TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY 2020-21 TIGER FOOTBALL GAME NOTES Football Contact: Jose’ F. Garcia [email protected] 615.838.4199 NOTES Game 5 • vs UT marTin • This is the 30th meeting between Tennessee State and UT Martin TENNESSEE STATE UT marTin • Tennessee State is 17-12 all-time versus UT Martin • Reed is 4-6 versus UT Martin TIGERS SKYHAWKS • 2021 Sgt. York Standings: UT Martin 1-0, Austin Peay 1-2, Tennessee State 0-1, Tennessee Tech 0-1 HEAD COACH ROD REED HEAD COACH JASON SIMPSON • TSU and UTM have shared a piece of the Sgt. York Trophy over the past two seasons. RECORD (SEASON) 57-59 (11TH YR) RECORD (SEASON) 89-75 (15TH YR) RECORD AT TSU SAME RECORD AT UTM SAME RECORD VS. UTM 4-6 RECORD VS. TSU 8-5 Last Meeting OFF. COORD. SHANNON HARRIS (2ND) OFF. COORD. KEVIN BANNON (9TH) • Tennessee State fell 28-17 to UT Martin at Hardy Graham Stadium. OFF. STYLE SPREAD/PRO STYLE (1-3, 1-3) (2-2, 2-2) OFF. STYLE MULTIPLE • The Tiger offense finished with 193 total-rushing yards. DEF. COORD. JUSTIN ROBERTS (1ST) 2019: 3-9 (2-6 OVC) 2019: 7-5 (6-2 OVC) DEF. COORD. CHRIS POLIZZI (3RD) • Te'kendrick Roberson went for 84 yards on 21 carries. DEF. STYLE 4-3 DEF. STYLE MULTIPLE • Fullback Andrew Knox scored two one-yard touchdowns. RANKINGS (STATS/COACHES) --/-- RANKINGS (STATS/COACHES) --/-- • Kicker Antonio Zita added five points with a field goal and two extra points. Game Day Information • Josh Green led TSU with eleven tackles, five solo, a breakup and helped with a tackle for loss. Date: Sunday, Mar. 28, 2021 • Emmanuel Olenga followed with seven tackles, two for loss, and registered one and a half sacks. Time: 2:00 p.m. CT • Nick Harper, Jr. solidified the defense with a pick in the first half – the second of his career. Where: Nashville, Tenn. Stadium: William J. Hale Stadium (15,100) Head Coach Rod Reed Forecast: 62, Partly Sunny • Coach Reed is in his 11th season at the helm of the Tigers and holds a 57-59 record. • Only two coaches have produced more wins at TSU. Television: ESPN+. Alex Gould will serve as play-by-play along with Derek Fleming who will • John Merritt claimed 174 victories in his 20 years (1963-83) for a .806 winning percentage (174-35-7), provide analysis. while Harry Kean spent 10 years in charge of TSU from 1944-54 and compiled a 93-15-3 record (.838). • TSU is 9-2 in season openers under Rod Reed, including a 17-10 win at FBS opponent Georgia State in 2017. Audio: Big Blue Sports Network will carry the game live with Greg Pogue (play-by-play) and Will • The loss to Austin Peay was the first opening day defeat since a 12-9 decision to Bethune-Cookman in 2013. Brown (analyst). Pregame will begin at 1:45 p.m. CT Tennessee State Series Information: This will be the 30th meeting between the two teams. TSU leads the se- • The Tigers dropped a 35-13 decision at Murray State falling to 1-3. ries, 17-12. The first contest was held in 1976 as UTM came away with a 26-21 victory. The Tigers • TSU scored first for the first time this season. came back the following year for their first win with a convincing 55-7 decision. The Big Blue • The Tigers traveled 57 yards in 10 plays and used 5:11 off the clock before a botched snap on a won nine straight contests from 1996-04. TSU's last win over the Skyhawks on the road came in field goal attempt left them scoreless. 2013, 29-15. The Tigers won the last meeting at Hale Stadium, 31-28 in overtime. • After the defense produced a three-and-out, the offense went on a seven play, 71 yard touch- down drive, taking up 4:22 to open a 7-0 lead. Last 10 Results: • Murray State would score in all four quarters, marking a first for a TSU opponent this year. 2019 - UT Martin 28, Tennessee State 17 • The Tigers outgained the Racers on the day, 362-343. 2018 - Tennessee State 31, UT Martin 28 OT • Devon Starling led all rushers with 149 yards on the ground on 19 attempts. 2017 - UT Martin 31, Tennessee State 16 • Starling leads the OVC averaging 95.0 points per game and with 5.59 yards per carry. 2016 - Tennessee State 34, UT Martin 30 • Isaiah Green completed 15 of 29 passes for 202 yards with an interception. 2015 - UT Martin 28, Tennessee State 14 • Green added 10 yards rushing on seven carries. 2014 - UT Martin 21, Tennessee State 16 • The junior transfer ranks second in the OVC with 194.2 yards passing per game. 2013 - Tennessee State 29, UT Martin 15 • Green is second to UT Martin quarterback John Bachus III with 212.0. 2012 - UT Martin 35, Tennessee State 26 • On special teams, Antonio Zita ranks first in the nation averaging 2.5 field goals per game. 2011 - Tennessee State 35, UT Martin 30 • The junior connected from 50 and 47 at Murray State. 2010 - UT Martin 37, Tennessee State 0 • Dayron Johnson finished last weeks game with with 169 all-purpose yards. • Johnson is tops in the OVC and ranks 17th in the FCS with 121.25 all-purpose yards per game. • The sophomore has 279 combined kick return yards, which is second in the OVC and sixth in FCS play. • Davoan Hawkins is second on the team with 24 tackles and has 7.0 for loss and 3.0 sacks. • Hawkins is first in the OVC in TFLs (1.5 per game) and sacks (0.75). 