Golden Eagles looking to start season 2-0 for first time since 1989
September 4, 2012

Golden Eagles looking to start season 2-0 for first time since 1989

Last year it was the first OVC championship in 36 years. This week, Tennessee Tech goes for another milestone that's been a long time coming -- the Golden Eagles can open the year 2-0 for the first time since 1989, if they beat North Greenville. Kickoff Thursday night in Tucker Stadium is at 7 p.m.

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Click here to view/download Tech vs. NGU game notes (PDF)

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Currently ranked first in the Ohio Valley Conference in total offense and second in total defense, Tennessee Tech hopes to improve its record to 2-0 Thursday night when it hosts North Greenville University in Tucker Stadium. It would mark the first time the Golden Eagles open the year with two wins since the 1989 season, and only the third time in 32 years (others were 1980 and 1982).
   
North Greenville (0-1), comes to town following a 24-12 loss at Albany State last Saturday. Thursday’s game is the first Tech meeting with the Crusaders, who advanced last year all the way to the semifinals of NCAA Division II and finished with an 11-3 overall record.
   
Thursday’s game is both Youth Football Night and Take A Kid To The Game Night. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m., and the Magic 98.5 Tailgate Park opens at 4 p.m.
   
The Golden Eagles (1-0) have received votes in all three national FCS polls, placing them 29th, 32nd and 35th.
   
The Golden Eagles are paced on offense by quarterback Tre Lamb, tailback Adam Urbano and several receivers, and on defense by senior Howard Griffin and junior Marty Jones. Tech’s offense piled up 548 yards against Hampton, and the “Fastest 60 Minutes in Football” allowed Tech to run 82 plays compared with 59 plays (for 192 yards) by the Pirates.
   
The Crusader defense held Albany State to 250 total yards, including just 79 yards through the air. Junior defensive back Brandon Aldridge shined in his first career start with eight total tackles. Junior linebacker Braelen Meredith filled up the stat sheet, finishing the game with four total tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks and two forced fumbles
   
The Crusader offense struggled to find momentum with just 165 yards of total offense on 69 plays. In his first career start, freshman quarterback Nelson Hughes was 16-for-28 for 105 yards and one interception. After Hughes was knocked out of the game because of a big hit from the ASU defense, sophomore quarterback Joey Carter played the final few series to finish 4-for-10 for 23 yards and one interception.

To purchase tickets, call (931-372-3940) or visit the Athletics Ticket Office in Eblen Center.


North Greenville Crusaders (0-1)
at Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles (1-0, 0-0 OVC)
Thursday, Sept. 6 • 7:00 p.m. CT
Tucker Stadium (16,500) • Cookeville, Tenn.
 TV:................................................... OVC Digital Network
Live Stats: http://livestats.prestosports.com/ttusports/fball
 Series Record:............................................. First meeting
Last Meeting:.............................................................. n/a
Carroll McCray at North Greenville:..................... 0-1 (1 yr.)
Carroll McCray Overall:.......................................11-34 (5 yrs.)
Watson Brown at Tennessee Tech:................ 26-31 (6 yrs.)
Watson Brown Overall:......................... 120-182-1 (28 yrs.)
North Greenville Last Week:.......... L, 24-12 at Albany State
Tennessee Tech Last Week:............ W, 41-31 vs. Hampton
 
GAME NOTES: Thursday night marks the first-ever meeting between Tennessee Tech and North Greenville. It marks the second-straight week that TTU will be playing on a Thursday night. With a victory Tennessee Tech can open the season 2-0 for the first time since the 1989 season.

SCOUTING NORTH GREENVILLE: North Greenville, located in the state of South Carolina, is a NCAA Division II program that started its football team in the 1992 season. The Crusaders were 11-3 a year ago and lost 28-23 to No. 1 seed Delta State in the NCAA Division II Playoff quarterfinals. Following the season head coach Jamey Chadwell moved on to a head coaching job at Delta State and Carroll McCray took over at North Greenville. McCray served as head coach at Austin Peay from 2003-06 and was most recently at Mercer (2011) and Furman (2007-10). In week one of the season the Crusaders dropped a 24-12 decision at Albany State, a game that was a first round playoff rematch from 2011. Nelson Hughes completed 15-of-27 passes for 104 yards while NGU's rushing attack gained 75 yards on the ground.
 
SCOUTING TENNESSEE TECH: Tennessee Tech improved to 6-0 in home openers under head coach Watson Brown by topping Hampton (a team that was 7-4 last year) 41-31 last Thursday night. The high octane Tech offense ran 82 total plays and netted 548 yards of total offense, the second most in Brown's tenure with the Golden Eagles. The TTU defense was also stout, holding Hampton to just 192 yards on the night. Senior quarterback Tre Lamb passed for 339 yards and four touchdowns, as he completed 24-of-35 passes with no interceptions. The 339 yards was the second-highest total of Lamb's career. Running back Adam Urbano carried the ball 25 times for a career-high 158 yards (6.3 yards/game) and a touchdown. After sitting out last season Tremaine Hudson returned to the field on Thursday night and tied his career-high with eight receptions for 62 yards. Junior newcomer Da'Rick Rogers, who transferred from Tennessee just days before the Hampton contest, saw limited action but still managed to haul in three passes for 75 yards and a touchdown. For his efforts Rogers was named OVC Co-Newcomer of the Week. Defensively Marty Jones returned from missing all of last season to lead the team with 13 tackles while Howard Griffin added 12 tackles.