NASHVILLE — Fresh off its first season opening win since 2019, the Tennessee State football team will meet its toughest FCS opponent in history traveling to Fargo, North Dakota to face the second-ranked North Dakota State Bison on Saturday at 2:30 PM.
Tennessee State (1-0) vs. North Dakota State (0-1)
Date: Sat., September 7, 2024
Time: 2:30 p.m.
Location: Fargo, N.D.
Venue: Fargodome (18,700)
TV: ESPN+ / ABC ND
Dom Izzo (PxP)
Radio: WNSR — 560 AM, 95.9 FM (Nashville), 107.9 FM (Smyrna)
Sirius XM:
Stream: TSU Tigers App, WNSR.com, Alexa (Play WNSR)
Greg Pogue (pxp)
Nick Guerriero (analyst)
Social: @TSU_Tigers | @TSUTigersFB
Game Notes: TSU | NDSU
Game Day Information: Watch | Live Stats
SERIES INFORMATION: This will be the first meeting between TSU and North Dakota State. The Tigers and Bison will continue their series in 2025 in Nashville on Sept. 6. TSU will travel to North Dakota State next Saturday to face the Bison, who lost by five points to Colorado in Week 1. NDSU remains second in this week's FCS National Poll is released. This will be just the fourth time TSU football has traveled West since 1986 —playing Nevada in 1986 (FCS Quarterfinals), Air Force in 2011, Eastern Washington in 2022, and North Dakota State in 2024.
WHERE TO WATCH & LISTEN: TSU Football can be heard on WNSR's flagship stations: 560 AM, 95.9 FM (Nashville), and 107.9 FM (Smyrna), and streamed online at WNSR.com. The broadcast is also available globally on Sirius XM. WNSR will provide comprehensive pregame and postgame analysis, exclusive interviews with coaches and players, and behind-the-scenes content for enhanced fan engagement. "The Voice of the Tigers," Greg Pogue, returns for his 13th season behind the mic and will be joined by Dean Cokinos, head coach of the Nashville Kats of the Arena Football League, for home games and former Tennessee Titans wide receiver Chris Sanders for road games. The action can also be streamed on the TSU Tigers app.
WEEK 1 BY THE NUMBERS:
8 — The number of different players who recorded a catch in TSU's season opener. Newcomer Jalal Dean led the team with nine receptions for 144 yards and one touchdown. Karate Brenson and Jordan Gant also caught touchdown passes. Brenson was second on the team with 86 yards on two catches. Da'Shon Davis was third with 78 receiving yards, including a 73-yard touchdown that was negated due to an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after Davis flipped into the end zone. Newcomer Bryant Williams added three catches, while Jason Hoath Jr., Jalen Rouse, and Exavious Reed each had one.
356 — The total passing yards by Draylen Ellis, a career-best for the Olive Branch, Mississippi, native. Ellis completed 21 of 33 passes for three touchdowns.
4 — The number of running backs used by TSU. Returnees Gant and Rouse, along with newcomers Jaden McGill and CJ Evans, all saw action in the backfield. McGill, a 2023 NJCAA First-Team All-American and Division III Offensive Player of the Year from the College of DuPage, led the team with 43 yards on seven carries, including a 30-yard rush. Gant added 39 yards on nine carries, Rouse had 23 yards and the lone rushing touchdown, and Evans contributed 12 yards on six attempts.
231 — The total yards by which TSU outgained its opponent. The TSU offense finished with 356 passing yards and 138 rushing yards. The Tigers averaged 10.5 yards per pass and 16.2 yards per catch. On the ground, they ran 30 times, averaging 4.6 yards per carry.
21 — The number of first downs recorded by TSU — 11 from passes, eight from runs, and two via penalties.
2 — The number of turnovers forced by TSU against Mississippi Valley State. The first was a 54-yard fumble recovery by Micah Gay after Eriq George stripped the ball from Delta Devils quarterback Ty'Jarian Williams in the first quarter. In the second quarter, Boogie Trotter intercepted Williams and returned it 35 yards after Chris Walker applied pressure from the wing.
MVP — Draylen Ellis and Micah Gay were named top players of the John A. Merritt Classic. Ellis earned the Offensive MVP, while Gay received the Defensive MVP award.
20 — The number of different players who recorded a tackle for TSU. Dion Villiers led the team with eight total tackles (seven solo and one assist). Eriq George had six tackles (three solo and three assisted). The Tigers recorded three sacks, with George and newcomer Tyler Moore each recording one, and Jalen Bell and Keandre Booker splitting another. Moore also forced a fumble and broke up a pass. Newcomer Malik Ganaway had five tackles and the lone breakup.
80% — TSU converted on 4-of-5 red-zone opportunities, with two touchdowns (one passing, one rushing) and two field goals.
482 — The total number of yards James Lowery kicked on kickoffs. Lowery averaged 60.3 yards per kick and put two into the end zone for touchbacks. The Floridian connected on two field goals (from 20 and 32 yards) and was 5-for-5 on PATs, accounting for 11 points.
27 — The number of new players who saw action for TSU on Saturday.