2020-21 Tennessee sTaTe schedUle Date Opponent Result/Time TV Series Notes Feb. 21 *Jacksonville State POSTPONED ESPN+ JSU Leads 12-2 Rescheduled for March 7 due to the winter storm which effected the Nashville area Feb. 28 *Austin Peay L, 27-20 ESPN+ TSU Leads 14-9 TSU fell short of erasing a 20-0 deficit; Isaiah Green entered in the fourth quarter and went 10-of-18 for 173 yds and a TD Mar. 7 *Jacksonville State L, 38-16 ESPN+ JSU Leads 13-2 Antonio Zita scored 10 points with three field goals (36, 41, 47) and an extra point Mar. 14 *Eastern Illinois W, 21-20 ESPN+ EIU Leads 15-9 Antonio Zita kicked three field goals (51, 62, 35); Tied the OVC long with the 62-yarder and hit the 35-yarder as time expired Mar. 21 *Murray State L, 35-13 ESPN+ MSU Leads 18-13 Devon Starling ran for a game high 149 yards on 19 carries; Antonio Zita kicked field goals of 50 and 47 yards Mar. 28 *UT Martin 2:00 PM ESPN+ TSU Leads 17-12 Andrew Knox rushed for two touchdowns; Josh Green led the defense with 11 tackles Apr. 3 *Tennessee Tech 1:00 PM ESPN+ TSU leads 20-13 Erased a 20-0 deficit, won 37-27; Seth Rowland rushed for a score, blocked a punt - recovered for a touchdown Apr. 11 *Southeast Missouri (Senior Day) 2:30 PM ESPN+ TSU Leads 14-13 Chris Rowland caught seven passes for 100 yards and totaled 206 all purpose yards Bold - Home Games • Played at Hale Stadium • All Times CST • * - Ohio Valley Conference Games #BigBlueRising GAME NOTES TENNESSEE STATE VS UT MARTIN (MAR. 28, 2021) GENERAL INFORMATION A New Workhorse Meet You at the Quarterback Name of School .............................................................Tennessee State University • Devon Starling has exploded onto the scene for the Tigers af- • The TSU defense recorded four sacks against Eastern Illinois. City/Zip ................................................................................ Nashville, Tenn. 37209 ter spending the first two weeks of the season as number two • The Panthers had allowed just two over the first two games Founded ..........................................................................................................1912 on the depth chart. of the season. Enrollment .....................................................................................................8,088 • Starling has earned starts in the Tigers last two games. • Nate Sutton led the way with 2.0, ahead of Davoan Hawkins Nickname ....................................................................................................... Tigers • The redshirt-freshman has carried the ball 68 times for 380 1.5 and Terray Jones’ 0.5. School Colors ........................................................................Reflex Blue and White yards and is averaging 5.6 yards per carry and 95.0 per game. • In the opener, the Tigers had three sacks against APSU. Affiliation ........................................................................................NCAA Division I • His 149 yard performance at Murray State was the first 100- • Hawkins picked up the lone sack at Murray State and leads the Conference ................................................................ Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) yard game for a Tiger since Nov. 3, 2018. OVC with 0.75 per game. Stadium ............................................................................Nissan Stadium (69,143) • On that day, Te'Kendrick Roberson and Earl Harrison both • A season ago, the defense collected two sacks in each of the Surface .................................................................................. Tifsport Bermuda Sod rushed for 100 yards at Southeast Missouri. final four games. Stadium ........................................................................W.J. Hale Stadium (15,000) • In four games this season, Starling is just over half way to the • The last time the Tigers registered four sacks in an outing was Surface ............................................................................................... Bermuda Sod total Roberson rushed for in a full slate of games in 2019. versus Tennessee Tech on Oct. 20, 2018. President ......................................................................................Dr. Glenda Glover • In 12 games a season ago, Roberson rushed for 750 yards on Director of Athletics ...........................................................................Dr. Mikki Allen 176 touches, for a 4.3 per rush and 62.5 per game average. Jar It Loose Athletics Department Phone ..........................................................(615) 963-5034 • In 2018, Roberson finished with 100 carries for 527 yards (5.3 • The Tigers have forced seven fumbles and recovered three Ticket Manger ..............................................................................