NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL GAME NOTES | TENNESSEE TECH GAME NOTES
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – As the Tennessee Tech football team prepares to wind down its 2022 campaign, it's a time of reflection as the team looks to honor its graduate and senior players.
It's a remarkable group that will be stepping onto the Tucker Stadium turf for the final time on Saturday as the Golden Eagles host No. 25-ranked North Carolina Central for Senior Day. Among this group stands players who have added their names to the career statistical leaders, players who have earned their degrees and now stand to move on to the next stage of their lives, players who have given their all to wear the Purple and Gold and represent Tennessee Tech.
Senior Day will precede kickoff of Saturday's game against the visiting Eagles. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Roger Ealey and Frank Harrell will have the game on 98.5 KISS FM, while Dylan Vazzano and Sam Brooks will have the call on ESPN+ (subscription required).
The graduate and senior players to be honored on Saturday include Ben Baugh, Seth Carlisle, Tai Carter, Michael Dixon, Colton Dooley, Davin Dyal, Bryson Garrett, David Gist, Jake Huner, Jeremiah Oatsvall, Devin Parker, Heath Price, Aidan Raines, Josh Reliford, Spencer Stachyra and Christian Watson.
The Golden Eagles, meanwhile, have won three games in a row for the first time since the 2019 season and look poised to tack on one more as the season concludes on Saturday. A fourth-straight win would give Tech its longest winning streak since 2011, its first four-game winning streak against all Division I opponents since 2001 and its 12th 5-plus win season since 2000. It won't be an easy task, however, as North Carolina Central comes in.
With a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title already wrapped up to go along with their 8-2 record and 4-1 in the league, North Carolina Central has already claimed its spot in the Cricket Celebration Bowl and await the winner of Dec. 3's Southwestern Athletic Conference title game with 10-0 Jackson State, coached by Deion Sanders, standing as the early favorite.
So with the HBCU bowl bid already locked up – since the SWAC and the MEAC do not compete in the NCAA Division I FCS Playoffs – the question then becomes how will NCCU approach this game with their next one not for a month away at Atlanta's Mercedes Benz Stadium.
The Golden Eagles (4-6) are certainly expecting NCCU's full attention though. After all, Tech stunned the Eagles from the opening drive and never looked back, topping the hosts 27-16 last season in Durham. Raines blocked NCCU's punt and forced the Eagles to turn the ball over on downs at their own 2-yard-line and Tech's first offensive play of the game saw Willie Miller step into the end zone.
Gist also set his career-high in rushing yardage with 143 yards on 19 carries and also hauled in a touchdown catch. Then Hayden Olsen added two 46-yard field goals and three PATs for a successful day in Durham.
A year later and NCCU certainly had this date marked on its calendar. With the game standing as the last date on the regular-season calendar for both teams, the biggest thing on the line is pride, but both teams certainly have plenty to play for.
NCCU is averaging 40 points per game this season and racking up 450.3 yards of offense per game – 203.5 on the ground and 246.8 through the air. Defensively, the Eagles are allowing 20.4 points, 135.2 rushing yards and 188.7 passing yards a game.
Quarterback Davius Richard has thrown for 2.343 yards and 24 touchdowns – the eighth-most in the FCS – and is the third-highest scorer in the FCS with 218 points alone. It helps when Richard has also rushed for 637 yards and 12 touchdowns as well, ranking him ninth in the country in rushing scores.
The Eagles rank 38th in passing, 17th in rushing and 13th in total offense. They are also first nationally in third-down conversions (.580) and second in fourth-down conversions (.750).
Latrell Collier (611 yards) and J'Mari Taylor (357 yards) each have six rushing touchdowns behind Richard's lead. E.J. Hicks (492 yards) has caught seven touchdown passes, while Devin Hicks (496 yards) has hauled in six.
Their defense is no slouch either, ranking 18th in passing yards allowed, 19th in scoring defense and 18th in total defense. Their top four tacklers are fairly close with Manny Smith (48 stops) leading the way, followed by Max U'Ren (47), Khalil Baker (43) and Jaki Brevard (40) following. Baker also has a team-high four interceptions, while Brevard leads in sacks with three.
Tech, on the other side of the coin, is averaging 24.6 points per game and allowing an average of 33.4. On offense, the Golden Eagles are averaging 398.3 yards, including 175.4 on the ground and 222.9 through the air. On defense, Tech is allowing 190.0 on the ground and 251.0 through the air.
During Tech's three-game winning streak, however, the numbers tell a different story. Tech outscored its opponents 90-78 – a 30-26 average – and has compiled 1,371 yards of offense to 1,148 yards allowed. The Golden Eagles averaged 251.3 rushing yards and 205.7 passing yards, while allowing an average of 146.3 on the ground and 236.3 through the air.
One of the biggest differences in the last three games? One fumble lost, one interception as the Golden Eagles have been able to control turnovers and keep its turnover ratio in check.
Jeremiah Oatsvall, completing his graduate campaign with the Golden Eagles, already has the eighth-best passing season in program history with 2,082 yards and 18 passing touchdowns – tied for the third-most in a single year. Bailey Fisher owns both records with 2,643 yards and 21 passing scores in 2019.
Oatsvall also ranks fourth in single-season total offense, racking up 2,527 and could surpass Tre Lamb (2,555 in 2011) and Michael Birdsong (2,803 in 2016). Oatsvall also ranks seventh in passing touchdowns in a career with 18. Oatsvall presently has the sixth-most completions in a single season (183) and is in position to have one of the top career passing yards per game averages (208.2 ypg).
David Gist, meanwhile, moved into fifth in all-time rushing with 2,365 yards to date and eighth in career all-purpose yardage (3,464) with room to move as high as fifth depending on the results of Saturday's contest. Gist has rushed for 620 yards and five touchdowns, while catching passes for 195 yards and four more scores. With 27 combined rushing and receiving touchdowns, he currently stands outside the career top 10 in scoring touchdowns, while he entered the top 10 in receptions last week with his 106th catch.
With 18 career rushing touchdowns, he trails Larry Schreiber, Derek White, Dontey Gay and Jason Ballard – elite company indeed.
Metrius Fleming leads the team in receiving yardage with 307 yards and one touchdown on 25 catches, while Bradley Clark leads the team in catches with 27 for 287 yards and three touchdowns.
Hayden Olsen also kicked his 64th consecutive PAT last week at North Alabama to continue his perfect streak and move into second in the longest consecutive streak in program history, trailing Nick Madonia's 66.
On defense, Seth Carlisle leads the way with 87 total tackles, while Josh Reliford has 74 with 1.5 sacks, five pass breakups, two QB hurries and two forced fumbles. Carlisle also has three breakups and a quarterback hurry. Carlisle, with 319 in his career, needs 16 tackles to tie Norman Drake and enter the career top 10.
Tickets for Saturday's game are on sale now. Call (931) 372-3940, visit the Hooper Eblen Center ticket office or visit TTUsports.com to order.
Photo | Emily Armstrong
