CHARLESTON, S.C. (Interstat) — Kekoa Visperas accounted for 229 yards of total offense and the Tennessee Tech defense forced two key turnovers 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 season, methodically built a lead and stifled multiple Charleston Southern drives to hand the Buccaneers their fifth loss in six games. The result defied pregame expectations, as Charleston Southern had been installed as a 35-point favorite.

Tennessee Tech set the tone on its opening possession, marching 60 yards in 10 plays. The drive was capped by a 2-yard touchdown pass from Visperas to Maury Sullivan, giving the Golden Eagles a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter.

Charleston Southern responded with a drive into Tennessee Tech territory, but the Golden Eagles’ defense held firm, forcing a 37-yard field goal from Zach Gordon to make the score 7-3.

The Golden Eagles extended their lead early in the second quarter. A 17-yard run by Visperas and a 22-yard completion to Sullivan keyed a drive that ended with a 6-yard touchdown run by Obie Sanni, pushing the advantage to 14-3.

The Buccaneers answered with their most sustained drive of the half, a 17-play, 70-yard march that consumed over nine minutes. Zolten Osborne found Rashawn Cunningham for a 9-yard touchdown pass, cutting the deficit to 14-10.

Tennessee Tech responded just before halftime, engineering a 10-play, 75-yard scoring drive. Visperas had a 25-yard run and completed passes to Noah Robinson and Tre’ Holloway to move the chains before Q’Daryius Jennings plunged in from 1 yard out with 1:39 remaining in the half. The Golden Eagles took a 21-10 lead into the break after a sequence of interceptions—one by Tennessee Tech’s Aaron Swafford and one by Charleston Southern’s Anthony Paulk—in the final two minutes.

The second half became a defensive struggle. After a blocked punt by Tennessee Tech’s Leon Thomas gave the Golden Eagles a short field, they capitalized with a 16-yard touchdown run by Aidan Littles to make it 27-10 late in the third quarter. The Buccaneers’ offense, which rotated between Osborne and Lek Powell at quarterback, struggled to find consistency against a relentless Golden Eagles pass rush.

Charleston Southern’s final points came on a 24-yard field goal from Gordon with 4:18 remaining in the game, closing the gap to 27-13. The Buccaneers had a chance to draw closer after Josias Addison recovered a fumble by Sanni deep in Tennessee Tech territory, but the Golden Eagles’ defense recorded two consecutive sacks to end the threat.

Visperas, a quarterback from Spanaway, Washington, finished 17 of 27 for 157 yards and a touchdown through the air, while adding 72 yards on nine carries on the ground. Littles was a versatile weapon, rushing for 49 yards and a touchdown on just five attempts.

For Charleston Southern, Powell provided a late spark, completing a 28-yard pass to Kevin Boone to set up the fourth-quarter field goal. Tight end Nebanye Moore was a bright spot with five receptions for 57 yards.

The Tennessee Tech defense held Charleston Southern to just 80 passing yards from its primary starter, Osborne, and logged multiple sacks to stall drives.

The Golden Eagles will look to continue their perfect season on the road next Saturday at Lindenwood. Charleston Southern travels to face Western Illinois.