TSUSports.com: Big Plays Haunt Tigers In Labor Day Classic

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HOUSTON - It was a tale of big plays and missed opportunities as TSU fell to Prairie View A&M 44-23 in the 35th edition of the Onsite Counseling Labor Day Classic at BBVA Stadium.
The Tigers opened the contest with a bang on their opening drive as they drove to the PVAMU 17 but fell short after a missed field goal. The defense responded on the ensuing drive with an interception as Marquel Daigle picked off a tipped pass and returned the pick 19 yards to the Panthers' 29-yard line. The Tigers would advance to the PVAMU 15 on the next offensive possession before settling for 33-yard field goal from Richard Garcia at the 8:16 mark.

In what would be a common thread throughout the contest, the Panthers converted a 50-yard reception on 4th-and-3 and punched it into the endzone one play later. The Tigers blocked the PAT and responded after the score as Garcia nailed his second field goal to knot the game at 6-all with 2:09 left in the quarter.

TSU would force a PVAMU punt and scored its first touchdown of the season as DeAndre Johnson connected with Tren'Davian Dickson for a 12-yard pass. The PAT was good as TSU would lead 13-6.

Both teams would trade punts to open the second quarter and PVAMU would strike first as Dawonya Tucker scored from 17 yards to knot the contest at 13-all after the PAT. Late in the quarter, PVAMU would jump ahead 20-13 after a 66-yard touchdown from Tucker. The Tigers would fumble on the ensuing drive and the Panthers closed out the half ahead 23-13 after a late field goal.

The Panthers moved ahead 30-13 early in the third quarter before TSU would get back on the board after Garcia's third field goal of the game for a 30-16 deficit. However, another big play would doom TSU as the Panthers would score on a 48-yard strike en route to a 37-16 lead.

TSU wouldn't quit as Chris Long caught a 40-yard pass from Johnson late in the third quarter to trail 37-23 but a 58-yard run by PVAMU early in the fourth quarter would end the scoring.

TSU tallied 423 total offensive yards in head coach Clarence McKinney's debut. Freshman LaDarius Owns led the Tigers with 95 yards on 15 carries and one touchdown while Johnson passed for 259 yards on 22-of-37 passing. Dickson caught eight passes for 76 yards and one touchdown while Donnie Corley had 92 yards on seven receptions. Patrick Howell led all TSU tacklers with 10 stops while Ike Onwuasoanya had eight tackles and two tackles for loss.

TSU is back in action next week in San Antonio as they'll face Incarnate Word at 6 p.m.


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Courtesy: TSU Athletics
 
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