VIDEO | AUDIO | GAME NOTES
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
ORANGEBURG, S.C. – Tennessee Tech hits the midpoint on the 2023 campaign on Saturday as the Golden Eagles take on their final non-conference opponent of the season with a visit to South Carolina State.
Kickoff for the game is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Central. Roger Ealey and Dylan Vazzano will have the call on 98.5 KISS FM, while the game will also be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required).
The Bulldogs (2-3) have yet to play a conference game among their Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference foes, but have won two in a row with a 31-10 victory over The Citadel and a 56-6 win against Virginia-Lynchburg – both games on their home field.
SCSU opened the season with three straight losses, falling to Jackson State 37-7 in a nationally televised contest in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge, then a 24-3 loss at Charlotte and a 48-13 defeat at Georgia Tech.
The Bulldogs are averaging 22.0 points per game and allowing 25.0. They are averaging 334.2 yards of total offense a game, while yielding 358.6. On the ground, SCSU is averaging 190.8 yards while passing for an average of 145.4 yards per game.
It is the first meeting all-time between these two teams.
Compared to the Golden Eagles (1-4), Tech is averaging 8.8 points per game, while allowing 30.3. Tech's offense is averaging 290.8 yards – 119.2 rushing and 171.6 passing – with two touchdowns each on the ground and in the air.
Turnovers, however, could be a key. SCSU has four total fumbles on the year, losing two, while throwing five interceptions for seven total turnovers. The Bulldogs have forced five fumbles with two recoveries while picking off six passes for a plus-one turnover ratio. Tech has fumbled the ball 16 times with eight losses with nine interceptions for 17 total turnovers. The Golden Eagle defense has forced three fumbles with two takeaways and picked off five passes, giving Tech a minus-10 turnover ratio.
Offensively for the Bulldogs, Corey Fields Jr. has passed for 607 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 151.8 yards per game. Justin Smith-Brown has hauled in three touchdown catches among five grabs for 168 yards – a 56.0-yard-per-game average. Keyshawn Toney also has 11 catches for 140 yards and two scores. On the ground, Jawarn Howell leads the Bulldogs with 247 yards, while Kacy Fields and Andre Washington each have two rushing scores.
On defense, Jamare Benjamin has three of SCSU's six interceptions, while Aaron Smith leads the way with 27 tackles – including 6.5 for-loss for 18 yards and three sacks for 11 yards.
The Bulldogs are led by legendary coach Buddy Pough, who is in his 22nd and final season at South Carolina State. Touting a 148-90 record all-time, Pough has led South Carolina State to eight of its 18 MEAC championships, five HBCU national championships and currently has six players currently on NFL rosters.
Tech, meanwhile, saw a tough outing at Lindenwood last week to open Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Football Association play as the Lions shut out the Golden Eagles 23-0 in their first visit to St. Charles. It was the first time since 2016 and only the third since 1992 that Tech had been shut out in a conference game.
With injuries at the position, the Golden Eagles have seen six players throw a pass this season. Last week, the duties shifted to Hayes Gibson (247 yards, 21-of-46) and true freshman Jordyn Potts (65 yards, 5-of-15). As a team, Tech has thrown for 858 yards and two touchdowns, completing 83 of its 166 passes.
Brad Clark leads the way on receiving, collecting 20 catches for 274 yards, while Jalal Dean (five catches for 119 yards) and Justin Pegues (12 catches for 100 yards) are over the century mark. Metrius Fleming and Willie Miller have the two receiving scores.
On the ground, Pegues has 232 yards and a touchdown on 46 carries, averaging 5.0 yards per carry, while Marcus Knight (170 yards, one touchdown) is averaging 4.5 yards a carry and Jayvian Allen (121 yards) is averaging 4.3.
Tech has five different players with an interception this season as Tim Coutras, Okachi Emmanwori, Jyron Gilmore, Jacquez McGowan and Jackson Price each have a pick, while Aaron Swafford leads the team in tackles with 37. Daniel Rickert leads the team in tackles-for-loss with seven for 18 yards and in sacks with 3.5 for 10 yards.
The Golden Eagles come back home next week as they host Southeast Missouri, before hitting the road again to take on Robert Morris.
Tickets for the remaining home contests are on sale now – call (931) 372-3940, visit the Hooper Eblen Center ticket office or order online at TTUsports.com.
Photo | Don Adams Jr.
