Courtesy of Texas Southern Athletics
For the second straight year in the SWAC, Texas Southern and Southern came down to overtime and SU prevailed with a field goal to claim an emotional 22-19 HBCU football win Saturday night inside Shell Energy Stadium.
| Statistics | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The game belonged to the defenses early on as Texas Southern’s defense struck first as MJ Hinson picked off the SU quarterback in the second quarter and ran in it from 18 yards out to lead 7-0 after Christian Avelar’s PAT.
Late in the second quarter, TSU’s Javius Williams sacked and stripped the SU quarterback, and defensive end Michael Akins pounced on the ball to claim the ball at the SU 28. One play later, Trenton Leary rushed in from 28 yards out to give TSU a 14-0 lead following the PAT entering halftime.
SU had some offensive success to open the second half with two consecutive field goals to trail 14-6. On SU’s third offensive drive, the Tigers were on the verge of getting off the field at their own 39 but TSU was whistled for roughing the kicker which extended the drive. SU would eventually score but missed the two-point conversion as they trailed 14-12 entering the final quarter.
Texas Southern added a 38-yard field goal from Avelar midway in the fourth quarter to move ahead 17-12. Both teams would trade punts after but the TSU defense came up with a potential game-clinching play as Damarcus Thompson forced SU’s Noah Bodden into an intentional grounding and safety in the endzone with 1:26 left.
Ahead 19-12, TSU couldn’t get the game-clinching first down and had to punt but ended up shanking the punt which gave SU possession at the TSU 16 with 18 seconds left. SU scored on the opening play via the pass and converted the PAT to force overtime.
Texas Southern missed a field goal attempt on the opening drive in overtime and SU converted its field goal attempt to claim the SWAC win.
TSU finished with 239 total yards of offense in the HBCU football contest while Jace Wilson passed for 90 yards. Athean Renfro rushed for 49 yards while Leary caught seven passes for 59 yards. Umar Yaro had 11 tackles and a tackle for loss while breaking up a pass.