by MIKE ORGAN, The Tennessean
Where: A.W. Mumford Stadium, Baton Rouge, La.
Time: 6 p.m.
Radio: 560-AM
Last meeting: Southern 19, TSU 18 (1996)
Key matchup: TSU QB Antonio Heffner vs. Southern DE Vincent Lands. Heffner, a dual threat, has thrown for 638 yards and three touchdowns and run for 123 yards and a touchdown. Lands was the Southwest Athletic Conference defensive player of the week after making eight tackles, including three sacks, in Saturday's 12-2 win over Prairie View A&M.
Field goals key Tigers' two wins
Tennessee State has produced some outstanding football players at a number of different positions with one exception — kicker.
Of the 115 former Tigers who have gone on to the NFL, every position has been represented except kicker. That is what makes Eric Benson, a junior kicker, so peculiar.
Benson's boots have led TSU (2-1) to both of its wins this season and he could play a key role again tonight when the Tigers play at Southern (3-0) in Baton Rouge, La.
"Right now, I don't know that anybody in the country is kicking better than Benson,'' TSU Coach James Webster said. "I don't want to jinx the guy, but he's kicking real well. He's kicking kickoffs real well, he's kicking field goals and extra points real well."
In fact, Benson is a perfect 4-for-4 on field-goal attempts.
Game winners
Benson's 35-yarder in the rain with no time left lifted the Tigers to a 16-13 win over Jackson State on Sept. 8. And his career-long 43-yarder at Austin Peay on Saturday with nine seconds remaining, sent the game into overtime. Benson then kicked an extra point, giving TSU a 33-32 win.
He was named the Ohio Valley Conference specialist of the week, making him the first kicker from TSU to receive the honor since 1999.
Benson's performance so far has been what he assured Webster he was capable of after a mediocre season last year, when he was plagued by back problems.
"When he came to camp he came with confidence,'' Webster said. "He said, 'Coach, I'm ready this year.' He had a so-so year last year. His back was hurting him but he toughed it out."
Benson spent the summer at home in Rowlett, Texas, working more intensely on his kicking than ever before.
It helped him to handle the pressure that has come with the kicks he's attempted in TSU's two wins.
No longer a head case
"I've not always been reliable in those situations,'' Benson said. "Coaches here have always called me a head case, especially when I was younger. I think I've grown up and matured and haven't let things bother me as much."
Benson said Webster and special teams coach Canute Curtis teased him in the past about not being able to handle the stress that comes with being put in such a pivotal position. But they've had nothing but praise for him this year.
"They're backing off now and it feels good to know I have overcome that,'' Benson said.
Benson is one of just seven kickers in the Football Championship Subdivision — and the only one in the OVC — who has attempted at least four field goals and made every one.
"I know that from 45 yards and in I can hit, and if I had to, I can hit from 50 and in,'' he said.
It is comforting for TSU's offensive players to know that if a drive stalls in the opponent's territory that they still are likely to get three points.
"It's great knowing your hard work is going to pay off,'' quarterback Antonio Heffner said. "It makes you that much more determined to get the offense in field position so that Benson will have the opportunity to make a kick."
TENNESSEE STATE (2-1) AT SOUTHERN (3-0)
Where: A.W. Mumford Stadium, Baton Rouge, La.
Time: 6 p.m.
Radio: 560-AM
Last meeting: Southern 19, TSU 18 (1996)
Key matchup: TSU QB Antonio Heffner vs. Southern DE Vincent Lands. Heffner, a dual threat, has thrown for 638 yards and three touchdowns and run for 123 yards and a touchdown. Lands was the Southwest Athletic Conference defensive player of the week after making eight tackles, including three sacks, in Saturday's 12-2 win over Prairie View A&M.
Field goals key Tigers' two wins
Tennessee State has produced some outstanding football players at a number of different positions with one exception — kicker.
Of the 115 former Tigers who have gone on to the NFL, every position has been represented except kicker. That is what makes Eric Benson, a junior kicker, so peculiar.
Benson's boots have led TSU (2-1) to both of its wins this season and he could play a key role again tonight when the Tigers play at Southern (3-0) in Baton Rouge, La.
"Right now, I don't know that anybody in the country is kicking better than Benson,'' TSU Coach James Webster said. "I don't want to jinx the guy, but he's kicking real well. He's kicking kickoffs real well, he's kicking field goals and extra points real well."
In fact, Benson is a perfect 4-for-4 on field-goal attempts.
Game winners
Benson's 35-yarder in the rain with no time left lifted the Tigers to a 16-13 win over Jackson State on Sept. 8. And his career-long 43-yarder at Austin Peay on Saturday with nine seconds remaining, sent the game into overtime. Benson then kicked an extra point, giving TSU a 33-32 win.
He was named the Ohio Valley Conference specialist of the week, making him the first kicker from TSU to receive the honor since 1999.
Benson's performance so far has been what he assured Webster he was capable of after a mediocre season last year, when he was plagued by back problems.
"When he came to camp he came with confidence,'' Webster said. "He said, 'Coach, I'm ready this year.' He had a so-so year last year. His back was hurting him but he toughed it out."
Benson spent the summer at home in Rowlett, Texas, working more intensely on his kicking than ever before.
It helped him to handle the pressure that has come with the kicks he's attempted in TSU's two wins.
No longer a head case
"I've not always been reliable in those situations,'' Benson said. "Coaches here have always called me a head case, especially when I was younger. I think I've grown up and matured and haven't let things bother me as much."
Benson said Webster and special teams coach Canute Curtis teased him in the past about not being able to handle the stress that comes with being put in such a pivotal position. But they've had nothing but praise for him this year.
"They're backing off now and it feels good to know I have overcome that,'' Benson said.
Benson is one of just seven kickers in the Football Championship Subdivision — and the only one in the OVC — who has attempted at least four field goals and made every one.
"I know that from 45 yards and in I can hit, and if I had to, I can hit from 50 and in,'' he said.
It is comforting for TSU's offensive players to know that if a drive stalls in the opponent's territory that they still are likely to get three points.
"It's great knowing your hard work is going to pay off,'' quarterback Antonio Heffner said. "It makes you that much more determined to get the offense in field position so that Benson will have the opportunity to make a kick."
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