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Tennessee State University

TSU Athletics
20
EIU EIU 0-3 , 0-3
21
Winner Tennessee State TSU 1-2 , 1-2
EIU EIU
0-3 , 0-3
20
Final
21
Tennessee State TSU
1-2 , 1-2
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
EIU EIU 3 14 0 3 20
TSU Tennessee State 3 0 12 6 21

Game Recap: FOOTBALL |

Zita's Field Goals Push Tigers Past Eastern Illinois, 21-20

Game 3: Tennessee State 21, Eastern Illinois 20
Records: TSU (1-2), EIU (0-3)
Venue: William J. Hale Stadium
Location: Nashville, Tenn.
Weather: Cloudy, 59
Kickoff Time: 1:05 p.m.
Game Duration: 3:20
Attendance: --- 1,855
 

NASHVILLE ---  Tennessee State rode the leg of kicker Antonio Zita to claim its first win of the 2021 spring season. Zita connected on three field goals, including the game winner at the end of regulation, to give TSU a 21-20 victory at Hale Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Zita finished the day 3-of-4 on field goals, as each topped the other. The junior put the Tigers on the board with a career long 51 yarder late in the first quarter. The next attempt did not go his way, missing wide left on a 38 yard attempt in the second.
 
The Fayetteville, Tenn. product would come back late in the fourth quarter attempting to give TSU its first lead of the season. Zita would give the Tigers an 18-17 lead with 4:10 remaining in the game on a school record and Ohio Valley Conference tying 62 yard field goal. The boot is the second longest distance in FCS history and the longest since a 63 yard field goal by South Florida's Bill Gramatica in 2000.
 
After EIU responded with a field goal to go ahead 20-18 with 41 seconds remaining in the contest, Isaiah Green hit Cam Wyche for a 48 yard pass play to the EIU 19 setting up another opportunity for Zita.
 
Two plays later, the kicker sealed the comeback with a 35 yarder as time expired, giving TSU the win.
 
Green finished the game 21-of-32 for 257 yards. Wyche led all receivers with six receptions for 125 yards.
 
Kenyon Andrews had a team high eight tackles and seven solos.
 
Davoan Hawkins added seven stops, 3.5 for loss, including 1.5 sacks.


TOTALS

  • Tennessee State outgained Eastern Illinois in total yards, 367-310
  • The Tigers gained 257 yards through the air, 110 on the ground
  • The defense surrendered 145 passing yards and 165 rushing
  • The Tigers ran 68 plays, averaging 5.4 yards per play
  • TSU collected 19 first downs, opposed to 22 by the Panthers
  • EIU won the Time of Possession battle, 31:12-28:48
  • The Tigers finished 3-of-3 in Red Zone Scoring Chances
  • The Big Blue was tagged with eight penalties for 91 yards
  • The defense recorded eight tackles for loss, including five sacks for 39 yards

INDIVIDUAL

  • Antonio Zita finished 3-of-4 in field goals.
  • Zita connected from 51, 62 and 35 yards, the last coming as time expired.
  • Devon Starling led the Tigers on the ground with 80 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries.
  • Cam Wyche and Josh Trueheart tied for a game high six receptions.
  • Wiyche finished with 125 yards receiving, while Trueheart went for 63.
  • Freshmen Zaire Thornton and Cedric Watkins each grabbed three passes.
  • Kenyon Andrews led the defense with eight tackles, seven solo.
  • Davoan Hawkins registered 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks to go along with seven tackles, four solo.
  • Nate Sutton collected two sacks.
  • James Green pulled down an interception.
  • Kaleb Mosley had one punt over 50 yards and dropped two inside the 20.

FIRST QUARTER

  • The defense forced a three-and-out on the Panthers first possession.
  • It was the first time this season the Big Blue held an opponent off the scoreboard on the opening drive.
  • The Tigers first drive began with a seven yard pass from Isaiah Green to Cam Wyche.
  • The Big Blue then took to the ground game for the next five plays.
  • Devon Starling carried all five times for 30 yards.
  • After a completion of five yards from Green to Cedrick Watkins, the drive stalled with an assist to a pre-snap penalty.
  • EIU used a 17-yard completion and a pair of TSU penalties to move into TSU territory.
  • The Panthers would get on the scoreboard first on a 41 yard field goal by Stone Galloway.
  • On the Tigers second drive, Green completed passes on the first four plays for two quick first downs to reach midfield.
  • Starling would get his number called again for three consecutive carries for 12 yards.
  • The Tigers would rely on the leg of Antonio Zita, who booted a career long 51 yard field goal to even the score, 3-3.
  • The Tigers outgained EIU 83-59.

SECOND QUARTER

  • The Panthers rushed for 30 yards on the first play of the quarter to move to the TSU 27.
  • Four plays later, EIU found the end zone on a four yard pass to take a 10-3 lead.
  • The Tigers tried to answer on their next drive as the picked up 10 yards on a rush by Vincent Perry and a pair of passing first downs.
  • Green hit Josh Trueheart for 14 yards and connected with Cam Wyche on a "free play" as EIU jumped offsides.
  • The promising drive ended as Green was sacked and fumbled at the EIU 34.
  • The defense would get the ball back on the very next play as James Green stepped in front of a pass back from the wide receiver to the quarterback.
  • Green returned the interception to the Panthers 24.
  • The Tigers were not able to take advantage of the field position as Zita missed left from 38 yards away.
  • TSU made a stop and looked to get the ball back with 1:39 remaining in the half, but the special teams was flagged for roughing the punter to give the visitors new life at the Tiger 25.
  • Three plays later, TSU was called for another infraction to once again give the Panthers a new set of downs.
  • EIU capitalized with a touchdown with 47 seconds remaining on the clock.
  • The Panthers outgained the Tigers 127-50 in the quarter.

