By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
ORANGEBURG, S.C. – South Carolina State scored 14 seconds into the game and it looked like the Bulldogs were going to set the pace with that early score.
However, that wasn't the case at all. Tennessee Tech scored 28 unanswered points as the host Bulldogs never saw the end zone again as the Golden Eagles got a boost from true freshman quarterback Jordyn Potts and the rushing attack from Justin Pegues and Marcus Knight as Tech prevailed 28-7.
Knight rushed for 86 yards on 16 carries, averaging 5.4 yards per tote, as he had three touchdowns in the contest. He is the first Golden Eagle to rush for three scores in a game since Bailey Fisher against Western Illinois in 2019.
The Montana transfer Knight scored from 18 yards out in the second quarter as he powered his way down the right sideline. The first of four Hayden Olsen PATs to extend his career streak to 75 straight tied the game at seven points apiece and that was where the score stood at the intermission.
Knight appeared to be stopped short on his second touchdown, but he kept churning his legs and pushing forward as he made his way in with 9:50 left in the third quarter to end an eight-play, 75-yard drive.
Almost exactly a quarter later, Knight found paydirt again as Potts served up a pitch on the right side and Knight fielded it perfectly into the end zone to cap a five-play, 54-yard drive at 9:49 remaining in the contest.
SCSU quarterback Corey Fields attempted to avoid a deep sack and threw the ball away, but the toss sailed into the outstretched arms of Tim Coutras, helping set up another score. Potts and Pegues, along with Torin Baker and a guest-starring rush from Knight, set up the touchdown as they wound the clock down to under a minute with Pegues leaping over the pile and across the goal line for the one-yard score with 49 seconds left.
Tech's offense put together a season-best 401 yards, rushing for 199 and passed for 202. Potts in his starting debut completed an efficient 16-for-22 passing effort in the contest and helped the Golden Eagles rack up 23 first downs.
Metrius Fleming led the Tech receivers with five catches for 53 yards, while Brad Clark caught four passes for 56 yards.
Defensively, the Golden Eagles held SCSU (2-5) to 50 rushing yards – the fewest since Virginia-Lynchburg totaled 23 in 2021 – and is the third time this season the Tech defensive unit held an opponent to under 100 rushing yards, joining Lindenwood and Kennesaw State in that tally.
Fields went 17-for-34 passing for 224 yards – 90 of those coming on a strike 14 seconds into the game to Jawarn Howell, who ended the game with nine carries for 34 yards and three catches for 93 yards.
Tech (2-4) returns to action next week as the Golden Eagles return to Tucker Stadium for a Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Football Association contest against defending OVC champ Southeast Missouri with kickoff set for 1:30 p.m.
Tickets for Tech football are on sale – call (931) 372-3940, visit the Hooper Eblen Center ticket office or visit TTUsports.com.
Photo | Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
