NASHVILLE — Tennessee State took a 24-23 lead on Daylin Lee's 5-yard touchdown pass to Francisco Pratts III with 8:48 remaining, but Jackson State answered with a 15-play, 77-yard drive and Andrew Ivaniciuc's 21-yard field goal with 2:31 left to hand TSU a 26-24 loss Saturday night at FirstBank Stadium.
Tennessee State drove from its 25-yard line to the Jackson State 7 on its final possession. A delay-of-game penalty and a sack pushed TSU back before the drive ended on downs with 53 seconds remaining.
Tennessee State dropped to 0-1, while Jackson State improved to 1-0.
Lee completed 23 of 41 passes for 265 yards and a touchdown without an interception. He also led TSU with 40 rushing yards on 13 carries and scored on a 1-yard run.
Brenton Paul added 38 yards on nine carries, including a 9-yard touchdown. Jayden Guy caught nine passes for 148 yards, while Cam Bulluck finished with seven receptions for 53 yards. Pratts had two catches for 11 yards and the fourth-quarter touchdown.
Brendan Hale led the Tennessee State defense with a game-high 10 tackles. Epoki Fakaosi added six stops, while Brandon Collins recorded 1.5 tackles for loss and shared TSU's lone sack with Jaylon Price.
Tennessee State converted 12 of 19 third-down opportunities, controlled possession for 33:01 and did not commit a turnover. Jackson State finished 6 of 14 on third down.
Jackson State outgained TSU 402-354, including a 180-89 advantage on the ground. Jared Lockhart completed 17 of 26 passes for 222 yards and a touchdown. Nate Blount IV rushed for 101 yards on 15 carries, and Jabari Jones caught four passes for 117 yards and a touchdown.
Ivaniciuc made four of five field-goal attempts, connecting from 38, 45, 51 and 21 yards.
How It Happened
Jackson State opened the scoring when Lockhart connected with Jones for an 88-yard touchdown with 7:46 remaining in the first quarter.
Tennessee State responded with a 13-play, 75-yard drive. Paul completed the possession with a 9-yard touchdown run, and Preston Hurless tied the score with the extra point at the 2:04 mark.
After Ivaniciuc missed a 25-yard field-goal attempt early in the second quarter, TSU drove 80 yards in 10 plays and took a 14-7 lead on Lee's 1-yard touchdown run with 6:49 remaining in the half.
Hurless extended the lead to 17-7 with a 45-yard field goal with 1:56 left. Ivaniciuc answered with a 38-yard field goal in the final minute, sending TSU into halftime with a 17-10 advantage.
Jackson State scored 13 unanswered points in the third quarter. Ivaniciuc made field goals from 45 and 51 yards, while Emari Matthews scored on a 2-yard run to put Jackson State ahead 23-17.
Tennessee State regained the lead with a 14-play, 75-yard drive that lasted 7:20 and extended into the fourth quarter. Lee completed the march with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Pratts, and Hurless' extra point gave TSU a 24-23 advantage.
Jackson State began its final scoring drive at its 20-yard line with 8:44 remaining. The possession included a fourth-and-1 conversion and a TSU pass-interference penalty that moved the ball to the 9. Tennessee State kept Jackson State out of the end zone, but Ivaniciuc converted the go-ahead field goal from 21 yards.
TSU moved 68 yards on its final possession, reaching the Jackson State 7. After an incomplete pass, a delay-of-game penalty and a 7-yard sack, the drive ended on fourth down at the Jackson State 29.
Game Notes
» Tennessee State and Jackson State finished with 22 first downs apiece.
» TSU converted 12 of 19 third downs, while Jackson State converted 6 of 14.
» Tennessee State held the ball for 33:01 and did not commit a turnover.
» TSU finished with 265 passing yards, compared with Jackson State's 222.
» Daylin Lee accounted for 305 yards of total offense and two touchdowns.
» Jayden Guy led Tennessee State with nine receptions for 148 yards.
» Brendan Hale led all players with 10 tackles.
» Tennessee State went 1 for 2 on fourth down.
» Jared Lockhart completed 17 of 26 passes for 222 yards and a touchdown for Jackson State.
» Nate Blount IV led Jackson State with 101 rushing yards.
» Jabari Jones recorded four catches for 117 yards and a touchdown.
» Andrew Ivaniciuc made four field goals, including the 21-yard game-winner.
» Attendance was 32,467.
