TSU Football posted its first winning season in over two decades after a solid 24-7 win over Alabama A&M Saturday inside Shell Energy Stadium.
In addition to the winning season, which was TSU's first since 2000, TSU also defeated Alabama A&M for the first time since 2016 and won its first home game this season. TSU also celebrated 13 seniors prior to pregame in #0 Chaunzavia Lewis, #1 Trenton Leary, #3 Da'Veon Ford, #4 Kerien Charlo, #6 Edric Whitley, #7 Jalen Williams, #9 Michael Akins, #14 Charles George Jr., #26 Jonathan Lewis, #38 Josiah Hardman, #44 Alex Bouldin, #73 Calvin Lester III and #90 Victory Vaka.
The Bulldogs had a different motive to open the contest as they drove to the TSU 38 and nearly scored but the TSU defense came up big as Edric Whitley forced a fumble at the TSU 1 which was recovered by Matthew Cooks in the endzone. With a pair of first-time backfield starters this season in Lawrence Butler (RB) and Jordon Davis (QB), TSU marched down the field with ease but came up empty as its 27-yard field goal attempt fell short.
The TSU defense forced a punt on its next drive and the offense made sure to capitalize as Butler ran it on from one yard out to cap off a seven-play, 51-yard drive for a 7-0 lead after Christian Avelar's PAT. AAMU resorted to trickery to open the second quarter on its next drive as a wide receiver pass led to a 44-yard touchdown and a 7-7 tie after the PAT.
Both teams traded punts before TSU returned to the scoreboard as the run game came up big. TSU ran 84 yards down the field on seven plays to lead 14-7 after Davis' score from nine yards out. After another AAMU punt, the Tigers kept the pressure on with a mixture of run-and-pass as Trenton Leary caught a big 48-yard strike from Davis to move into the redzone. Two plays later, Kordell Rodgers caught a nine-yard pass from Davis for a 21-7 lead after the PAT. AAMU would attempt a 50-yard field goal to end the half but the ball fell short.
TSU tacked on a field goal to lead 24-7 in the third quarter as the drive was set up by Garfield Lawrence's strip sack. The TSU did the rest from that point as they held AAMU to three punts, a fumble and two turnovers on downs in the second half.
TSU finished with 386 yards offensively while allowing 311. Butler finished with 101 yards on 20 carries while Davis passed for 158 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 62 and a score. Josiah Hardman had nine tackles while Garfield Lawrence had five tackles and 2.5 sacks.
