SOUTH CAROLINA STATE AT TENNESSEE TECH
Oct. 5 | 1:30 p.m. | Tucker Stadium | Cookeville, Tenn.
GAME NOTES | LIVE STATS | VIDEO | AUDIO
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech Football team is red-hot in Big South-Ohio Valley Conference, standing alone at the top of the standings with a 2-0 mark, its first in league play since the 2011 campaign.
Tech (2-2 overall) will try to keep the momentum building this weekend as the Golden Eagles step back into non-conference action as they welcome South Carolina State to Tucker Stadium for the first time on Saturday afternoon as they try to send their third Bulldog opponent in their first five games back to the doghouse.
Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Dylan Vazzano and Sam Brooks will have the call on ESPN+ (subscription required), while Roger Ealey and Marcelo Metzelar will narrate the action on 106.1 The Eagle.
South Carolina State enters the contest with an identical 2-2 record. The Bulldogs have been road warriors, playing their first three games on the road before opening their home slate last week with a 45-25 victory over North Carolina A&T. With Saturday's contest, SCSU will have played four of their first five games away from their home stadium.
Saturday's game is also Legends Weekend as the 1959 OVC champion Golden Eagles will be honored for the 65th anniversary.
The Bulldogs dropped a 22-18 decision at Florida A&M in their season opener, then picked up a 23-20 win at The Citadel. Georgia Southern hosted SCSU and took a 42-14 win over the Bulldogs.
Offensively, SCSU shades a little bit more on the pass, throwing for 909 yards to 637 on the ground. However, they do finish things off on the rush with eight of their 13 touchdowns have come from the running backs.
The Bulldogs have had five different players throw a pass this season, but the primary signal-caller has been Eric Phoenix, who has thrown for 899 yards in four games, averaging 224.8 yards per game. He has completed 76 of his 118 passes with five touchdowns and three interceptions. Phoenix is also mobile, standing third in the team rushing chart with 33 carries for 118 yards – but he also has lost 71 yards from his 189 net total, brought down nine times on sacks with five QB hurries against.
Caden High has been his go-to receiver, hauling in 27 passes for 331 yards – an average of 82.8 per game – with two touchdown connections. Justin Smith-Brown also has 203 yards on 18 catches, while Einaj Carter (128 yards), K.Z. Adams (39 yards) and Deyandre Ruffin (52 yards) each have a touchdown catch.
On the ground, Deondra Duehart has been a force, rushing for 318 yards and four touchdowns on 64 carries, averaging 5.0 yards per carry and 79.5 yards per game. Josh Shaw only has eight carries for eight yards, but he also has three touchdowns to his credit. Adams also has a touchdown run on his 31 rushes for 149 yards.
Defensively, there's an even cluster of players on the tackle charts, led by Daythan Peterson with 19 tackles, including two for-loss for 13 yards. Diego Addison has 18 stops and three for-loss, while also returning a fumble. Ashaad Hall has 15 tackles with three sacks for 18 yards, while Jamare Benjamin leads the team in pass breakups with three and Adonis Davis and Michael Brunson collecting the team's two interceptions.
The Golden Eagles, meanwhile, are continuing to build momentum. After the two Football Bowl Subdivision losses against Middle Tennessee and then-No. 1 Georgia to start the season, Tech has put together impressive showings against Tennessee State and Gardner-Webb.
In the last two games alone, the Golden Eagles have established a huge rushing attack, rolling up 561 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground – in conference contests at that. Tech is outgaining its opponents on the ground 744-387 so far this season.
After throwing for 274 yards in the opener at Middle Tennessee, Tech's passing attack may seem limited with 22-for-44 passing for 186 yards in the last three games, but it's misleading. The first of those three games was at Southeastern Conference foe Georgia. Against Tennessee State and Gardner-Webb, the Golden Eagles were able to roll up huge yardage on the ground.
Tech can still very much air the ball out if needed, collecting 460 yards through passing. Jordyn Potts is 49-for-82 through the air with 442 yards and four touchdowns, while throwing just one interception. D.J. Linkins has 160 receiving yards with a score on 14 catches, joined by Ashton Maples with two touchdown catches and Jordan Yates with the other.
On the ground, Jalen Mitchell leads the way with 204 yards on 43 carries, Obie Sanni has 170 yards on 16 totes and Aidan Littles has 163 on 16 carries – including an 87-yard run for a touchdown last week at Gardner-Webb. Seven different Golden Eagles have rushed for a touchdown this season, including Mitchell, Sanni, Littles, Torin Baker, Jordan Yates, Tremel Jones and Potts.
Defensively, Tech has held its last two opponents to a total of 103 rushing yards – all of it from Gardner-Webb. The Golden Eagles are outrushing its opponents 744-to-387 – and that includes 166 from Georgia. Tech also has 10 sacks in the last two games, posting seven against Draylen Ellis and Tennessee State. The turnover ratio is also in the Golden Eagles' favor at plus-1 with six takeaways and five giveaways.
Cayman Spaulding leads the team in tackles with 22, including 3.5 for-loss and one sack. Omari Philyaw has 21 stops with an interception. Theron Gaines, the reigning Stats Perform National Defensive Player of the Week, leads the team with five tackles-for-loss for 42 yards and 3.5 sacks for 39 yards. Philyaw, Tim Coutras, Caldra Williford, Ty Moss and Devin Hunter have all picked off passes.
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