After getting their first win of the season last week against Bethune Cookman, the Tennessee State Tigers launch into Ohio Valley Conference play this Satuday, heading to Cookevilke, TN to take on Tennessee Tech.
Tennessee State excelled in all facets- offense, defense , and special teams- against Bethune, with all three units getting in the endzone. Draylen Ellis made his return from an ankle injury and completed 10/18 passes for 138 yards, 1 touchdown and an interception; he also ran 4 times for 29 yards and another touchdown. Felllow returning starter, team leading rusher, running back Devon Starling ran for 43 yards on ten carries, as he too looked to return to form. Sophomore back Jalen Rouse turned another strong performance, racking up 87 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. Defensive captain Gleason Sprewell also returned to action and made his presence felt, recording a team-leading 9 tackles, including one for a loss. Sprewell made a key stop on 4th and goal from the 1 yard line, snuffing out a B-CU scoring drive that threatened to potentially trim the TSU lead to ten points.
Although Tennessee Tech enters the matchup in the throes of a three-game losing streak, the trio of defeats all came at the hands of ranked teams. Senior running back David Gist leads the Golden Eagles in rushing on the season with 279 yards and 5 touchdowns and became the school’s seventh all-time leading rusher as he topped the 2,000 yard mark for his career last week. Gist is also a capable receiving threat out of the backfield with 14 receptions for 130 and 2 touchdowns on the season.
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