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Tennessee State University

TSU Athletics
24
UTM UTM 2-3 , 2-3
26
Winner Tennessee State TSU 2-3 , 2-3
UTM UTM
2-3 , 2-3
24
Final
26
Tennessee State TSU
2-3 , 2-3
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
UTM UTM 7 0 0 17 24
TSU Tennessee State 17 6 3 0 26

Game Recap: FOOTBALL |

Tigers Hold on to Defeat UT Martin, 26-24

Game 5: Tennessee State 26, UT Martin 24
Records: TSU (2-3), UTM (2-3)
Venue: Hale Stadium
Location: Nashville, Tenn.
Weather: Cloudy, 57 degrees with 17 mph winds
Kickoff Time: 2:07 p.m.
Game Duration: 3:08
Attendance: --- 1,587
 

NASHVILLE --- Tennessee State used a strong three quarters to propel themselves to a 26-24 win over UT Martin at Hale Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The Tigers received another big day from redshirt-freshman Devon Starling on the ground. The running back carried the ball 26 times for 134 yards and a touchdown. The score came late in the second quarter on a 65 yard jaunt down the middle of the field to give TSU a 23-7 lead.

The Big Blue managed just a 33 yard Antonio Zita field goal during the second half as Starling missed time in the later quarters due to cramping.

TSU totaled 204 yards rushing on the day, including scoring plays by Deveon Bryant and Sabree Curtis. The Tigers crossed the goal line on their second possession as Curtis punched it in from six yards out. Bryant entered on the next drive and broke free for a 32 yard scamper into the end zone.

Zita helped build a 17-7 advantage with a 51 yard field goal with under a minute to play in the first period.

The defense continued to put pressure on the Skyhawks as Emmanuel Baez led the charge with two sacks and a forced fumble. The front line finished the day with three sacks, six tackles for loss and four quarterback hurries. The constant pressure from the front seven helped create three interceptions by the defensive backfield.

In the fourth quarter, John Bachus and the Skyhawks stormed back with 17 points. Bachus finished the game with 306 yards on 27-of-47 pass attempts. His final attempt on the last play of the game was batter down by James Green.

The win improved the Tigers to 2-3 on the season and 1-1 in the race for the Sgt. York Trophy. A win at Tennessee Tech next week would bring the trophy back to Nashville for the first time since 2013. TSU has won a share of the traveling trophy for the last two seasons and three of the last four.


TOTALS

  • UT Martin outgained TSU 360-295 in total yards
  • Tennessee State held the advantage after three quarters 293-184.
  • The Tigers gained 204 yards on the ground, 91 through the air.
  • The defense surrendered 306 passing yards and 54 rushing
  • The Tigers ran 63 plays, averaging 4.7 yards per play
  • UTM finished with 21 first downs while TSU garnered 18.
  • TSU won the Time of Possession battle, 32:14-27:46
  • The Tigers finished 2-of-3 in Red Zone Scoring Chances
  • The Big Blue committed only three penalties for 30 yards
  • The defense recorded six tackles for loss, including three sacks, and had four quarterback hurries
  • TSU intercepted three passes and broke up five

INDIVIDUAL


FIRST QUARTER

  • The Tigers defense cut short the first two UT Martin drives, allowing 21 yards on eight plays.
  • On the Big Blue's second drive, Isaiah Green hit Cam Wyche for a 26 yard pass play to ignite the offense.
  • Devon Starling took over from their carrying the ball on five consecutive plays, rushing for 29 yards.
  • Sabree Curtis spelled Starling on the next play and broke around the right side for a six yard touchdown run to give TSU a 7-0 lead with 6:29 on the clock.
  • The Skyhawks needed just four plays to go 75 yards to even the score at 7-7.
  • The Tigers began their next drive at the 38 yard line and began to work the ground game again.
  • Starling went for 14 yards before quarterback Deveon Bryant took off around the left side for five yards to the UTM 43.
  • Starling added 11 more yards on two carries setting another score for TSU.
  • Bryant called his own number once again around the edge and sprinted down the right sideline for a 32 yard scoring run.
  • On the first play of the next UTM drive, Kenyon Garlington stepped in front of a John Bachus pass for his first career interception.
  • Garlington returned the pick six yards to the Skyhawks 32.
  • Antonio Zita would turn the turnover into points with a 51 yard field goal, extending the Tigers lead to 17-7 with 57 seconds remaining in the opening quarter.
  • In the stanza, TSU outgained UTM 127-112.

SECOND QUARTER

  • Emmanuel Baez recorded the first sack of his career to open the second quarter.
  • The tackle for loss helped force a punt, giving the Tigers possession at their seven yard line.
  • The TSU drive was kept alive on two occasions by UTM penalties before Green found Dayron Johnson for a 16 yard gain to the visitors 38.
  • The Big Blue continued to move down the field and take time off the clock as Green hit Wyche for a 16 yard gain.
  • The Tigers traveled 81 yards on 15 plays and used close to eight minutes of the quarter, but was unable to capitalize as Zita's 29 yard field goal attempt was blocked.
  • The Skyhawks next drive was thwarted in just six plays as Josh Green tracked down a Bachus throw at the TSU 35 for his third interception of the year.
  • After Jalen Rouse carried for 10 yards, Starling busted through the middle of the line and out ran all defenders to the end zone for a 65 yard touchdown.
  • The Tigers controlled the period with 124 yards opposed to the Skyhawks 11.

THIRD QUARTER

  • The Tigers took the opening kickoff and moved 57 yards down the field on 11 plays.
  • The big play on the series was a 15 yard pass play from Green to Wyche.
  • TSU capped off the five and a half minute drive with a Zita field goal from 33 yards out for a 26-7 lead.
  • The defense came up big once again as Terry Straughter intercepted a pass at the UTM 35.
  • TSU would not be able to take advantage of the turnover as Zita's 52 yard attempt sailed wide left.
  • The quarter ended with UTM outgaining the Tigers 61-42.


FOURTH QUARTER

  • The Tigers were held to two yards over the final 15 minutes of the game.
  • UT Martin scored on each of its three full possessions of the period.
  • The Skyhawks were able to score 17 unanswered points to move to within two at 26-24.
  • After their final touchdown, UT Martin's attempt at the two-point conversion fell short as Terray Jones broke through the line and rushed Bachus into hurrying his pass.
  • The Skyhawks had one final attempt in the game with four seconds remaining from their own 24.
  • Bachus launched a ball down field, only to be denied as Josh Green batted down the pass.

GAME NOTES

  • James Green served as the captain for the Tigers.
  • TSU won the coin toss and deferred.
  • Kick off occurred at 2:07 p.m. under cloudy skies and 17 mph winds.
  • Sabree Curtis scored a touchdown for the first time since October 15, 2016 against Eastern Kentucky.
  • A 51-yard field goal late in the first quarter ties for Antonio Zita's second-longest conversion, tying for the seventh longest in school history.
  • James Green recorded his third interception this season late in the second.
  • Devon Starling's 65-yard touchdown was the longest play executed by a Tiger this season.
  • Emmanuel Baez registered his first career sack in the second quarter.
  • Terry Straughter pulled in the second interception of the game, his first since Sept. 29, 2018 versus Vanderbilt.
  • Tennessee State is now 1-1 in the Sgt. York Trophy series.
  • Tennessee Tech is 1-0, while UT Martin fell to 1-1; Austin Peay finished the season at 1-2.

WHAT'S NEXT:
The Tigers will take to the road for the final time this spring as they travel to Tennessee Tech. The game is set for 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Apr. 3.
 

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