that pushed the Tennessee State advantage to 35-13 with the successful James Lowery extra point.
The Leathernecks’ next score came at the end of a 10-play, 70-yard drive when Nathan Lamb blasted in from 6 yards out to trim the Tennessee State lead to 35-20 with 13:25 left in the contest.
CJ Evans’ 58-yard return set the TSU offense up at the WIU 41-yard line. A seemingly converted 4th down on a Tevin Carter run was wiped away by a holding penalty, forcing the Tigers to settle for a Lowery 31-yard field goal that pushed the TSU lead to 38-20 lead.
Tennessee State’s defense forces a turnover on downs, giving the ball back to the offense. TSU seemed content to salt the remaining time away however Carter broke a 39-yard touchdown that put a bow on the contest at 45-20.
Outside of the questionable decision that led to the interception, Draylen Ellis looked sharp, particularly during Tennessee State’s early onslaught, completing 12 of 19 passes for 188 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Cornerback Jalen McClendon was a permanent fixture to the person of Matt Henry, holding the standout receiver to 5 receptions for 48 yards. McClendon also added 6 tackles and 2 pass breakups in a performance that could garner him consideration for conference Defensive Player of the Week.
The win lifts the Tigers to 7-3, the most wins they have enjoyed since a 7-4 mark posted in the 2016 season. At 4-2 within the conference, Tennessee State is tied for second place with Tennessee Tech and still in the Big South-OVC title picture.
Up next for Tennessee State is another road trip, this one to Boiling Springs, NC to take on Gardner-Webb. In their first-ever meeting, which took place September 16, 2023, the Tigers came out on top, 27-25.
