Tennessee State’s run game and defense leads to 30-14 OVC win over TTU

30

 TSU

14

TTU

Powered by dominant second and third quarters and a running game that produced 219 yards, Tennessee State won their second straight game and their first Onio Valley Conference matchup of the season 30-14 over Tennessee Tech.

Tennessee Tech got off to an awful start when Jayvian Allen fumbled the opening kickoff which was covered by TSU’s Marcel Lockett at the TTU 28-yard line. The TSU offense advance to the four yard line, but the Tech defense stiffened, keeping Tennessee State out of the end zone and forcing a field goal attempt, which was blocked by Trace Danley. The remainder of the quarter was a punt fest, with the offensive units exchanging kicks at the end of fruitless possessions.

Tennessee Tech threatened to be the first team to score a but Jeremiah Oatsvall’s pass on 4th and 3 at the TSU 20 fell incomplete. Following that turnover-on-downs, Tennessee State kicked a 27-yard field goal at the end of a 14-play, 70 yard drive that put TSU up 3-0.

The subsequent TTU drive ended prematurely when Oatsvall was sacked by Davoan Hawkins and Terrell Allen, causing a fumble that was recovered by Jashun Bryant, setting the TSU offense up at the Tech 30. A third down pass from Draylen Ellis to Benjamin Johnson put the first touchdown of the day; the PAT was missed, leaving the score at 9-0.

When Oatsvall was intercepted by Josh Green, it marked TTu’s second consecutive turnover, and already their third of the day. As with the previous one, Tennessee State turned it into points, when Draylen Ellis scampered in from 50-yards, to make the score 16-0.

Tennessee State’s opening drive of the second half a 9-play, 82-yard drive that ended in points when Daveon Bryant found Jytireus Smith from 3-yards out to push the TSU lead to 23-0. TSU got the ball back following a Tennessee Tech three-and-out and the Tigers matriculated the ball 91 yards in 11plays, getting in the endzone when Ellis connected with J.J. Holloman on a 21-yard touchdown pass to extend the Tennessee State advantage to 30-0.

Tennessee Tech finally got on the board in the fourth quarter with a 10-play, 44 yard drive that ended with a 4-yard pass from Oatsvall to Heath Price to make the score 30-7. A second touchdown was added after Tennessee State punt when Oatsvall connected with Jalal Dean on a 31-yard touchdown pass to cut the Tennessee State advantage to 30-14 with 9: 42 left in the game and it seemed the momentum had made it’s way over the to the Tennessee Tech side. However TSU was able to take the ball that. although resulted in a missed Kaleb Moseley 31-yard field goal, it chewed 5:09 off the clock as TTU was repeatedly to stop the running of Jalen Rouse, who was able to get positive yards on seven consecutive runs, which kept the chains and the clocks moving.

It appeared Tennessee State sealed the game when Darius Harper intercepted an Oatsvall psds but Tennessee Tech was given a reprieve by a roughing passer call on Tada Patterson. However, the drive ended on an unconverted 4th and 14 from the TSU 17-yard line. Draylen Ellis in his second game game back from injury, was sharper and more productive, completing 14 of his 28 passes for 247 yards, 2 touchdowns and no interceptions; he also picked up 61 yards and another touchdown on the ground. Devon Starling still seems to be working his way back, as he only ran for 21 yards on 8 attempts, however the aforementioned Eliis and Jalen Rouse picked up the slack. Rouse put together another excellent effort, running for 126 yards on 20 carries, as he and and the Tiger run game was riddle the Golden Eagles were unable to solve as TSU ran for 219 yards on the evening.

Next Game:
Eastern Illinois
10/22/2022 | 2:00 PM
ESPN+
94.9 FM The Fan

Team Statistics

2ND QUARTER
09:05 – TSU – MOSLEY, Kaleb 27 yd field goal 14 plays, 70 yards, TOP 4:50	3	0
06:45 – TSU – JOHNSON, Benjam 30 yd pass from ELLIS, Draylen (MOSLEY, Kaleb kick failed) 3 plays, 30 yards, TOP 0:19	9	0
00:38 – TSU – ELLIS, Draylen 50 yd run (MOSLEY, Kaleb kick), 6 plays, 74 yards, TOP 2:14	16	0
3RD QUARTER
11:45 – TSU – SMITH, Jytireus 3 yd pass from BRYANT, Deveon (MOSLEY, Kaleb kick) 9 plays, 82 yards, TOP 3:08	23	0
05:09 – TSU – HOLLOMAN, J.J. 21 yd pass from ELLIS, Draylen (MOSLEY, Kaleb kick) 11 plays, 91 yards, TOP 4:05	30	0
4TH QUARTER
13:39 – TTU – PRICE, Heath 4 yd pass from OATSVALL, Jerem (PARKER, Devin kick) 10 plays, 44 yards, TOP 3:31	30	7
09:44 – TTU – DEAN, Jalal 31 yd pass from OATSVALL, Jerem (PARKER, Devin kick) 4 plays, 62 yards, TOP 1:13	30	14