TSU rally two bad for SU

• By JOSEPH SCHIEFELBEIN
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Sep 7, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. - On the verge of bagging the kind of win that can provide momentum for a season, Southern had breakdowns in every phase as Tennessee State rallied for a 34-32 win in the John Merritt Classic on Saturday night at LP Field.

TSU's Antonio Heffner, the Classic's Offensive MVP, threw for 315 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another 68, with receiver Chris Johnson providing a career night with 158 yards and two touchdowns and Javarris Williams rushing for 87 yards and two touchdowns.

Two points and 2 yards separated the two teams' offensive output. The difference came in Tennessee State (2-0) rallying while SU (0-2) wilted.

From one sideline: "The players fought, stayed in there and never quit," Tennessee State coach James Webster said.

From the other: "In the second half, we couldn't finish," Southern coach Pete Richardson said.

Matching Heffner, Southern's Bryant Lee threw for 305 yards and four touchdowns and ran for 47 yards, with Juamorris Stewart came up with a career-best 136 yards and two touchdowns.

Southern led by 12 points with 17 minutes to play, but with poor special teams play putting the defense in a bad spot, Tennessee State got on a roll, scoring on five straight possessions.

"It's a lesson learned," Southern cornerback Michael Williams said of a loss that concluded a week disrupted by Hurricane Gustav. "We have to play through adversity, no matter what happened. We have to play for 60 minutes, play through it all.

"You can't play 30 minutes of football. You have to capitalize and finish the game."

The game turned on two plays.

As SU drove the opening possession of the second half deep into Tennessee State territory to extend an 11-0 halftime lead, receiver Del Roberts fumbled the ball, with safety Eugene Clifford recovering at the TSU 19-yard line.

Two plays later, Heffner scrambled around in a collapsing pocket and flipped the ball ahead to Johnson, who had to cradle the catch and slip a tackle, but then dashed the rest of the way for an 81-yard touchdown, getting TSU within 11-7 with 12:29 left in the third quarter.

"He's a senior," Webster said of Heffner. "He's a leader. You have to stay with your leaders."