In front of a crowd of 27,584, The 35th Southern Heritage Classic played out very similar to the 34th iteration of the game. Tennessee State, this time powered by special teams and strong quarterback play, built a big lead early only to have to withstand a furious UAPB comeback attempt to hang on and win.
Tennessee State enjoyed a 38-14 lead early in the third quarter, appearing on the path to transforming the second half into extended garage time. However, the large deficit seemed to activate UAPB’s comeback gene, as after largely being inept since the opening drive of the game, the Lions scored a pair of touchdowns to trim the lead down to ten points. The UAPB defense, which had been a great facilitator of the Tennessee State offense, roared to life in the third and stymied several TSU offensive possessions. A field goal gave Tennessee State some additional breathing room as the Arkansas Pine Bluff ran out of steam 13 points short.
The game saw more than solid play from both signal callers, with neither throwing the ball to the other team. Tennessee State quarterback Draylen Ellis put together another strong effort, completing 20 of 33 for 226 yards and 3 touchdowns. UAPB’s Mekhi Hagens completed 15 of his 31 pass attempts for 276 yards and 3 touchdowns of his own.
It was Arkansas Pine Bluff who drew first blood, as their opening drive was the Mekhi Hagens show. On the all-pass drive, the Lions’ signal-caller went 5/7, as he matriculated the UAPB offense down the field, ending on a 33-yard connection with JaVonnie Gibson that Arkansas Pine Bluff an early 7-0 lead.
Tennessee State responded on the first possession as they quickly marched down the field, aided largely by a 49-yard completion from TSU quarterback Draylen Ellis to Bryant Williams. The drive stalled in the red zone, relegating the Tigers to settle for a 25-yard field goal off the foot of James Lowery to trim the lead to 7-3.
An 11-play, 61-yard drive on their next possession was fruitless, as a rare miss from Lowery on a 38-yard field goal attempt, left the score at 7-3.
Forcing a three-and-out on the subsequent UAPB possession, Dayron Johnson’s 31-yard return of the subsequent punt, set the Tigers offense up at the UAPB 18-yard line. Two plays later, Jalen Rouse’s powerful 3-yard run gave Tennessee State their first lead of the day at 10-7.
Tennessee State, now in an offensive rhythm, traveled 75 yards in 7 plays, finding paydirt once again when Ellis threaded the needle to Karate Benson on a 22-yard strike to extend the TSU lead to 17-7 with the successful PAT.
UAPB was able to mount a drive on their next possession, needing 9 plays to cover 75 yards, and ending when Hagens connected with Daemon Dawkins on a 30-yard scoring toss to slice the deficit to 17-14.
Dayron Johnson turned in his second big return of the evening on the subsequent kickoff, setting up the TSU offense at the UAPB 45 after his 45-yard run back. Eight plays later Tennessee State found themselves in the endzone for the third time of the half when Ellis found Jordan Gant from 12 yards out to extend the lead to 24-14.
Tennessee State was able to force BJ Curry to cough up the football on the ensuing kickoff, which was recovered by Brandon Wilson, handing the ball back to the Tennessee State offense at the UAPB 20. The drive stalled out, forcing a James Lowery, 40-yard field goal attempt, which thankfully for the Lions, he missed, leaving the score at 24-14.
It would not be long before the Tigers got their next offensive opportunity, as the TSU defense blocked the punt on UAPB’s next possession, setting up Tennessee State at the Arkansas Pine Bluff 26-yard line. The drive ended 5 plays later when Ellis threw his third scoring pass of the half, this one to Jalal Dean from 4 yards out to put the Tigers up 31-14 headed into halftime.
Tennessee State went right to work in their first possession of the first half, taking the ball 72 yards in 7 plays, ending when CJ Evans took it to the house from 38 yards out to extend the TSU lead to 38-14.
UAPB answered back with a touchdown on their next possession, on a drive that was buoyed by a 49-yard completion from Hagens to Gibson, on a play that initially appeared to be headed for a sack. The 5-yard completion from Hagens to Kevin English brought the count to 38-21.
After forcing a UAPB punt, Johnson muffed the aforementioned punt, gift-wrapping the ball for the Golden Lions’ offense at the Tennessee State 17-yard line
Arkansas Pine Bluff took advantage of the gift when Oshawn Ross bowled in from 2-yards out to trim the Tennessee State lead to 38-28.
On the ropes, Tennessee State was able to get on the board once again via a converted 40-yard field goal off the foot of Lowery to extend the TSU advantage to 41-28.
With the ball in their possession late in the fourth and UAPB seemingly unable to stop their running from netting positive gains on any play, Tennessee State was on the path to salting the clock away for their second win of the season. However, Jaden McGill fumbled and it was recovered by UAPB’s Elijah Jenkins at the Golden Lions’ 48-yard line with 3:11 left in the contest. The 11-play drive resulted in a turnover on downs, giving the ball back to the Tigers, who, this time, were able to allow time to expire.
The win lifts the Tigers to 2-1, which is the second consecutive season they have started the season with such a record. Tennessee State begins Big South-OVC play next week when they head to Cookeville, Tennessee to take on Tennessee Tech. TTU obliterated TSU 35-0 in their meeting last season.
UAPB falls to 1-2; they will look to bounce back when they host Central Arkansas next week. Central Arkansas defeated the Lions 45-23 in their last meeting on September 18, 2021
