TSU can't find end zone against Bethune-Cookman

NASHVILLE, Tennessee  --  With an offense that sputtered along without its starting quarterback, Tennessee State was left to rely on kicker Jamin Godfrey for all of its points Sunday night in the John Merritt Classic vs. No. 23 Bethune-Cookman.

The talented senior connected on his first three field-goal attempts, which gave TSU a three-point lead late, but he missed a 49-yarder as time ran out, allowing Bethune-Cookman to claim a 12-9 victory.

An LP Field crowd of 16,108 watched the Tigers lose their season opener for the first time under coach Rod Reed, who is in his fourth season.




“Although they’re a good football team, I think we gave one away tonight,” Reed said.

TSU (0-1) was without two-year starting quarterback Mike German, who is suspended for the first two games. That left the offense in the hands of redshirt freshman Ronald Butler.

Under those circumstances, TSU failed to score a touchdown for the first time since losing to UT Martin 37-0 in Reed’s first season in 2010.

CONTINUE READING