5 things to watch: TSU football vs. Jackson State
Tennessee State will go for its seventh consecutive win over Jackson State Saturday (6 p.m.) in the 29th annual Southern Heritage Classic at the Liberty Bowl. TSU is 13-2 in the last 15 games in the series.
While TSU (1-0) has dominated the series since 2003, it barely held on for a 17-15 win in 2017 after a 47-yard JSU (0-1) field goal attempt veered wide left with two seconds left on the clock.
Here are five things to watch:
Reed going for win No. 51
Rod Reed, TSU's third-winningest coach of all-time, picked up his 50th victory with the Tigers' 34-3 win over Bethune-Cookman last Saturday in the John Merritt Classic. It improved Reed's nine-year record to 50- 42. The coaches ahead of him on the all-time list are John Merritt (1963-83) 174-35-7 and Henry Kean (1944-54) 93-15-3.
Rowland hopes to keep rolling
Ex-Ravenwood standout Chris Rowland, the most versatile player on TSU's roster, had a career-best performance against Bethune-Cookman when he gained 226 all-purpose yards. The junior had a career-best seven catches and 154 receiving yards. He added a total of 64 yards on four punt returns and eight rushing yards on one carry.
Two quarterback attack
TSU passed for more than 300 yards in only one game in 2017 when Micheal Hughes threw for 331 at Tennessee Tech. The Tigers opened this season with 324 passing yards, but Hughes needed help. The former Hillsboro standout came in off the bench and completed 11-of-18 passes for 170 yards while Minnesota transfer Demry Croft started and completed 8-of-14 passes for 154 yards. Croft played eight series and Hughes played five. Reed said they will continue to share snaps this week.
Newcomers already making an impact
Croft wasn't the only new player on the roster who already has earned a starting assignment. Six other newcomers also are on the first team. Middle linebacker Christion Abercrombie, a transfer from Wisconsin, recorded five tackles against Bethune-Cookman. Defensive end Mekhi Brown, a transfer from Alabama, recorded a solo tackle. Running back Te'kendrick Roberson, a transfer from Ellsworth (Iowa) Community College, rushed for a team-high 67 yards on 13 carries. Raekwon Allen, a transfer from Georgia Military College, started at offensive guard.
Mumme's offense fails to meet expectations
When former Kentucky coach Hal Mumme was hired as Jackson State's offensive coordinator at the end of last season, expectations were raised for the Tigers' attack. Mumme, who also had head coaching stints at Iowa Wesleyan, Valdosta State, Southeastern Louisiana, New Mexico State, McMurry and most recently Belhaven, was once considered an offensive genius. JSU's offense, however, never got going against Southern Miss.