Photo: TSU's Javarris Williams (28) breaks free on a first-half run. He finished with 94 yards on 21 carries.
By MIKE ORGAN, the Tennessean
MEMPHIS — Tennessee State's Eric Benson had to be reminded afterward that his game-winning field goal had come in a torrential downpour.
Benson waded onto the field at the Liberty Bowl and booted a 35-yarder with no time left that lifted TSU to a 16-13 victory over Jackson State in the Southern Heritage Classic.
"At first the rain bothered me — while I was standing on the sideline, I was a little worried," Benson said.
"But once you get out there, you can't think about anything but the kick. That's what I did. The rain didn't affect me at all. I forgot all about it."
Most of the 50,987 fans missed the thrilling finish. They had been chased away by the rain that started in the fourth quarter.
Benson had made another critical, pressure-packed kick earlier in the fourth quarter. After Terrence Wright raced 11 yards for a touchdown, which cut the deficit to 13-12, TSU was penalized for excessive celebration.
That moved the extra point attempt back 15 yards, but Benson still was able to connect.
"Benson is a warrior,'' TSU Coach James Webster said. "Maybe people don't think about kickers being warriors, but he is a warrior. He kicked that long extra point and then came back with the field goal in the rain."
Benson's winning boot helped TSU avoid a third consecutive overtime in the Southern Heritage Classic.
The Tigers needed a two-point conversion in overtime last year to beat Jackson State 31-30, and they edged JSU 20-14 in overtime the year before.
It was TSU's fifth consecutive win over Jackson State and helped the Tigers (1-1) bounce back after losing last week to Alabama A&M 49-23. JSU fell to 0-2 after falling last week to Delta State 27-15.
TSU never led before Benson's end-game field goal.
In fact, Jackson State kicker Eric Perri had been the star of the game up to that point.
Perri kicked a school-record 50-yard field goal early in the second half, which followed a 44-yarder at the end of the first half. His second field goal gave Jackson State a 13-6 lead.
TSU's offense, which moved the ball well at times as it did last week — but also failed to capitalize, just like last week — took advantage of a huge Jackson State blunder on the final drive. TSU punted from its own 40, but JSU was penalized for having too many men on the field.
That gave TSU a first down, and quarterback Antonio Heffner took advantage on the next play by tossing a 30-yard strike to Antonio Graham, who was down at Jackson State's 25.
Even with the rain, Webster said he was confident in Benson and planned to rely on a field goal to win the game.
"I wasn't thinking about overtime; I was thinking about winning the game on Benson's kick," Webster said.
By MIKE ORGAN, the Tennessean
MEMPHIS — Tennessee State's Eric Benson had to be reminded afterward that his game-winning field goal had come in a torrential downpour.
Benson waded onto the field at the Liberty Bowl and booted a 35-yarder with no time left that lifted TSU to a 16-13 victory over Jackson State in the Southern Heritage Classic.
"At first the rain bothered me — while I was standing on the sideline, I was a little worried," Benson said.
"But once you get out there, you can't think about anything but the kick. That's what I did. The rain didn't affect me at all. I forgot all about it."
Most of the 50,987 fans missed the thrilling finish. They had been chased away by the rain that started in the fourth quarter.
Benson had made another critical, pressure-packed kick earlier in the fourth quarter. After Terrence Wright raced 11 yards for a touchdown, which cut the deficit to 13-12, TSU was penalized for excessive celebration.
That moved the extra point attempt back 15 yards, but Benson still was able to connect.
"Benson is a warrior,'' TSU Coach James Webster said. "Maybe people don't think about kickers being warriors, but he is a warrior. He kicked that long extra point and then came back with the field goal in the rain."
Benson's winning boot helped TSU avoid a third consecutive overtime in the Southern Heritage Classic.
The Tigers needed a two-point conversion in overtime last year to beat Jackson State 31-30, and they edged JSU 20-14 in overtime the year before.
It was TSU's fifth consecutive win over Jackson State and helped the Tigers (1-1) bounce back after losing last week to Alabama A&M 49-23. JSU fell to 0-2 after falling last week to Delta State 27-15.
TSU never led before Benson's end-game field goal.
In fact, Jackson State kicker Eric Perri had been the star of the game up to that point.
Perri kicked a school-record 50-yard field goal early in the second half, which followed a 44-yarder at the end of the first half. His second field goal gave Jackson State a 13-6 lead.
TSU's offense, which moved the ball well at times as it did last week — but also failed to capitalize, just like last week — took advantage of a huge Jackson State blunder on the final drive. TSU punted from its own 40, but JSU was penalized for having too many men on the field.
That gave TSU a first down, and quarterback Antonio Heffner took advantage on the next play by tossing a 30-yard strike to Antonio Graham, who was down at Jackson State's 25.
Even with the rain, Webster said he was confident in Benson and planned to rely on a field goal to win the game.
"I wasn't thinking about overtime; I was thinking about winning the game on Benson's kick," Webster said.
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