By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – When it mattered the most, the Tennessee Tech defense came through. The Golden Eagles found ways to pressure Tennessee State quarterback Draylen Ellis, sacking him seven times and hurried him out of the pocket seven times. Tech's defense also held State to exactly zero rushing yards on 27 carries.
Defensive back Ty Moss then sealed the deal with a 56-yard interception return for a touchdown with just over a minute remaining in the contest to lead the Golden Eagles to a 24-14 victory over their in-state rivals and claim the first salvo in the hunt for the Sergeant York Trophy.
Tech improves to 1-2 overall and 1-0 in the Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Football Association, putting the first victory in head coach Bobby Wilder's column in his Cookeville career. It's also the first back-to-back wins over the Tigers since winning three straight between 2015 and 2017.
Tennessee State (2-2, 0-1 Big South-OVC) entered the contest averaging 373.0 yards of offense – 135.3 rushing and 237.7 through the air. With their pass-dominant offense, the Golden Eagles still saw Ellis put up 246 passing yards on a 22-for-39 day, but he was picked off twice, with Devin Hunter grabbing the first, then Moss on the second. Tech also had pass break-ups from Cayman Spaulding, Idris King, Jalin Shephard and Caldra Williford deflecting the ball.
Spaulding led the team with seven tackles, including one sack and two TFLs, but Hudson Tucker was a wrecking ball as the defensive lineman had six stops with two sacks for 14 yards and 2.5 TFL for 16 yards as well as four of Tech's seven hurries.
With Ellis sacked seven times – the most since the Golden Eagles recorded eight against Eastern Illinois in 2010 – the Tiger signal-caller brought down the rushing total as he ended the game with 11 carries for negative-21 yards with a net 41 yards lost. C.J. Evans led TSU with 14 total yards on six carries.
Former Golden Eagle Jalal Dean had the lone offensive touchdown for TSU with a 25-yard catch in the second quarter, but Karate Brenson ended the game with 99 receiving yards on 16 targets and nine catches. Bryant Williams also had 41 yards.
Ahmad Nelson led TSU with eight tackles. The Tigers had a strong effort from Boogie Trotter, who forced and recovered a fumble, as well as returning an interception 69 yards to account for the remainder of State's points.
The Golden Eagles built momentum early, putting a 14-0 lead on the visitors through the first quarter as they scored on their first two drives of the game. Jordyn Potts called his own number for a 12-yard rush for a score to end an 11-play, 63-yard series. After a quick drive for the Tigers, Tech needed just three plays to score again as Obie Sanni broke loose for a 54-yard scamper into the end zone.
True freshman Dom LeBlanc, making his first kicks in place of Hayden Olsen, had six points in the contest as he was 3-for-3 on PATs to continue the Golden Eagles' 115-PAT streak alive, stretching back to 2019. He also hit a 42-yard field goal in the third quarter. LeBlanc also handled kickoffs, averaging 48.8 yards per kick with two touchbacks.
After two Football Bowl Subdivision opponents in Middle Tennessee and then-No. 1 Georgia, the Golden Eagles were finally able to show what their running game was capable of as Tech took the pressure off the passing game and established a fantastic show on the turf. The Golden Eagles rushed for 220 yards – 10 short of their season-high last year at Nissan Stadium against the Tigers. As a team, Tech averaged 5.6 yards per carry with Sanni leading the way with 75 yards and averaging 12.5 yards per carry. Jalen Mitchell also rushed for 72 yards on 14 totes to average 5.1 yards.
Potts ended the game with a 12-for-25 day passing for 94 yards and rushing for 32. D.J. Linkins caught four passes for 39 yards, while Tremel Jones hauled in three for 30 yards.
The Golden Eagles continue conference action next week as they head to Boiling Springs, N.C., to take on Gardner-Webb.
The next home action for Tech is October 5 as Tech hosts South Carolina State in a 1:30 p.m. contest for Legends Weekend.
Tickets for Tennessee Tech Football are on sale now – call (931) 372-3940, visit the Hooper Eblen Center ticket office or order online at TTUsports.com.
Photo | Jim Dillon
