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This Saturday Tennessee State heads to Fargo, North Dakota to take on FCS perennial powerhouse North Dakota State for the first time. TSU is coming off a 41-21 win over Mississippi Valley State in the 25th John A. Merritt Classic, which is the first time in the Eddie George era the Tigers began a season savoring the delectable flavor of victory.
Tennessee State
The Tigers used the big play to score the lion’s share of their 41 points, with four of their touchdowns coming on plays of 20 yards or more. The 495 yards of total offense was the most since racking up 547 in a 36-29 loss to Eastern Washington in the 2022 season opener.
Draylen Ellis had arguably his best game as a Tiger, completing 21 of 33 passes for 356 yards and 3 touchdowns. As much as Ellis and the TSU passing attack had it going, the same could not be said for the ground game. Although the Tigers ended up with a respectable 138 rushing yards, their run game was largely ineffective, only accounting for 69 yards on 21 carries through the first three-quarters of play. It was in the fourth quarter the rushing attack started to get rolling, racking up more yards, 76, than the rest of the game combined, on just 9 attempts.
TSU’s defense was pitching a shutout until 21 points in the fourth quarter, sullying what had been an otherwise largely dominant performance. Through the first three quarters, the unit limited Mississippi Valley to 8 first downs, 50 rushing yards on 27 carries, 54 passing yards, and a mere 2.39 yards per play. Unfortunately for the Tigers, things went awry in the fourth quarter, where in addition to the 21 points allowed, the MVSU offense was able to equal their first down count for the previous three quarters with 8, racked up 142 receiving yards, and averaged 10.06 yards per play. They will have to contend with a North Dakota State offense that averaged 237.5 yards per game and ran for 157 last week against Colorado.
North Dakota State
North Dakota State is coming off a 31-26 loss at Colorado in which the Bison spent a fair amount of time leading the way.
Although NDSU ran for 157 yards, it was far less than their normal proficiency, as the Buffaloes’ defense limited them to just 3.7 yards per carry. Cam Miller led all Bison ball carriers with 81 yards and 2 touchdowns on 16 carries. CharMar Brown ran for 33 yards on 9 attempts and Barika Kpeenu posted 32 yards on his 9 attempts. No other Bison ball carriers reached double figures.
With their run game slightly stifled an element that normally is secondary, the passing game, took center stage. NDSU passed for 292 yards, with 277 and their lone passing score, coming from Cam Miller. The 292 yards through the air was the most by North Dakota State since a November 9, 2019 meeting against Western Illinois, where NDSU threw for 338 yards in a 57-21 win. Eight different receivers caught at least one pass, Braylon Henderson leading the way with 5 receptions for 72 yards.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Bison was able to stymie the Buffaloes’ rushing attack, holding them to just 65 yards on 23 carries. Facing an elite quarterback in Shadeur Sanders, the NDSU pass defense was the sacrificial lamb; Sanders lit up the Bison for 445 yards and 4 touchdowns. Travis Hunter hauled in 7 catches for 132 yards and 3 scores while Jimmy Horn Jr caught 7 passes for 198 yards and a touchdown.
Prediction
On the most recent Big South-OVC football media call Tennessee State head coach Eddie George said NDSU plays with “violent physicality” and Tigers will get to see it up close and personal. Like 5 angry bullsdozers, the NDSU offensive will open holes for Cam Miller and other ball carriers all afternoon as the Bison will give the Togers a steady dose of their rushing attack.
There will be opportunities for Tennessee State in the passing game, provided they can keep Draylen Ellis upright long enough to do so.
Though Tennessee State will put up a valiant effort, but will eventually be worn down and overwhelmed by the Bison’s size and nonstop physicality.
Final Score: North Dakota State: 42 Tennessee State: 17
