Tennessee State Tigers Fall at Murray State

PHOTO GALLERY | BOX SCORE

Game 5: Tennessee State 21, Murray State 45
Records: TSU (2-3, 1-2 OVC), Murray State (3-3, 3-0 OVC)
Venue: Roy Stewart Stadium
Location: Murray, Ky.
Weather: Cloudy, 51
Kickoff Time: 1:05 p.m.
Attendance: 3,318

MURRAY, Kentucky --- The Tennessee State football team suffered a 45-21 defeat at the hands of Murray State on the road on Saturday at Roy Stewart Stadium in Ohio Valley Conference action.

Tennessee State (2-3, 1-2 OVC) jumped out to a 14-3 lead in the first quarter, but Murray State (3-3, 3-0 OVC) answered with 35-consecutive points to seize control of the game.

TSU wide receiver Chris Rowland posted another impressive outing with 13 catches for 128 yards and one touchdown.

For the defense, Vincent Sellers and Dajour Nesbeth picked up eight tackles apiece. The Tigers forced a pair of turnovers with Dieuseul Stcyr picking up his first career interception and John Robinson IV securing his first career fumble recovery. 

FIRST QUARTER

• Tennessee State took the opening kickoff and moved 69 yards on 10 plays to take an early 7-0 lead.
• Micheal Hughes found Chris Rowland three times for 23 yards to reach midfield.
• Later in the drive, the Tigers found themselves behind the sticks due to a false start, but managed to gain another first down on a 21 yard pass play from Hughes to Treon Harris.
• Two plays later, TSU found the end zone as Aaron Cauthen caught a 16 yard pass, fighting the last couple yards to break the goal line.
• Dieuseul Stcyr earned his first collegiate interception on a tipped ball to give the Tigers the ball.
• The Big Blue was unable to take advantage of the turnover, as they were stopped on a third and short and midfield.
• After MSU kicked a 47 yard field goal to cut the lead to 7-3, the Tigers embarked on a seven play 79 yard scoring drive.
• Hughes and Rowland teamed up again on back-to-back passes of 18 and 19 yards, respectively, moving to the MSU 11.
• DeMarco Corbin capped off the drive with a two yard touchdown run.
• The Tigers outgained the Racers 125-60 in the first quarter.

SECOND QUARTER

• Murray State scored on their first two possessions of the second stanza.
• The second score came after the Tigers coughed up a fumble at their own 27.
• TSU tried to regain the lead late in the half as they went on a 13 play drive which stalled at the MSU 42.
• The Racers added to their lead, needing just over a minute to travel 88 yards for a 24-14 lead with 13 seconds remaining on the clock.
• The Racers outgained the Tigers, 168-67, in the second quarter. 

THIRD QUARTER

• MSU added 14 points in the third quarter, giving the Racers a 38-14 lead.
• The scoring run reached 35-0 in favor of Murray State after the Tigers led 14-3 at the end of the first quarter.
• TSU tried to answer back on the final drive of the quarter, moving to the MSU 10 yard line as the quarter expired.
• Hughes hit DeVon Johnson for 37 yards on the final play of the quarter.
• The Racers held a 126-96 advantage in yards in the quarter. 

FOURTH QUARTER

• Tennessee State scored on the second play of the final stanza, to stop MSUs scoring run.
• Hughes threw a three yard pass to Rowland in the front-right corner of the end zone.
• The Tigers had stopped the Racers on the next possession, but a penalty on the punt extended the drive.
• John Robinson came up with the big play as he stripped the ball from a Racer runner at the eight yard line.
• The Tigers next drive ended on the first interception of the season by Hughes.
• MSU made the turnover count, scoring on the ensuing drive. 

NOTES

• Captains for TSU vs. Murray State are Demry Croft, LaQuarius Cook and Thomas Burton
• TSU’s record in the all-time series versus Murray State is now 13-16.
• TSU won the coin toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff.
• Saturday’s game aired live on ESPN+.
• TSU received votes in the latest STATS FC Top 25 Poll.
• TSU players starting for the first time this season: QB Micheal Hughes, WR Malik Abdul-Haqq, DB Dieuseul Stcyr, DT Raymond Horton, DB John Robinson IV, LG Cedrick Banks.
• Tight end Aaron Cauthen recorded his second career receiving touchdown. Cauthen had his first career touchdown catch a week ago at Austin Peay.
• Wide Receiver Chris Rowland went over 100 yards receiving for the third time this season.
• Quarterback Micheal Hughes set a career high with 30 completions.

WHAT’S NEXTTSU returns to Nissan to host Tennessee Tech for homecoming on Oct. 20. 

QUOTES
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN LACHAVIOUS SIMMONS
(on the play of the offensive line)
“I think as an offensive line, we did a good job of protecting the quarterback and driving the ball down the field. I think we just have to be more disciplined and go back on the practice field and correct our mistakes. We have to look at the film, evaluate it and just be better next week.”

(on bouncing back next week)
“It’s tough to take a loss, but we still have to bounce back, correct our mistakes and move on. We can’t just stick in the past. We have to move on and play our best football in our last four games and win out.”

DEFENSIVE BACK JOHN ROBINSON IV
(on the defense)
“I think we started out really well and got a stop early. I felt like coming into this game, we had to keep this team off schedule because of the pace and the way they play. Overall we started off hot, but as the game went on, we gave up some plays that we wish we could have back. They didn’t do anything we hadn’t prepared for and hadn’t seen. I just think as a defense, we have to be mentally tougher. We have to trust each other. We don’t want to take anything away from Murray State, they’re a good team, but they didn’t do anything that we hadn’t seen already. We just have to get ready for Tennessee Tech now and put this one behind us.”

TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY TIGERS ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS