Jump to content
Reporting Scores to CoachT ×
How to edit games

2016 Southern Heritage Classic

kwc

By kwc
in TN Small College Football

 Share

Recommended Posts

kwc Hall of Famer

kwc

Posted
Posted (edited)
Southern Heritage Classic a homecoming for players on both sides

 

M0016373711--292859.JPG

 

September 21, 2015 -Tennessee State wide receiver Patrick Smith leaves Jackson State's Robert Porter behind as he takes the ball into the endzone on the opening drive of the 2015 Southern Heritage Classic. "We're going to score a lot of points this year, because we have a lot of weapons," Smith said. The 27th Southern Heritage Classic is Saturday night at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. (Nikki Boertman/The Commercial Appeal)





 


By Pete Wickham, Special to The Commercial Appeal


 


Don't ask Patrick Smith what he plans to do for an encore. Just ask the Tennessee State wide receiver about the show his team will bring to town for the 27th Southern Heritage Classic Saturday night.


 


"We're going to score a lot of points this year, because we have a lot of weapons," said the 6-foot, 190-pound redshirt junior from Whitehaven, who was a one-man wrecking crew in last year's 35-25 win over Jackson State at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.


 


On the second play from scrimmage he scored on a 64-yard pass-and-dash from O'Shay Ackerman-Carter, and set up two more scores with a catch and a punt return.


 


"There are no jitters," Smith said. "Last year I thought there'd be big plays for me. I just didn't know they would happen on the second play of the game. Now things are second nature to me."


 


And he also knows that TSU's offense can show a lot more versatility, especially on the ground, after last weekend's 44-0 rout of Arkansas-Pine Bluff in Nashville. "Last year we had the receivers and the quarterback, but we didn't have the running game we have this year," Smith said.


 


With returning starter Erick Evans leading the way, they pounded out 202 yards. A pair of Memphis kids — sophomore Marcus Deanes (Southwind) and freshman Earl Harrison (Ridgeway) — chipped in 48 yards. Up front, Thomas Burton (Whitehaven) is the starting center while guard Camren Jones (Ridgeway) and tackle Justin Brooks (Melrose) provide depth.


 


"We struggled a bit to score last year so last week was a good start," said TSU coach Rod Reed, whose team has won four straight against JSU in the Classic. "If we are able to be more balanced, and stay healthy, we have the chance to do some good things."


 


Reed is glad Smith is one of his weapons.


 


"He'll burn guys down the sideline, go over the middle, whatever is needed," said Reed of Smith, who in 10 games caught 54 passes for an Ohio Valley Conference-best 99.6 yards per game and 10 touchdowns for TSU, which went 4-6 last year and 1-6 in the OVC after struggling with injuries, notably the loss of Ackerman-Carter.


 


Jackson State, which finished 3-8 overall and 3-6 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference last season, is starting over again with former Mississippi State assistant Tony Hughes, the school's fourth head coach in four seasons.


 


JSU comes into Saturday's contest on the heels of a 63-13 rout at Nevada-Las Vegas, where turnovers and mistakes negated the effort Hughes said his team displayed.


 


"We've got to learn to not shoot ourselves in the foot," Hughes said. "Hopefully in time these kids will eventually look up and say, 'Now we understand what you've been telling us.'"


 


He believes one of the early converts is sophomore Vincent Hunter, another Whitehaven product who has earned a starting role on a line that only allowed one sack against the Runnin' Rebels.


 


"Vincent starting says a lot about how his game has developed," Hughes said. "He understands what he needs to do in terms of assignments. His knowledge of the game has gotten stronger, and he's made his body stronger. He didn't play a key role when we got here. Now he does."


 


Hunter said his coach "always had confidence in me, but he wants to push me to the limit, to make sure I'm getting the most out of my ability. ... As a team we'll get through this if we stay together and keep working to get better."


 


Junior Derrick Bobo (Whitehaven, University of Memphis) is a backup cornerback for JSU while the roster also includes quarterback Jordan Williams (Whitehaven) and defensive linemen Brandon McCoy (Central) and Brendan Loggins (Carver).


 


Other Memphians coming back to the Classic for TSU include cornerback Gabe Scott (Trezevant), linebacker Dell Porter (Melrose) and receiver Patrick Hill (Sheffield).




Edited by kwc
Link to comment
Share on other sites
kwc Hall of Famer

kwc

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Also I thought Harrison from Ridgeway signed with Arkansas State? When did he transfer or did he never sign there

 

Now that you mention it I seem to remember the same thing as well. But, there are so many it's hard to keep up with everybody. If that's the case i'm glad he found a school to call home.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
kwc Hall of Famer

kwc

Posted
  • Author
Posted

You got all the ties to actually go inside K-Dub lol. Whitehaven Grad/TSU Grad! Crank it up for us I'll be outside with the brotherhood

 

I am actually going this year because my eldest bought he and I some tickets. I had forgotten that. I may possibly swing by the tent if I get a chance and holla' atcha.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing

Announcements

×
×
  • Create New...