Tennessee State Game Notes | Austin Peay Game Notes
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Game 1: Tennessee State (0-0) at Austin Peay (0-4)
Date: Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021
Location: Clarksville, Tenn.
Stadium: Fortera Stadium (10,100)
Time: 2:00 p.m. CT
TV: ESPN+
Audio: Big Blue Network
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
TV: ESPN+. Barry Gresham will serve as play-by-play along with Patton Cook who will provide analysis.
Audio: Big Blue Sports Network will carry the game live with Greg Pogue (play-by-play) and Will Brown (analyst). Pregame will begin at 1:45 p.m. CT.
Series Information: This is the 23rd meeting with the Tigers leading the series, 13-9. The teams first met in 1988, a 16-12 victory for the squad from Clarksville. TSU earned its first win in the series a year later, 38-10. The Govs snapped the Tigers five game win streak in the series in 2017 with a 21-17 win at Nissan Stadium. The prior 11 meetings had run in streaks for the teams. TSU won a trio of games from 1996-2008, only to see the Governors reel off three of their own from 2009-11. The Tigers then went on a five game streak, including a last second 41-40 win in Clarksville in 2016. The Big Blue pulled off a thrilling 26-24 Homecoming win in 2019 stopping APSUs two game run.
Head Coach Rod Reed:
Coach Reed is in his 11th season at the helm of the Tigers and holds a 56-56 record. Only two coaches have produced more wins at TSU. John Merritt claimed 174 victories in his 20 years (1963-83) for a .806 winning percentage (174-35-7), while Harry Kean spent 10 years in charge of TSU from 1944-54 and compiled a 93-15-3 record (.838). TSU is 9-1 in season openers under Rod Reed, including a 17-10 win at FBS opponent Georgia State in 2017. The lone opening day loss came at the hands of Bethune-Cookman, 12-9, at the John Merritt Classic in 2013.
Tennessee State:
The Tigers are coming off a 3-9 season, 2-6 in the OVC. The offense will look to replace eight starters, including quarterback Cameron Rosendahl, wide receivers Chris Rowland and Steven Newbold, as well as three offensive linemen, led by the Chicago Bears 7th round selection Lachavious Simmons. Rosendahl set a new TSU record in completions with 241 and finished second passing yards (3,023) and completion percentage (61.2). Rowland, a unanimous All-American selection and the Black College Hall of Fame Deacon Jones Player of the Year, caught 104 passes for 1,437 yards and was the only player in all of DI and DII to score a touchdown rushing, receiving, on a punt return and kickoff return. Newbold added 59 catches for 823 yards and six touchdowns. Junior running back Shawn McColley is the top returning rusher 37 214 yards on 37 carries. McColley will look to step into the role Te'kendrick Roberson held as the focus back. Roberson rushed for 750 yards on 176 touches and was followed by Seth Rowland who had 75 attempts for 427 yards. Josh Green and Terray Jones are coming off freshmen All-American campaigns and are anticipated to continue their success. Green will be joined in the defensive backfield by BOXTOROW Preseason All-American Nick Harper Jr. TSU returns a pair of Preseason All-OVC special teamers in kicker Antonio Zita and punter Kaleb Mosely.
Last 10 Results:
2019 - Tennessee State 26, Austin Peay 24
2018 - Austin Peay 49, Tennessee State 34
2017 - Austin Peay 21, Tennessee State 17
2016 - Tennessee State 41, Austin Peay 40
2015 - Tennessee State 20, Austin Peay 6
2014 - Tennessee State 31, Austin Peay 27
2013 - Tennessee State 31, Austin Peay 6
2012 - Tennessee State 34, Austin Peay 13
2011 - Austin Peay 37, Tennessee State 34
Long Time Coming
The game versus Austin Peay marks the first game for Tennessee State in 463 days. The Tigers last played on Nov. 23, 2019, in Cookeville, Tenn.
TSU earned a 37-27 win at Tennessee Tech. The Ohio Valley Conference postponed all fall sports on Aug. 14 due to concerns and the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. The Tigers were scheduled to play on Sunday, Feb. 21 against Jacksonville State but a winter storm through the middle Tennessee area forced postponement delaying the 2021 spring season.
Scoring Streak
Tennessee State has scored a point in 70 consecutive games. The last time the Tigers were shutout was on Nov. 2, 2013 at Eastern Kentucky (44-0). The streak is the second longest current streak in the OVC. Jacksonville State has scored in 95 consecutive games dating back to a 23-0 loss at Florida on Nov. 17, 2012. The longest all-time streak at the FCS level belongs to Montana with 406 dating back to 1989.
