TSU's Heffner earns redemption
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Still smarting from Southern's 41-34 come-from-behind victory over his team at A.W. Mumford Stadium last season, Tennessee State quarterback Antonio Heffner had redemption on his mind in the John Merritt Classic on Saturday night at LP Field.
Mission accomplished.
After committing four second-half turnovers against the Jaguars in Baton Rouge last year, Heffner displayed senior poise in directing the Tigers' own 34-32 comeback win Saturday. Heffner connected on 23-of-29 passes for three touchdowns and ran eight times for 68 yards.
"We went into halftime down 11-0," Heffner said, "and we said, 'Lets keep playing, because they haven't stopped us. We're stopping ourselves.' So we came out in the second half and kept playing until we stuck it in the end zone."
The performance earned Heffner Offensive MVP honors for the John Merritt Classic, as well as his first Classic victory as a TSU player.
"It was his last year to (try to) win the John Merritt Classic, so he did what he had to do in his last shot at it, and he got what he deserved," TSU coach James Webster said.
Despite sputtering in the first half, Heffner came out firing in the second half, completing an 81-yard touchdown to Chris Johnson for the Tigers' first score. The pass was tipped, but Johnson, who caught seven passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns, hauled it in and scampered untouched for the end zone.
Heffner threw touchdown passes on the next two possessions, scoring 20 points in the third quarter alone.
The Tigers scored 14 points on their first two possessions of the fourth quarter, taking a 27-25 lead and then extending it to 34-25 on Javarris Williams' 5-yard touchdown run.
JaJuan Spillman, a lightning-quick Louisville transfer, also helped give TSU an edge. Spillman stretched Southern's defense for 142 all-purpose yards, including six receptions for 97 yards and a 38-yard touchdown.
"I'm having so much fun, I didn't even think about the score in the first half," Spillman said.
The John Merritt Classic win was also a first for Webster, who has been winless in the home-opener series since his 2005 hire.
It also marks the first time TSU has not played Alabama A&M in the Classic since 2003. The Tigers avenged last season's 49-23 JMC loss to A&M by beating them 34-13 on the road in last week's opener.
Mission accomplished.
After committing four second-half turnovers against the Jaguars in Baton Rouge last year, Heffner displayed senior poise in directing the Tigers' own 34-32 comeback win Saturday. Heffner connected on 23-of-29 passes for three touchdowns and ran eight times for 68 yards.
"We went into halftime down 11-0," Heffner said, "and we said, 'Lets keep playing, because they haven't stopped us. We're stopping ourselves.' So we came out in the second half and kept playing until we stuck it in the end zone."
The performance earned Heffner Offensive MVP honors for the John Merritt Classic, as well as his first Classic victory as a TSU player.
"It was his last year to (try to) win the John Merritt Classic, so he did what he had to do in his last shot at it, and he got what he deserved," TSU coach James Webster said.
Despite sputtering in the first half, Heffner came out firing in the second half, completing an 81-yard touchdown to Chris Johnson for the Tigers' first score. The pass was tipped, but Johnson, who caught seven passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns, hauled it in and scampered untouched for the end zone.
Heffner threw touchdown passes on the next two possessions, scoring 20 points in the third quarter alone.
The Tigers scored 14 points on their first two possessions of the fourth quarter, taking a 27-25 lead and then extending it to 34-25 on Javarris Williams' 5-yard touchdown run.
JaJuan Spillman, a lightning-quick Louisville transfer, also helped give TSU an edge. Spillman stretched Southern's defense for 142 all-purpose yards, including six receptions for 97 yards and a 38-yard touchdown.
"I'm having so much fun, I didn't even think about the score in the first half," Spillman said.
The John Merritt Classic win was also a first for Webster, who has been winless in the home-opener series since his 2005 hire.
It also marks the first time TSU has not played Alabama A&M in the Classic since 2003. The Tigers avenged last season's 49-23 JMC loss to A&M by beating them 34-13 on the road in last week's opener.
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