COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee State used a big 219-yard performance on the ground, including 126 yards from Jalen Rouse, to pick up a 30-14 win against Tennessee Tech Saturday night on the road at Tucker Stadium.
TSU improved to 2-4 on the year and 1-0 in Ohio Valley Conference play, while TTU fell to 1-5 and 0-3.
Draylen Ellis led Tennessee State's passing attack with 247 yards through the air, tossing two touchdowns and no interceptions. The signal caller also added 61 yards and one touchdown on the ground with a 50-yard TD run.
Rouse paced the TSU rushing attack by accumulating 126 yards over the course of the game, averaging 6.3 yards per carry.
Devon Starling reeled in two catches for 55 yards. Da'Shon Davis got in on the action in the passing game as well, hauling in three balls for 51 yards.
Josh Green paced the Tennessee State defensive effort, recording four tackles and one interception. Marcellious Lockett added one recovered fumble and Jahsun Bryant had six tackles and one recovered fumble in the win.
The Tigers won the turnover battle in Saturday's game, forcing three turnovers while avoiding any giveaways, with Tennessee State turning those takeaways into 13 points. Tennessee State put together a strong performance on the ground, racking up 219 rushing yards while averaging 5.1 yards per carry and out-rushing Tennessee Tech by 70 yards. Tennessee State converted on 56.2 percent of third-down attempts on the day.
Tennessee State's defense held up against Tennessee Tech's offense, giving up 326 total yards.
How It Happened
Tennessee State scored first and jumped out to a 3-0 lead with 9:05 left in the second quarter. TSU then extended their lead to 9-0 with another score.
Tennessee State kept Tennessee Tech off the scoreboard and extended its lead to 16-0 with :38 left in the second quarter. TSU continued to increase their lead, scoring again to go ahead 23-0.
Tennessee State kept building its advantage, scoring again with 5:09 remaining in the third quarter to go up 30-0. Tennessee State didn't score again and Tennessee Tech tacked on 14 more points to finish off the scoring.
Game Notes
» Tennessee State outgained Tennessee Tech 469-326, including a 250-177 advantage through the air.
» Tennessee State won the turnover battle 3-0 after intercepting one pass and recovering two fumbles.
» TSU scored first with 9:05 left in the second quarter and never trailed the rest of the game on their way to victory.
» Tennessee State had two tight end touchdowns with Jytierus Smith and Benjamin Johnson II recorded the TDs.
» Tennessee State had their highest scoring quarter in the second period, when they put up 16 points.
» Tennessee State converted 9 of 16 third downs while Tennessee Tech was successful on 4 of 14.
» Tennessee State gave up just seven points in three Tennessee Tech trips to the red zone.
» Tennessee State won the time of possession battle 31:59 to 28:01.
» Tennessee State got off to a fantastic start in the contest, putting 30 unanswered points on the board before Tennessee Tech could respond.
» Jeremiah Oatsvall led the TTU passing attack, completing 18 of his 30 attempts for 177 yards and two touchdowns with one interception.
» Oatsvall Tennessee Tech rushing attack with 61 yards.
TSU will be back in Nashville next Saturday afternoon as they are set to take on Eastern Illinois. Kickoff from Nissan is slated for 2:00 p.m.
