NASHVILLE — Looking for its first three-game winning streak since the first three games of the 2017 season, the Tennessee State football team travels to Eastern Illinois for a meeting with the Panthers on Saturday at 2 p.m.
Where: Charleston, Ill.
Stadium: O'Brien Field (10,000)
Surface: Hellas Fieldturf
Forecast: 63, Sunny Skies
TV: ESPN+ — Eastern Illinois will broadcast the game live on ESPN+ with Mike Bradd (play-by-play) and Jason Fisher (analyst) on the call.
Radio — 102.1 FM The Ville, Sirius XM 390 (car), 980 (app) — Big Blue Sports Network will carry the game live with Greg Pogue (play-by-play) and Will Brown (analyst). Pregame will begin at 1:30 p.m. CT.
SERIES INFORMATION — This is the 26th all-time meeting between with the Tigers and Panthers. EIU leads the season series 15-10, but the Tigers have won two of the last three meeting and are looking to extend their winning streak over the Panthers to three games. The series began in 1982, a 20-19 win for TSU in the quarterfinals of the NCAA I-AA Championship. TSU and EIU have met twice in the playoffs, with the second meeting coming in 2013 — a 51-10 victory for EIU in the FCS Second Round. Last season, the Tigers won on a walk-off 35-yard field goal from Antonio Zita.
THE SCRAMBLER — Quarterback Geremy Hickbottom led a second half charge for the Tigers in the win over Tennessee Tech with 256 passing yard for two touchdowns. Hickbottom scrambled efficiently to the tune of 52 net yards and an averaged of 6.5 yards per run. His longest sneak was 16 yards. The QB completed 20-of-34 passes with his longest throw of 56 yards.
WISH UPON THIS STAR — Devon Starling finished with 65 rushing yards in the win over Tennessee Tech, but his biggest contribution came as a receiver with a season-best 58 yards on four receptions.
A NON-MARKED MAN — Rodell Rahmann picked up another touchdown against Tennessee tech, his fourth game finding the end zone. Rahmann finished with 106 yards on four catches with his longest reception of 56 yards.
ZITA NOW THIRD — Kicker Antonio Zita made his 50th career field goal on September 18 against Kentucky State, moving him into sole possession of fourth place in OVC history. Zita now has 53 field goals (third in OVC history) and is six away from the OVC record (held by TSU's Jamin Godfrey). His 53 made field goals is second among active FCS players.
FCS PUNTER OF THE YEAR WATCH LIST — Punter Kaleb Mosely is one of two OVC punter to be named to the 2021 FCS Punter of the Year Award Watch list by the Augusta Sports Council.
So far this season, Mosley has 30 punts for an average of 41.53 yards. His longest this year was a 58 yarder at Austin Peay. Mosley has reached 50+ yards six times with four touchbacks and four fair catches. The 2021 watch list was compiled based on the 2020 FCS Punter of the Year watch list, the 2020 All-Conference teams, the 2020 All-American Teams and the 2021 pre-season All-Conference Teams. The FCS Punter of the Year Award winner will be voted on by the FCS Punter of the Year Award/Ray Guy Award Committee and will be announced after the regular season.
TOP FIVE IN OVC — Starling is fifth in the OVC for most yard rushed in a game with 142 against Kentucky State.
