Posted: Oct 05, 2024
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – South Carolina State jumped out to an early lead, but it wasn't insurmountable. The Tennessee Tech team had opportunities and reclaimed the lead with some timely takeaways and had a chance to win the game on a last-second field goal.
However, the kick sailed wide left as time expired, leading the visiting Bulldogs to a 22-20 win over the Golden Eagles on Saturday in their non-conference affair.
Where Tech had relied on the running game in the last two games, both teams presented an aerial attack, combining for a whopping 708 yards through the air and just 114 yards on the ground. South Carolina State (3-2) was expected to come in with a strong quarterback in Eric Phoenix and he lived up to the hype, throwing for 412 yards and three touchdowns.
He wasn't perfect though – Tech was able to intercept two passes as Caldra Williford and Kanstin Brooks were able to pick him off. Tim Coutras also forced a fumble with Myles Parker coming up with it as the defense was able to give the Golden Eagles chances.
Jordyn Potts threw for a 300-yard game – his first time reaching that milestone – completing 22 of his 42 passes. Jay Parker led the receivers with 80 yards on three catches – including a 79-yard touchdown pass – while Tremel Jones had two catches for 51 yards. Ashton Maples caught the other touchdown pass on a two-yard connection in the third quarter.
SCSU had two receivers top the century mark as Caden High caught seven passes for 150 yards, including a 70-yard non-scoring reception. Justin Smith-Brown, however, hauled in two touchdown passes on four completions for 129 yards, including a 63-yard hookup.
Big plays plagued both sides though. The Golden Eagles tallied four passing plays of 24 or more yards, topped by the 79-yard connection from Potts to Parker, while also tacking on three rushing plays of 10 or more yards. The Bulldogs had eight passing plays go for 18 or more yards, including three that went for 70, 67 and 63 yards.
The Golden Eagles were nearing midfield until a fumble ended the opening drive at their own 47. The Bulldogs used only one play to put the first numbers on the scoreboard as Phoenix completed his first touchdown of the game to Smith-Brown.
After punting the ball away, Tech was able to pin SCSU down at its 1-yard line. But Phoenix's arm chewed up yardage quick as the Bulldogs marched 99 yards on four plays as Nick Brown scored on a 67-yard pass completion. Kyle Gallegos missed the extra point, making it a 13-0 game.
SCSU was held to a field goal attempt as the second quarter opened, but he shanked the 30-yard try into Golden Eagle defender Monty Hunt, who picked up the block on the try.
Momentum shifted into Tech's direction as Potts created a short scoring drive, using just two plays to go 80 yards with Parker putting the exclamation point on the drive with his 79-yard pickup for the score. Dom LeBlanc's extra point was good, putting Tech back within six.
After getting the ball back on Williford's interception at the Tech 39, the Golden Eagles reached the SCSU 31, setting up a 48-yard try by LeBlanc. The true freshman kicker had the distance, but the kick was ruled no good.
The Bulldogs capitalized on the miss as they created a three-play, 69-yard series as Smith-Brown caught a 63-yard touchdown. Gallegos' kick failed, placing SCSU back up 19-10.
On the kickoff return, Tremel Jones returned the ball 46 yards to put Tech in business as the clock was ticking down on the first half. Moving nine plays and 35 yards in 1:27, LeBlanc got another shot at the uprights, clearing the kick from 35 yards to make it a 19-13 game with 45 seconds left in the second quarter.
The Bulldogs went three-and-out in a 15-second span, giving the Golden Eagles another shot before the half. Tech made it to the SCSU 34 and the Golden Eagles lined up for a 51-yard field goal attempt, but the snap failed, leaving LeBlanc to pick up the ball at the 45 as time reached zero and the teams went into the locker room for the half.
Midway through the third quarter, the Golden Eagles took the lead. A 15-yard facemask call moved the chains on 3rd-and-long, then Potts threw a 45-yard strike to Jones to get down to the Bulldog 11. Following an Aidan Littles rush to the 2, Potts saw Maples in the left side of the end zone and got it to him for the short touchdown pass. LeBlanc's PAT was good, giving Tech a 20-19 lead with just over four minutes remaining in the third.
The lead was short as SCSU got a 40-yard field goal from Gallegos to retake the 22-20 advantage just before the end of the quarter.
Neither team scored in the fourth quarter, but it wasn't for lack of trying. Potts was intercepted in the SCSU end zone with a 38-yard return. Phoenix was then intercepted at the Tech 24 by Kanstin Brooks, flipping possession once more with 7:58 remaining.
The two teams traded possession, punting the ball away. With 3:14 remaining, Tech's next drive ended prematurely as Potts was intercepted near midfield, giving SCSU 2:51 on the clock to potentially add to the lead. Instead, on the first play from scrimmage, the Golden Eagles got the ball back as Coutras hit the rusher to knock the ball loose with Parker grabbing the ball to give Tech another shot at it with 2:42 remaining.
After a six-yard pickup by Jalen Mitchell on the first play, a no-gain and a one-yard catch set up 4th-and-3 from the Bulldog 41. The play was essentially the game and Potts came through, moving the chains with a six-yard pickup on a completion to Tyler Nix.
Tech moved the ball up to the SCSU 29 with 22 seconds remaining, setting up a 46-yard try from LeBlanc. The kick was no good, but there were two flags on the play, both on the Bulldogs. The offsides call was declined, but the illegal substitution was accepted, giving Tech a fresh set of downs.
While the one rush pushed the ball back one yard, it did move the ball closer to center to give LeBlanc another shot at it with four seconds left. As he lined up for the kick, SCSU called timeout to ice the freshman kicker. The 42-yard try, as time expired, sailed just to the left, sending the Bulldogs to rush the field.
The positive for the Golden Eagles (2-3) was that the contest was not a conference contest as Tech continues to stay tied with next week's opponent – Southeast Missouri – for the lead in the Big South-Ohio Valley Conference at 2-0 with Western Illinois standing half-a-game back at 1-0.
Tech travels to Cape Girardeau next week to take on the Redhawks for a 3 p.m. start, the first of back-to-back road games for the Golden Eagles as they travel to take on the Leathernecks the following week. Tech's next home game is Oct. 26 as it hosts Charleston Southern.
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
