Boiling Springs, N.C. — In an exciting match-up on Saturday, Tennessee State secured a close victory against Gardner-Webb, with a final score of 23-20. Draylen Ellis contributed significantly to the win by passing for 220 yards and delivering two touchdown throws, while Jaden McGill added to the team’s success with 100 rushing yards and a touchdown of his own.

The game began with Tennessee State quickly establishing their dominance, scoring on their initial drive. This was followed by a 17-yard touchdown catch by Bryant Williams from Ellis, which put Tennessee State ahead 13-0. However, Gardner-Webb responded by blocking the extra point attempt and returning it for a two-point score.

As the third quarter drew to a close, Gardner-Webb narrowed the gap, making the score 13-12. Yet, Tennessee State answered back with a strong performance in the fourth quarter, solidifying their lead with ten more points. James Lowery capped off the scoring with a 30-yard field goal at the 4:33 mark, further extending Tennessee State’s advantage.

Karate Brenson emerged as a key player for Tennessee State, making eight receptions totaling 82 yards. With this victory, Tennessee State improved their record to 8-3 overall and 5-2 in the Ohio Valley Conference and is set to conclude their regular season at home next Saturday against SEMO.

Gardner-Webb also made notable contributions, with Edward Saydee and Carson Gresock each finding the end zone. The team’s current record stands at 4-7 overall and 3-4 in their conference play. It’s worth mentioning that in the previous season, Lowery had tragically ended a close match against Gardner-Webb by hitting a 50-yard field goal with just nine seconds left, resulting in a thrilling 27-25 victory for the Tigers.