HBCU Sports
  • SECTIONS
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Baseball
    • Softball
    • Volleyball
    • Track & Field
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Bowling
    • Other Sports
    • News
    • Opinion
    • Features
  • BANDS
  • VIDEOS
  • AWARDS
    • Support the HBCU Sports Awards
    • Donor Wall
  • FORUMS
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • DONATE
  • SHOP
No Result
View All Result
HBCU Sports
  • SECTIONS
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Baseball
    • Softball
    • Volleyball
    • Track & Field
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Bowling
    • Other Sports
    • News
    • Opinion
    • Features
  • BANDS
  • VIDEOS
  • AWARDS
    • Support the HBCU Sports Awards
    • Donor Wall
  • FORUMS
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • DONATE
  • SHOP
No Result
View All Result
HBCU Sports
No Result
View All Result
Home Football

Eddie George and ‘Tiger mentality’ has Tennessee State streaking for the first time in years

HBCU Sports by HBCU Sports
October 17, 2021
0
Geremy Hickbottom, Tennessee State

Photo: Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian

569
VIEWS

Tennessee State head coach Eddie George says he believes in what he’s coined the “Tiger mentality.” It was on display saw all five of those in play during TSU’s 20-13 overtime victory over Tennessee Tech.

It was the first time in five years that the Tigers have won back-to-back games.

“That’s who we are. That’s who I am,” said George of the “T.I.G.E.R.” mentality. “I’m going to work to make sure this team is ready every week. It’s developing that championship mentality that we have to have around here. The energy in that locker room right now, the belief just went out the ceiling. It was a gutty win. I am glad our boys fought to get the victory.”

The defense for both teams played stellar in the first quarter. In their first offensive series, Tech gambled on a fourth and one from their 38-yard line but TSU safety Josh Green stopped Tech running back John Gist for no gain. On the ensuing drive, TSU drove the ball down the Tech one-yard line. On third down, Tiger running back Jalen Rouse fumbled. Tech’s Devin Squires recovered it at his two-yard line.

“We have to start faster on offense,” said George. “We had a chance to put points on the board and we fumbled on the goal. We go down first and goal and jump offsides and kick a field goal. I give a lot of credit to Tennessee Tech. They came with a great game plan. There were times that we just didn’t execute.”

Tech took over and put on an impressive drive, riding Gist on seven of nine plays that took them deep into Tiger territory. The quarter ended with Tech on a five-yard loss by Gist to make it third and 10.

Also read: Deion Sanders directs special message at Alabama State after homecoming win

After the scoreless first quarter, the Tigers stopped Tech on a third and 10 at their 24-yard line. A false start on fourth down made the field goal attempt a little longer but Tech took the lead on a 42-yard field goal by Hayden Olsen on the second play of the quarter. The 7:02 scoring drive covered 72 yards on seven plays.

On the kickoff following the field goal, sophomore Darryon “Fatcat” Johnson’s 47-yard return put the Tigers in great field position at the Tech 38-yard line. A pass interference by Tech’s Josh Reliford and a 24-yard run by Starling put the Tigers at the Tech four-yard line. The drive stalled, but Tiger kicker Antonio Zita tied the score at three on a 25-yard field goal. The drive took six plays for 31 yards, and it covered 2:16.

After forcing a Tech punt, the Tigers had a promising drive that stalled on a fumble by Tiger quarterback Geremy Hickbottom. Tech’s Xavier Washington recovered the ball at his 32-yard line. During the drive, TSU was called for two penalties. The biggest one was after Hickbottom hit Vincent Perry for a first down. It was called back on an illegal “hands to the face” penalty on TSU’s Zaire Thornton.

On the ensuing drive, Tech held the ball to the final seconds of the half, converting on a 31-yard goal by Olsen. Tech took a 6-3 lead into the locker room.

Tech received the second-half kickoff and drove the ball inside TSU territory. The drive stalled, and TSU took over on their 11-yard line. The Tigers moved the ball to their 35-yard line and on second and eight. Hickbottom was injured on a sack by Tech’s Chris Tucker. The drive stalled and both defenses finished the quarter pitching shutouts.

The fourth quarter started with Tech going for it again on fourth and two on the Tiger 29-yard line. Tech quarterback Willie Miller was stopped for a one-yard loss giving the Tigers the ball back on their 30-yard line. TSU struck fast, starting their two-play touchdown drive with Hickbottom dumping a pass to Starling for a 14-yard gain to their 44-yard line. Hickbottom then rolled to his right and threw a pass to his left to tight end Rodell Rohmann who took it 56 yards for his sixth receiving touchdown of the season. The big stop on fourth down seemed to give the offense the lift they needed to get in the end zone.

“I have a lot of trust in my defense,” said Rohmann. “We know that they are going to handle their stuff and play their hearts out every game. Having the defense that we have, having the players making the plays out there, creates a nice little cushion. I have confidence in them.”

Tech answered with a 75-yard drive in 13 plays for a touchdown, culminated by a Moore pass to Jamal Dean for 10 yards on third and goal. It was Dean’s first career TD. Olsen’s extra point made it 13-10 with 8:21 left in regulation.

After both teams’ drives stalled, the Tigers took over at their 13-yard line with 3:27 to go in regulation. Hickbottom and Rohmann connected on a 37-yard seam route to get the drive started. A Hickbottom to Josh Trueheart pass on third and five for six yards kept the drive alive. Then Hickbottom connected with Johnson for six yards on third and three to get the ball to the Tech 26-yard line. Starling then rushed for 13 yards and the Tigers were in the red zone.