THIRD QUARTER

  • The Tigers opened the half with two passes from Green to Vincent Perry, with the second going for 27 yards.
  • After Green rushed for six yards, the quarterback hit Trueheart over the middle for 22 yards to the Panthers four yard line.
  • Two plays later, Shawn McColley took a direct snap and pounded through the left side of the line into the end zone.
  • The Tigers were not able to convert the extra point leaving the score at 17-9.
  • The Big Blue defense started just as fast as the offense forcing a three-and-out after a Davoan Hawkins sack.
  • Starling started the drive with three Starling runs for 12 yards and a first down.
  • Green went back to the air with a 12-yarder to Trueheart and a 15-yarder to Wyche.
  • Starling found the end zone three plays later as the running back continued to look for a hole on his second and third effort before hitting pay dirt.
  • The Tigers made the score 17-15 as their two-point attempt fell short.
  • EIU put together its best drive of the quarter moving 46 yards on nine plays.
  • The Panthers attempt to add three to their lead was blocked by Josh Green.
  • The stanza ended with a big pass play from Green to Wyche for 34 yards.
  • On the quarter, TSU outgained EIU 160-25.

FOURTH QUARTER

  • The Tigers were not able to convert on a 48 yard field goal attempt as the snap was mishandled, giving the ball back to EIU.
  • The defense would bend a bit on the next EIU drive, before making a stop on a fourth down play at the TSU 12.
  • After a three and out by the offense, the defense went back to work.
  • Hawkins came up big on back-to-back plays, hitting a receiver behind the line of scrimmage for a six yard loss and then teamed up with Terray Jones on a sack.
  • The offense moved the ball across midfield on the next possession setting up a long field goal attempt.
  • Holder Heath Williams received the snap from Carson Buchanan and placed the ball down at the TSU 48 as Zita drilled a 62 yard field goal to give the Tigers an 18-17 lead with 4:10 remaining in the game.
  • EIU proceeded to go on a 12 play 56 yard drive, eating up three and a half minutes.
  • The Panthers attempted a 32 yard field goal which was blocked by the Tigers special teams, but the play was blown dead for a delay of game.
  • EIU converted the 37 yard field goal with 41 seconds remaining on the clock to retake the lead, 20-18.
  • On the first play of the drive, Green hit a streaking Starling down the right sideline for a 48 yard completion.
  • The wide receiver was ruled out at the EIU 19, setting up another Zita attempt.
  • The junior secured the first win of the season for the Tigers as his 35 yarder split the uprights as time expired.
  • In the period, EIU outgained TSU 99-74.

GAME NOTES

  • This marks the 24th meeting between Tennessee State and Eastern Illinois.
  • Tennessee State is 9-15 in the all-time series versus EIU.
  • In Nashville, the Tigers are 7-6 against the Panthers.
  • Under head coach Rod Reed, TSU is 3-8 versus EIU.
  • Kick off occurred at 1:05 p.m.
  • The weather at Hale Stadium was 59 degrees with a 7 mph northeast wind under intermittent clouds.
  • James Green served as the captain for the Tigers; Cam Durley and Josh Green served as co-captains.
  • Big Blue won the coin toss and deferred.
  • Antonio Zita kicked a career-long 51-yard field goal to put the Tigers on the board.
  • The field goal tied for sixth longest field goal all-time in program history; and would eventually tie for seventh.
  • The 51-yarder matched Jamin Godfrey (11/5/11) at Eastern Illinois and Lane Clark (9/30/17) versus EIU.
  • Zita set a new school record and tied the Ohio Valley Conference mark with a 62 yard field goal late in the fourth quarter.
  • The kick is the second longest distance in FCS play, with three tied at 63 yards.
  • The last was South Florida's Bill Gramatica in 2000.
  • James Green recorded the first interception of his career in the second quarter.
  • Shawn McColley notched the first rushing touchdown of the year early in the third quarter.
  • Devon Starling registered his first career touchdown in blue and white.

WHAT'S NEXT:
The Tigers will take to the road to take on Murray State on Sunday, March 21 at 2:00 p.m. in Murray, Ky.

QUOTES
Head Coach Rod Reed

These kids have been fighting for the last few weeks, for us to be able to go out and win a game like this. These guys are still growing We finally got one figured out today, hopefully we can carry that on to the rest of the season.
 
- On the decision to attempt a 60-plus yard field goal
Well you know, he (Zita) asked me a few minutes ago 'why'd you let me kick the ball?' I said because you told me you could. He's one of our better weapons on the team so why not use him?
 
- On the team's progression this spring
I think we had 300-plus yards on offense. Hopefully we can build on this and continue to play steady defense. I thought we played fairly well on third downs. He (Zita) was able to come back and make those field goals. It felt good for us to be able to execute. We played a little bit of complimentary football today. We've got a pretty good defensive front. And for a team that has only six to seven seniors, they still played their butt off.
 
- On game winning field goal
He's pretty automatic on that (Zita). I felt pretty good about where we were. I don't want to get emotional… I think my man Joe was looking down on us today. Joe Davis, we lost him this summer and I think he was looking down on us today.

#BigBlueRising

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