Tigers look for redemption against rival Tennessee State

Morgan Beard
Staff Writer

The Jackson State University Tigers will travel to Memphis, Tenn., on Saturday, Sept. 10 to take on their long time rival, the Tigers of Tennessee State University. This will be the 27th annual Southern Heritage Classic and the 50th meeting between these two HBCUs.

Tennessee State leads the all-time series meeting (28-20-2) and the last time JSU has defeated TSU was Sept. 10, 2011 with the score of 35-29. In 2012, TSU defeated JSU 38-12. In 2013, TSU defeated JSU 26-16. In 2014, TSU defeated JSU 35-7. Last year, the JSU Tigers came close to a victory in a 35-25 lost to Tennessee State.

This week JSU looks for redemption after a big loss to FBS school, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The Tigers look to start a winning tradition under the leadership of first year head coach Tony Hughes.

If the JSU Tigers win, it will be Coach Hughes first win as the head coach. Tennessee State is coming off a 44-0 victory over the Golden Lions of the University of Arkansas Pine-Bluff. JSU defeated the Lions in the last meeting in the 2015 JSU Homecoming game, 37-3.

The players Jackson state should watch out for on TSU offense are sophomore QB O’Shay Ackerman-Carter, freshman speedy WR/KR Chris Rowland, and junior WR Patrick Smith. The players Jackson State should watch out for on TSU defense are junior LB Chris Collins, junior DE Ebenezer Ogundeko, and sophomore S Ladarius Johnson.

Both teams are very similar in overall FCS statistics, so this year’s game looks to mirror last year’s close game.

This battle of the big cats will be broadcast live on Fox Sport South. The game will be held at the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tenn. At 6 p.m.