NASHVILLE, Tenn.-Michael German threw for 203 second-half yards and two touchdowns to lead Tennessee State to a 34-14 season-opening Ohio Conference victory, Saturday afternoon, in the first game played at Hale Stadium since 1998.

The game also was the first of Sergeant York Trophy series-one of only two traveling trophy series in the country. The four Tennessee OVC schools compete for the trophy.

The victory improved Tennessee State to 3-0 on the season while the Govs fell to 0-3. It was APSU's first season-opening OVC loss in the last three years.  

APSU led 17-14 at halftime but it was all TSU in the second half. In fact, the Tigers limited the Governors to just three third-quarter yards and in the process turned around the game's momentum.

In fact, the Tigers scored on its first possession of the third quarter to take the lead, using a 15-yard penalty to help set up the score.  Penalties, in fact, led to the Govs' undoing. They were penalized 10 times for 120 yards and the penalties contributed to both the first two second-half scoring drives. The second TD, early in the fourth quarter, allowed the Tigers to gain game's control.

German finished the game 27 of 36 for 318 yards and three TDs. His favorite target, Travis James, had nine catches for 109 yards and a TD.

As good as James was he took a backseat to APSU senior Devin Stark, who had nine catches for 124 yards and two TDs, both in the first half.

In the first half, the Govs relied on the running of Wesley Kitts, the passing combo of Jake Ryan-to-Stark and a stubborn defensive front that would not allow the Tigers to establish their running game. Kitts got the Govs going early with a 44-yard run.

Although penalties and a sack prevented the Govs from scoring, it allowed APSU to establish field position.  After TSU was unable to move the ball a second straight possession, it helped set up APSU's first TD drive along with a roughing-the-punter against TSU.

The 10-play 63-yard drive was culminated on a spectacular one-handed 20-yard catch in the right corner of the end zone to put APSU up, 7-0, with 5:12 left in the half.

TSU responded by driving 49 yards in 11 plays, settling for a Jamin Godfrey 43-yard field goal.

Later in the quarter, TSU took advantage of a APSU personal foul penalty to set up a Michael German to Travis James 27-yard scoring play to put TSU up 9-7 after Godfrey had his extra point clank off the left upright.

However,  the Govs came right back with their season's best drive, going 75 yards on 12 plays as they mixed four runs with seven pass completions, three to Stark. The last one was in the end zone to give APSU a 14-9 lead, an advantage it took into intermission.

APSU outgained TSU 204-133 in the opening half, but it was a 301-164 second-half advantage for the Tigers.  The second-half dominance also was reflected in time of possession. After both teams held the ball 15 minutes apiece in the first half, TSU held a 19:25 to 10:35 advantage in the final half.

APSU did not force a turnover during the day while TSU came away with two Ryan interceptions.

-AP-