Tigers Fade in Push to Repeat in Labor Day Classic

HOUSTON-The Texas Southern Tigers went blow-for-blow with the Prairie View A&M Panthers in the 29^th Annual Labor Day Classic but too much time off appeared to catch-up with TSU in second half.
 
It was an exciting game from the kickoff.  Prairie View marched 80 yards in 11 plays to score on their opening drive.  Johnta' Herbert capped the drive with a two yard touchdown run.  The extra point was missed and left PV with a 6-0 lead.
 
Texas Southern took advantage of their time with the ball.  The Tigers went one up on the Panthers and scored on their first possession as well.   Homer Causey connected with Dedric Shipman for a 30 yard touchdown pass.  Eric Medina's kick was good and TSU led 7-6.
 
Prairie View found the end zone again when De'Auntre Smiley capped a 65 yard drive with a two yard touchdown run.  The kick was good and the Panthers recaptured the lead 13-7.
 
Fate was on TSU's side when PV's Patrick Gant let a punt get away from him and TSU recovered on the Panthers' 10 yard line.  The Tigers got an 18 yard field goal from that mishap but still trailed 13-10.
 
The Tigers tied the game at 13 when Medina kicked a 34 yard field goal in the second quarter.
 
Prairie View scored their third touchdown of the game with 44 seconds left before the half for a 20-13 advantage.
 
Edward Perkins-Loving put the Tigers in great position to score when he returned the kickoff 41 yards to PV's 56 yard line.  TSU was moving the ball down the field when an interception in the end zone shutdown the drive.  Prairie View took TSU's momentum while heading into halftime with a 20-13 lead.
 
"My major concern was can we face adversity and get through it, considering the short time we've been practicing together, said TSU head coach Darrell Asberry. "I believed we almost pulled it off but we still have some work to do."
 
The Tigers seemed to have run out of gas in the second half.  PV scored a field goal in the third quarter, then scored a field goal and touchdown in the fourth quarter. Texas Southern's best chance to get back on the board was near the end of the game when TSU was first and ten on Prairie View's 24 yard line.  The Tiger's next pass was picked off and PV ran out the clock for a 37-14 win.
 
'I still believe we have a good team," Asberry said. "We have to go back to work and get in better shape."
 
Causey did good for his debut as a TSU Tiger.  He completed 6 of 17 passes for 83 yards and a touchdown before falling victim to severe cramps.  He also rushed for 39 yards.
 
"One thing is for sure, we don't have a quarterback issue anymore," Asberry said.  "Causey played for me as a freshman at Shaw but he had to sit out a year when he transferred to TSU.  You can see the ability is there and he will get better with time."
 
Junior college standout Daveonn Porter had a good day out of the backfield.  He carried the ball 15 times for 104 yards. "Porter is something special. He has the speed that we were missing last year," Asberry said.
 
The Tigers have a week off before heading to Huntsville, Texas to face Sam Houston on national TV.  The game will be live on Comcast SportsNetwork (CSN) September 14^th at 2:00pm.