By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
Game notes -- week 5 -- vs. Jacksonville State
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- It's been nearly a month since the Tennessee Tech football team opened its season at home against Western Illinois. Now, after a three-game road trip that took the Golden Eagles to Kennesaw State, Ball State and Eastern Kentucky, Tech is back in the friendly confines of Tucker Stadium as it looks to knock off reigning Ohio Valley Conference champion -- and current Football Championship Subdivision No. 5 --Jacksonville State.
Kickoff on Saturday is scheduled for 6:04 p.m. Central.
Fans can listen along to the radio broadcast with Roger Ealey and Dylan Vazzano providing the call on 98.5 KISS FM, or can watch on WCTE and the OVC Digital Network with Tim Scruggs and Sam Brooks providing broadcast duties.
Saturday's game is part of Legends Weekend, with the OVC-champion 1952 and 1972 Tech football teams being honored during the event.
Here's what head coach Marcus Satterfield and quarterback Andre Sale had to say about last week's game at Eastern Kentucky and this week's matchup against the Gamecocks during the team's weekly press conference:
SETTING THE SCENE
Saturday's game marks the 21st meeting between Jacksonville State and Tennessee Tech … The Gamecocks lead the series 6-14, including a 3-11 record in Ohio Valley Conference play … The two teams first met in 1938 with Tech taking a 21-0 victory … The Golden Eagles have a 3-8 record against JSU in Cookeville … Jacksonville State has won the last five meetings and eight of the last 10 … Tech's last win against Jacksonville State in Cookeville came in 2010 as the Golden Eagles rallied for a 35-24 victory to spoil JSU's OVC championship run as the title went to Southeast Missouri. Tech then won the following year 21-14 to help stake its claim for its own OVC title.
SCOUTING THE GAMECOCKS
Jacksonville State has had two open dates in the first four weeks of competition. The Gamecocks defeated a ranked Chattanooga team in the opener, fall to Georgia Tech, then knocked off a ranked Liberty team on Saturday ... In current five-game losing streak to JSU, the Gamecocks have outscored Tech 202-79 ... Bryant Horn has passed for 436 yards and three touchdowns on 31-of-53 passing with five interceptions ... Demontez Terry has caught 11 passes for 92 yards, while Krenwick Sanders, Shaq Davidson and Trae Berry have the three receiving scores ... Roc Thomas has rushed for 295 yards and three touchdowns on 55 carries ... Marlon Bridges (20 tackles, 1 INT), Jonathan Hagler (18 tackles, 1 INT) and Quan Stoudemire (18 tackles) leads the JSU defense.
BREAKING THE STREAK?
The 0-4 start for the Golden Eagles is the first time Tech has started a campaign with four straight losses since the 1991 season. The Golden Eagles lost six straight games to open that season – at Chattanooga, at Ohio, at Samford, vs. Eastern Kentucky, at UT Martin and at Southeast Missouri before picking up a home victory against Austin Peay to end the stretch. Tech finished 2-6 that season, 2-4 in OVC play.
CONTAIN THE TURNOVERS
Against Eastern Kentucky, the Golden Eagles turned the ball over five times, with two of those leading to Colonel scoring drives in the 24-21 defeat. Through the first four games of the season, Tech has turned the ball over 15 times (nine interceptions, six fumbles) while getting four in return for a turnover ratio of minus-11.
FOURTH QUARTER TEAM
Through the first four games of the season, the Golden Eagles are getting outscored 30-0 in the first quarter and 35-7 in the second – 65-7 in the first half. In the third, Tech has been outscored 41-13. The Golden Eagles only have the advantage in the fourth, outscoring its opponents 42-14 in the final period. In all four games, Tech has been outscored 120-62, despite one-possession losses to Kennesaw State and Eastern Kentucky.
MOVING THE BALL
However, it's not all negatives. The Golden Eagles have been able to move the ball. Against the Colonels, Tech outgained EKU 416-288. For the season, Tech trails in total offense 1,602-1,443.
ON SALE
Redshirt freshman quarterback Andre Sale has put together solid passing numbers through the first three games, collecting a cumulative 1,063 yards and six touchdowns on 87-of-138 passing. He is averaging 265.8 yards per game, and, if that rate continued, would surpass Michael Birdsong's 2016 record total of 2,577 passing yards with an approximate 2,924-yard tally.
DUAL THREAT
With the rise of running back Andrew Goldsmith, Yeedee Thaenrat is getting a little lightning to go with his thunder. Goldsmith has run for 45.5 yards per game, while Thaenrat has averaged 40.2 yards. The duo has combined for 343 yards.
BYRD THE WORD
Sale's numbers aren't the only one on a record pace. Dontez Byrd has caught 29 passes for 447 yards through the first four games, and is on pace for a 1,284-yard season, possibly surpassing his record 933 yards and also on pace for a potential-record 80 catches.
THE WALL
Elliott Normand, Aderick Moore, Deontay Wilson, Clay Davis and Deven Sullivan have created a pretty solid defensive unit with the quintet adding up for 157 of the team's total 295 tackles with two interceptions, a sack and a fumble recovery.
UP NEXT
Following Saturday's game against the Gamecocks, the Golden Eagles travel to Eastern Illinois on Oct. 7 and Southeast Missouri on Oct. 14 before taking their bye week on Oct. 21. Tech returns home on Oct. 28 to host Tennessee State as three of the last four contests of the season are at Tucker Stadium.
Photo by Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
