by Don Mooney
photo by Altonita Washington
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (October 18, 2025) – The Tennessee State football team snapped a five-game skid and defeated Howard, 24-7 on Homecoming Saturday at Nissan Stadium. The win improved TSU to 2-5 on the season, powered by a dominant defensive effort that limited Howard to just 183 total yards.
Quarterback Byron McNair led the Tigers’ passing attack, completing 18 of 22 passes for 174 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. He also added 47 yards on the ground. Zack Simmons-Brown paced the TSU rushing attack with 25 yards, while Kendric Rhymes caught two passes for 46 yards.
photo by Altonita Washington
Defensively for TSU, Micah Gay spearheaded the effort with 11 tackles and two interceptions. Jaylon Price contributed a sack and one tackle for loss, helping TSU limit Howard to 116 passing yards and 67 rushing yards. The Tigers pressured the Bison all game, recording four sacks and forcing two turnovers, converting them into seven points.
TSU scored first, taking a 7-0 lead on its opening drive. Howard tied the game at 7-7, but the Tigers responded with a six-yard touchdown pass to retake the lead 14-7. TSU extended its advantage with a third-quarter touchdown to go up 21-7 and added another score to reach 24-7, which would be the final.
photo by Altonita Washington
Bison were unable to get anything going offense with minus 10 yards on 12 of their first offensive plays. But the nationally ranked Buffalo Soldier defense began to take charge and forced punts on three and outs.
For the game, Howard (3-4), ranked first against the pass nationally and Top 10 in total defense, shut down the Tigers statistically, holding them to a total of only 183 yards on offense, including only 67 yards on the ground. Despite its woes on offense, TSU capitalized on Howard mistakes with three scores following Howard turnovers or mistakes.
photo by Altonita Washington
The Bison offense was able to charge and pit together nine play, 32-yard drive with sophomore running back Anthony Reagan Jr. (Woodbury, N.J.) bolting in from two yards out to tie the score, 7-7, with 7:04 on the clock before intermission.
Both teams exchanged turnovers on their ensuing possessions, but it was an interception that gave thwarted Tigers field possession at the Howard 32 with a little under two minutes. The Tigers got three TD passes from McNair, a big one coming just before the half following a Howard interception. McNair connected with Connor Ruth from six yards with just 24 seconds before intermission.
The Tigers added an insurance score near the end of the third quarter when McNair found DeVaughn Slaughter from 10 yards out. Freddie Perez would tack on a 34-yard field goal to close out the scoring.