NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee State rushed for 309 yards and two touchdowns as a team and Tigers’ senior quarterback Antonio Heffner added four passing touchdowns to lead TSU to a 45-24 win on Saturday afternoon at LP Field.

Senior running back Javarris Williams led the Tigers (8-2, 5-1 Ohio Valley Conference) with 93 yards rushing and one touchdown. Two other TSU running backs rushed for more than 60 yards.

Heffner completed 7-of-14 passes for 162 yards with three touchdowns to senior wide receiver Brandon Belvin and one touchdown to Williams on a screen pass.

The Tigers led 24-3 at halftime, and despite three Eastern second half touchdowns the Panthers (4-6, 2-4 OVC) could not mount a comeback.

Red-shirt senior running back Travorus Bess led Eastern with 90 yards rushing and one touchdown on 15 carries. Red-shirt junior quarterback Bodie Reeder threw for 207 yards and two touchdowns, but he also had 20 incompletions.

Red-shirt sophomore wide receiver Charles Graves led all Eastern receivers with 73 yards on five receptions. Red-shirt sophomore tight end Sean McGrath had 56 yards and one touchdown on six receptions, and red-shirt junior wide receiver Adam Kesler had 45 yards and one touchdown on three receptions.

The Panthers return to action on Nov. 15 with an OVC game against Austin Peay at O’Brien Stadium.