On third and three at the Tech six-yard line, Hickbottom had one on one coverage on his favorite target Rohmann, but it was broken up by Tech’s Cameron Hudson. After a Tech timeout, Zita tied the score on a 24-yard field goal with five seconds left.

Tech won the toss and elected to go on defense. It only took the Tigers two plays to make it to paydirt. After Hickbottom connected with Starling on a 12-yard pass, he then hit Johnson on a swing pass to the left flat and he did the rest scoring on a 13-yard pass play. Zita’s extra point made the score 20-13, TSU.

TSU’s defense then took the field with a chance to get the victory. The energy on the Tiger sideline was ramped up, giving the defense the lift that they needed. After a Gist run made it first and goal for Tech, TSU defense rallied and was able to force a fourth and goal at their four-yard line. A false start penalty by Tech’s Cory Huff backed the ball up to the nine-yard line. The game ended when TSU safety Cory Rahman picked off a Miller pass, setting off a wild celebration. The false start allowed the Tigers to concentrate on the last play being a pass.

“Obviously the play changed after the false start,” said Rahman. “They could have easily done some RPO, QB run stuff, which they were pretty successful during the game doing that. We kind of prepared for that then changed the call. They were running the crossers and it was just a matter of time. Just for it (the interception) to happen at that moment was pretty special.”

The win evened the Tigers’ record to 3-3 on the season and 1-1 in OVC play.

“I am really so proud of our guys for fighting through adversity, finding ways to win games like that. We did not play our best. We kept our composure and found a way to win the game,” said George.

Courtesy: Tennessee State Athletics 

Tags: Tennessee State
HBCU Sports

HBCU Sports

Related Posts

Norfolk State adds crosstown PWI rival to men’s basketball schedule

by Chris Stevens
May 20, 2025
0
March Madness bracketology: Where will HBCUs be seeded? Here is what experts say

Norfolk State has agreed to renew a rivalry with a cross-town program that goes back decades. The Spartans announced Tuesday afternoon that they have reached an agreement with...

Read moreDetails

HBCU chooses to opt in to House settlement for athlete pay. What it means

by HBCU Sports
May 20, 2025
0
Package deal: HBCU basketball brothers hit transfer portal together

The HBCU University of Maryland Eastern Shore declared its intent to the NCAA and Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference to opt into the House v. NCAA settlement. While awaiting final...

Read moreDetails

You can now buy a Michael Vick Norfolk State jersey. Here’s how to get one

by HBCU Sports
May 20, 2025
0
You can now buy a Michael Vick Norfolk State jersey. Here’s how to get one

You can own a Michael Vick Norfolk State jersey. The Spartans new head coach revealed on social media striking new football gear and announced that fans can now...

Read moreDetails

Record-breaking HBCU football player of the year signs pro contract

by HBCU Sports
May 19, 2025
0
Jada Byers, Virginia Union

The Memphis Showboats have bolstered their backfield by signing standout running back Jada Byers. NFL Network’s Steve Wyche first reported the news. Byers, a dynamic playmaker from Virginia...

Read moreDetails

Benedict College hires longtime HBCU coach to lead men’s basketball program

by Jarrett Hoffman
May 19, 2025
0
Benedict College hires longtime HBCU coach to lead men’s basketball program

Following the departure of former head coach Artis Maddox, the Benedict Tigers have announced their new leader for the men's basketball program. Longtime HBCU coach Dannton Jackson has...

Read moreDetails
Next Post
Florida A&M football

Ultimate HBCU Sports Football Poll: A wild weekend leads to big changes in the rankings

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe

RSS HBCU Sports Forums

  • Tremaine Jackson wants Prairie View to not just be ‘elite SWAC school’
  • 2025 Transfer Portal 2 (Juco Included)
  • Happy Belated Birthday to .....
  • End of Sports Center in Los Angeles
  • Encouragement and Motivation II
  • The 22nd thread about *rump
  • Lighten the Mood XIV
  • MUSIC 2025
  • 2025 HBCU Spring Commencement Speeches
  • FCS moving toward 12-game regular seasons beginning in 2026

  • TERMS & CONDITIONS
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • COMMENT POLICY
  • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
 CONTACT US

© 2025 RASHAD MEDIA - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PARTNER OF IONE DIGITAL / CASSIUS NETWORK

No Result
View All Result
  • SECTIONS
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Baseball
    • Softball
    • Volleyball
    • Track & Field
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Bowling
    • Other Sports
    • News
    • Opinion
    • Features
  • BANDS
  • VIDEOS
  • AWARDS
    • Support the HBCU Sports Awards
    • Donor Wall
  • FORUMS
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • DONATE
  • SHOP

© 2025 RASHAD MEDIA - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PARTNER OF IONE DIGITAL / CASSIUS NETWORK

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • SECTIONS
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Baseball
    • Softball
    • Volleyball
    • Track & Field
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Bowling
    • Other Sports
    • News
    • Opinion
    • Features
  • BANDS
  • VIDEOS
  • AWARDS
    • Support the HBCU Sports Awards
    • Donor Wall
  • FORUMS
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • DONATE
  • SHOP

© 2025 RASHAD MEDIA - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PARTNER OF IONE DIGITAL / CASSIUS NETWORK

X