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GAME PREVIEW: Can Tennessee State continue Classic winning streak?

The Tennessee State Tigers love to make the trip to Memphis for the Southern Heritage Classic. The Tigers enter Saturday’s game after defeating Bethune-Cookman 34-3 and is 7-1 in season openers under head coach Rod Reed, including a 17-10 win at FBS opponent Georgia State in 2017. The lone opening day loss came at the hands of Bethune-Cookman, 12-9, at the John Merritt Classic in 2013. The Tigers are 6-2 under Reed in the John Merritt Classic with the only other loss coming last year, a 19-16 double-overtime loss to Eastern Illinois.

Reed enters his ninth season at the helm of the Tigers with a 49-42 record. Only two coaches have produced more wins at TSU. John Merritt claimed 174 victories in his 20 years (1963-83) for a .806 winning percentage (174-35-7), while Harry Kean spent 10 years in charge of TSU from 1944-54 and compiled a 93-15-3 record (.838).

Against Bethune-Cookman, TSU quarterbacks Micheal Hughes and Demry Croft shared the quarterback duties. Coming into the season it was not determined which would be the starting quarterback.

“We’ve had a really, really tough quarterback battle,” said Reed. “Micheal Hughes and Demry Croft have done a really good job.” Fortunately, this is not a bad problem to have as history has shown that it is important to have a decent backup in order to compete in the Ohio Valley Conference.

TSU is coming off its fifth non-losing season in the past six seasons under Reed and hopes to continue the trend as they enter the 2018 season with eight returning starters on offense. The defense ranked seventh in the nation, second in pass defense, under first year defensive coordinator Gary Fisher, but will look to replace seven starters.

The Big Blue held opposing teams to 164.5 yards through the air and returns three starters in the backfield. Safeties LaQuarius Cook and sophomore Vincent Sellers are joined by junior cornerback Dajour Nesbeth. Juniors Neiman Armstrong and Shakur Jackson are back to provide depth along with transfers Nick Harper, Jr. and John Robinson IV as they try to replace Terrell Bonds, who had four interceptions a year ago. The defense will also look to fill the spots of departed all-conference performers Chris Collins, Ebo Ogundeko and Jason Morrow. Collins was the team’s field general at middle linebacker and led TSU with 97 tackles, 13.0 for loss.

Ogundeko was a two-time All-American performer at defensive end and a three-time All-OVC selection. The offense lost one of the top threats in TSU history with the graduation of Memphian Patrick Smith. The wide receiver led the Tigers in receptions (42), receiving yards (648) and touchdowns. Smith also closed out his career with the third most receiving touchdowns in program and OVC history. Coach Reed and offensive coordinator Jeff Parker still possesses one of the more dangerous receivers in the conference in Steven Newbold.

The offense also enters with experience as they feature their top five rushers from a season ago and three of the top four receivers. The unit looks to regain its 2016 form with the help of four returning linemen. The Tigers hope the return of four of their front-five will produce a foundation to resurgence.

During his weekly call to the media, Reed said about last week’s game, “I think both of our quarterbacks played well last week. We were able to run the football. We were able to force some turnovers. Whenever you are able to get some turnovers in a game, you have to feel good about that. They went for it on fourth down several times and we stopped them every time. The biggest area I was proud of was our kicking game.”

The Tigers will play Jackson State in the Southern Heritage Classic in Memphis on Saturday at 6 p.m. Tennessee State leads the series over Jackson State 17-9 and has won the last six games. TSU won the game last year in a thriller 17-15. This is one of the biggest games for both of these programs. Both teams use this game as an opportunity to raise additional funds, recruit the Memphis high school market for students and to reconnect alumni who reside close to this area.

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