TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Daylin Lee found Brenton Paul for a 20-yard touchdown with 51 seconds remaining, completing a nine-play, 75-yard drive that lifted Tennessee State to a 29-26 victory over Florida A&M on Saturday night at Bragg Memorial Stadium.
Tennessee State improved to 1-3, while Florida A&M fell to 1-3. The victory was the Tigers' seventh consecutive win over the Rattlers and increased their all-time series lead to 32-24.
Daylin Lee completed 18 of 27 passes for 259 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. He also rushed for 10 yards as Tennessee State finished with 390 yards of offense.
Brenton Paul accounted for all three of Tennessee State's offensive touchdowns. He rushed 26 times for 92 yards and one score while catching four passes for 36 yards and two touchdowns. Trevor Pearson added 15 rushing yards.
Cam Bulluck led the receiving corps with four catches for 84 yards, including a 63-yard reception. Jayden Guy caught four passes for 62 yards, and Aaron Duncan II added two receptions for 49 yards. Duncan's 42-yard catch helped set up the winning touchdown.
Matthew Wilson led the Tennessee State defense with seven tackles. Jalen LaBranche recorded three tackles and returned an interception 61 yards for a touchdown. Epoki Fakaosi forced a fourth-quarter fumble that Sammy Taylor recovered, while Brandon Collins and Jaylon Price recorded sacks.
Special teams provided another pivotal play after Florida A&M took a 26-20 lead with 5:12 remaining. Rymen Mosley blocked the extra-point attempt, and Syncere Safeeullah returned it 97 yards for two points to pull Tennessee State within 26-22.
The Tigers won the turnover battle 2-0 and scored seven points off those takeaways. Tennessee State held the ball for 36:04, converted 6 of 15 third downs and went 1 for 1 on fourth down.
Florida A&M finished with a 449-390 advantage in total offense, but Tennessee State limited the Rattlers to 134 rushing yards.
Tennessee State has an open date before beginning OVC play at Western Illinois on Oct. 3. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT in Macomb, Illinois.
How It Happened
Florida A&M opened the scoring on a 5-yard touchdown pass from Dustin Fletcher to Maliek Denmark with 10:30 remaining in the first quarter.
Tennessee State answered with a 13-play, 65-yard drive that consumed 6:48. Lee completed the possession with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Paul, and Preston Hurless tied the score at 7 with the extra point.
Paul gave Tennessee State a 13-7 lead on a 1-yard touchdown run with 3:33 remaining in the second quarter. Denmark responded with an 18-yard touchdown run, but Florida A&M missed the extra point and the teams entered halftime tied at 13.
LaBranche put Tennessee State back in front when he intercepted Armond Parker and returned the pass 61 yards for a touchdown with 11:58 left in the third quarter. Florida A&M tied the score at 20 on Parker's 32-yard touchdown pass to Jamal Hailey.
Fakaosi forced a fumble early in the fourth quarter, and Taylor recovered at the Florida A&M 40. The Tigers drove to the 7-yard line before a 24-yard field-goal attempt was blocked.
On Florida A&M's next play, Parker connected with Jaquan Lee for an 80-yard touchdown. Mosley blocked the extra point, and Safeeullah returned it 97 yards to cut the deficit to 26-22.
Tennessee State took possession at its 25 with 5:12 remaining. Lee converted fourth-and-2 with a 7-yard pass to Duncan before finding him for 42 yards to the Florida A&M 5. After a penalty and a sack pushed the Tigers back to the 20, Lee connected with Paul for the winning touchdown with 51 seconds left.
Florida A&M reached its 45-yard line on the final possession before time expired.
Game Notes
» Tennessee State earned its first victory of the season.
» The Tigers have won seven consecutive games against Florida A&M and lead the all-time series 32-24.
» Florida A&M outgained Tennessee State 449-390.
» Tennessee State won the turnover battle 2-0 and scored seven points off takeaways.
» Tennessee State converted 6 of 15 third downs and its only fourth-down attempt.
» The Tigers won the time-of-possession battle 36:04 to 23:56.
» Tennessee State ran 73 offensive plays, compared with 58 for Florida A&M.
» Daylin Lee completed 18 of 27 passes for 259 yards and two touchdowns without an interception.
» Brenton Paul finished with 128 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns.
» Jalen LaBranche recorded a 61-yard interception return for a touchdown.
» Rymen Mosley blocked an extra point that Syncere Safeeullah returned 97 yards for two points.
» Tennessee State limited Florida A&M to 134 rushing yards.
» Armond Parker completed 14 of 25 passes for 267 yards and two touchdowns with one interception.
» Jamal Hailey led Florida A&M with eight catches for 83 yards and one touchdown.
