CHARLESTON, S.C. (Interstat) — Kekoa Visperas accounted for 229 yards of total offense and the Tennessee Tech defense forced three turnovers and recorded five sacks as the Golden Eagles remained undefeated with a 27-13 victory over Charleston Southern on Saturday at Buccaneer Field.

The Golden Eagles, now 5-0 for the first time in recent memory, methodically built a lead and stifled multiple Charleston Southern drives to secure the win, defying pregame odds that had installed the Buccaneers as a 35-point favorite.

Tennessee Tech set the tone on its opening possession. After a short Charleston Southern punt gave the Golden Eagles excellent field position at the Buccaneers’ 40-yard line, Visperas engineered a 10-play, 60-yard drive. The quarterback from Spanaway, Washington, capped the march with a 2-yard touchdown pass to Maury Sullivan. Visperas was key on the ground during the drive, scrambling for a 10-yard gain to set up first-and-goal.

Charleston Southern (1-5) responded with its most sustained drive of the first half. A 25-yard completion from Zolten Osborne to Quay Kindell moved the Buccaneers into the red zone, but the drive stalled, forcing a 37-yard field goal from Zach Gordon to cut the deficit to 7-3.

The Golden Eagles extended their lead early in the second quarter. A 22-yard reception by Sullivan keyed a drive that ended with Obie Sanni plunging into the end zone from 6 yards out, giving Tennessee Tech a 14-3 advantage.

The Buccaneers answered with their only touchdown drive of the game. A methodical 16-play, 70-yard possession was kept alive by a roughing the passer penalty on a third-down incompletion. Osborne finished the drive with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Rashawn Cunningham, bringing Charleston Southern within 14-10.

Tennessee Tech reclaimed momentum just before halftime. Visperas led a 75-yard scoring drive, highlighted by his own 25-yard run and a 10-yard scamper by Q’Daryius Jennings that set up first-and-goal. Jennings punched it in from a yard out with 1:39 left in the half to give the Golden Eagles a 21-10 lead at the intermission.

The second half was defined by defensive stands and missed opportunities for the Buccaneers. After a blocked punt by Tennessee Tech’s Leon Thomas gave the Golden Eagles the ball deep in Charleston Southern territory, Aidan Littles broke free for a 16-yard touchdown run, pushing the lead to 27-10 late in the third quarter.

Charleston Southern’s offense, which utilized three different quarterbacks, struggled to find consistency. Osborne was intercepted by Tennessee Tech linebacker Aaron Swafford near the end of the first half, and the Golden Eagles’ defense consistently pressured the Buccaneer passers.

A late surge by Charleston Southern backup quarterback Lek Powell provided a glimmer of hope in the fourth quarter. Powell, from Carlisle, Pennsylvania, completed passes of 28 yards to Kevin Boone and 29 yards to tight end Nebanye Moore to drive the Buccaneers to the Tennessee Tech 1-yard line. However, the drive imploded due to a false start penalty and a stout goal-line stand by the Golden Eagles’ defense, forcing the Buccaneers to settle for a 24-yard Gordon field goal.

From there, Tennessee Tech was able to drain the clock, with Visperas taking a knee to seal the victory.

Visperas finished 17 of 27 for 157 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions through the air, but his impact on the ground was pivotal, as he rushed nine times for 72 yards. The Golden Eagles’ rushing attack was a committee effort, with Littles rushing for 49 yards and a score, Quintell Quinn gaining 47 yards, Sanni adding 35 yards and a touchdown, and Jennings contributing 30 yards and a score.

For Charleston Southern, Osborne completed 11 of 24 passes for 80 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Powell provided a spark in relief, going 3 for 9 for 61 yards and adding 17 rushing yards. Moore was the top receiving target with five catches for 57 yards.

The Tennessee Tech defense was the story, however, consistently disrupting Charleston Southern’s offensive rhythm and coming up with critical stops in the red zone. The Golden Eagles will look to maintain their perfect record when they travel to face Lindenwood next Saturday.

Charleston Southern, mired in a difficult season, will try to regroup on the road at Western Illinois next weekend.