Ohio Valley Conference

TSU's Javarris Williams

TENNESSEE STATE 31, TENNESSEE TECH 20
The Tennessee State Tigers took advantage of some big plays, and got a career-high 190 rushing yards from Javarris Williams on the way to a 31-20 Ohio Valley Conference victory over Tennessee Tech in front of 10,226 fans Thursday night in Tucker Stadium.

Tech redshirt freshman quarterback John Conrad McCrary, making his first career start, set a school record with 51 pass attempts and threw for 324 yards, but the Golden Eagles (2-5/1-3 OVC) suffered seven turnovers in the game.

TSU (2-4/1-1 OVC) got a 40-yard touchdown pass from Jerald Cook to Daniel Wiliams, followed by a 43-yard field goal by Eric Benson for a 10-0 lead. Tech's Josh Foster kicked an 18-yard field goal to cut it to 10-3, but the Tigers built their margin to 17-3 late in the first quarter as Courtney Richardson sacked McCrary and caused a fumble, then returned it 30 yards for a touchdown.

Foster's second field goal, a 44-yarder, made it 17-6 at halftime.

Tennessee State got a huge play from the special teams to make it 24-6 early in the fourth quarter. Travis Lee blocked a punt and Shannon Lightfoot returned the loose ball 33 yards for a score.

Tech got a quick strike when McCrary found Larry Shipp for a 66-yard touchdown on the first play, but TSU responded with a 53-yard touchdown run by Williams on the next play to make it 31-13.

Darren Sanders' two-yard TD run for the final score capped an 80-yard scoring drive by the Golden Eagles.