Condensed Schedule
Due to the pandemic the 2020 season was reduced to a conference only spring season. The schedule consists of a seven game round robin facing each team in the OVC with the exception of Eastern Kentucky. The Colonels opted out after playing nine games in the fall. In 2018, the Tigers played just nine games due to two cancellations due to weather. The Southern Heritage Classic versus Jackson State was cancelled due to lightning. The following week, the Tigers game at Hampton was cancelled due to Hurricane Florence. The seven game slate is the smallest for TSU since 1957. The Big Blue under the direction of Howard Gentry finished the '57 campaign at 5-0-1.
Quotes:
Head Coach Rod Reed
Thoughts on team not being able to play last week, but getting geared up for this week
- It was tough on our kids not being able to play last week, but you know the conditions here and several other places in our area. We had an unplayable surface. We still had an inch of ice on the field Sunday afternoon, so it was definitely a disappointment not being able to play, but we look forward to getting started this week against a really talented football team in Austin Peay.
Playing against a team who did get to play last week, and thoughts on what you saw
- I thought they were a really, really physical football team. Just watching the game, they dominated in yardage. They had some miscues and three or four turnovers that really set them back. They showed some explosiveness on offense with (DeAngelo) Wilson going deep and Baniko (Harley) catching a touchdown. Their front on both sides are really physical. They pounded the ball and the running backs ran the ball well. They have three guys they rotate in there.
- Watching film, you saw some early-season rust. The good thing for them is that they have a game under the belt, and they say you make your biggest jump between your first and second week. They'll most likely have a lot of those miscues cleaned up. They have a young dynamic quarterback, so we have our work cut out for us.
- Their defense is stout. We watch Cordell run around up there. They're physical. We have our work cut out for us and we're looking forward to it.
Why does TSU and APSU always play neck and neck?
- I think it has a lot to do with proximity. A lot of guys that are at Peay are from the Middle Tennessee area. It's about bragging rights. You have the Sargent York Trophy out there. We always talk about winning the state of Tennessee. There are also a lot of recruiting wars going on there. There's a lot involved in this game and it's become a huge rivalry game for us. There's a lot of pride on the line.
On the Offense
- I thought our offensive line looked pretty good until I saw Austin Peay's defense. We'll see how they match up. I feel good about our offensive line. Coach (Russ) Ehrenfeld does a great job with those guys year in and year out. They do throw a lot of things to catch you off balance. They're really physical up front. It'll be a good test for our offensive line to block those guys.
In terms of offensive scheme, do you lean towards running game complimenting your passing game or vice versa?
- It's a little give and take there. You've got to be able to take what the defense gives you. Looking at Austin Peay, they want to get you behind the chains. They put a lot of guys in the box. They'll force you to try and throw the ball. They have good corners that stick to guys like glue. We have to establish the run game and not get behind the sticks on first down. Once you get behind the sticks, they can be really creative in what they do.
On the defense
- We have to be physical up front. Without a question they were a physical football team. They pounded it a lot and I think if not for the turnovers that could've been a different game. Tennessee Tech dominated in time of possession mostly because of turnovers. They missed a couple of deep balls that could've been big plays for them. We've got to play well in the secondary and we have to stay disciplined. Harley and Wilson are explosive. They have a lot of weapons that are disposable and control the game on both fronts.
What's your message to the team
- One play at a time. One game at a time and it starts with Austin Peay. Guys have to mentally and physically prepared to play. We've been coaching that up. The good thing is, we got to see some film. You have an idea of what you're going to see. Early in the season, things tend to change up a little bit. I'm sure they saw some things on film they want to change up. We just have to continue to prepare the way we have been and now we have a little bit more ammunition with the film we were able to see. I know they're well coached. Anytime you have a dual-threat quarterback you have an opportunity.
You haven't played in 15-16 months where the Govs have played seven since your last.
- It'll be a little pressure. It is a challenge. Anytime you have guys with game experience on the field, and we have to play some young guys this year, it's going to be an advantage for APSU. We've prepared for what we saw on film. Our guys have done a tremendous job with the limited fall ball we've had. Our guys have been bought in and locked in. We just have to the coaching we've received to the field and make game time adjustments when we need to make them.
What's it liked to have an experienced specialist especially if teams' offenses or defenses struggle early on.
- It's great to have a guy that you have confidence in who can put it through the uprights or punt it where you want to punt it. We also have Jimmy Lowery and Kaleb Mosley. We feel good about our kicking game.
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