The Tennessee State football team is on a hot streak that can only be interrupted by their bye week.
They’ll enjoy a week off after a 27-14 win at Howard Saturday, spoiling the Bison’s historic 100th homecoming game. The win was the Tigers’ fourth in a row and lifted their record to 6-2 on the season. Defending MEAC champion Howard fell to 3-4 and had their nine-game Greene Stadium winning streak snapped in the process.
Here are the takeaways from Saturday’s game.
Draylen Ellis gets results
No, the Austin Peay transfer didn’t throw a touchdown pass (he came into today’s game with 13 in hand already), but he did complete 19 of 30 passes for 289 yards with no interceptions and gave TSU the lead for good with a 26-yard touchdown run in the final minute of the first quarter.
It’s DJ’s field today. Ellis loves the District in the opening quarter, completing 6 of 8 passes and rushing for 36 yards.
1Q | 0:54
TSU — 7
HU — 0 pic.twitter.com/kaXpq6xkNM— Tennessee State Football (@TSUTigersFB) October 19, 2024
Ellis’ sharp throws and timely scrambling kept the Bison defense honest and allowed the TSU run game to do plenty of damage from in close.
Big plays mattered
Tennessee State let one big play go unrewarded after Ellis and Karate Brenson linked up on an 83-yard pass on the game’s first play, but other clutch plays followed in all three phases of the game.
After Howard closed within six points late in the third, running back C.J. Evans returned the ensuing kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown to essentially put the game away.
The Tigers’ defense also performed well, with interceptions by Jalen McClendon and Tyler Jones, which led to field goals by James Lowery.
JALEN MCCLENDON WITH AN INT… USING JUST ONE 1 HAND (the other is injured)!!!!! pic.twitter.com/ifrqNUFFvU
— Tennessee State Football (@TSUTigersFB) October 19, 2024
Tennessee State controls its own postseason destiny
The Tigers’ 6-2 start is their best in years, already matching last season’s win total, but there’s still some work to be done. After the bye, TSU has all Big South-OVC games left, including a crucial home game against Tennessee-Martin on Nov. 2. Road games at Western Illinois and Gardner-Webb follow, and the season ends at Nissan Stadium against conference leader Southeastern Missouri.
If TSU is to reach the FCS playoffs, these last four games will be crucial. Anything less than 3-1, and it will be another year of wondering.
Howard has to regroup quickly
The Bison’s non-conference schedule did not end on a good note, but that has little effect on the rest of their season, as they will finally start MEAC play at Norfolk State next weekend. They have a conference title to defend, so the disappointment of losing homecoming will have to be a short memory, with five conference rivals looking to take their crown away from them.
