NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Interstat) — Byron McNair delivered a near-flawless performance, completing 18 of 22 passes for 174 yards and three touchdowns while adding 47 yards on the ground, to power Tennessee State to its first victory of the season, a 24-7 win over Howard on Saturday at Nissan Stadium.

The Tigers, who entered the game with five consecutive losses, dominated from start to finish, methodically pulling away from the Bison in a game where their defense and special teams provided a constant edge.

McNair, a junior quarterback from St. Louis, Missouri, was the catalyst for the Tigers’ offense, spreading the ball to eight different receivers and consistently extending drives with his arm and his legs. His efficiency stifled any momentum the Howard defense tried to build.

Tennessee State set the tone on the game’s opening drive. After a methodical mix of runs and short passes, McNair connected with Snap Reed, a wide receiver from Memphis, Tennessee, on a 10-yard touchdown pass with 10:59 remaining in the first quarter to tie the game at 7-7.

Howard answered with its only sustained drive of the contest. The Bison put together a 15-play, 74-yard march that consumed over eight minutes of the second quarter. The drive was kept alive by a key 11-yard run by quarterback Tyriq Starks on a third-down play and was capped by a 2-yard touchdown plunge by running back Anthony Reagan Jr. from Camden, New Jersey. The score gave Howard a brief 7-7 tie.

The Tigers responded just before halftime, capitalizing on a critical interception by linebacker Micah Gay from Johns Creek, Georgia. Taking over with 1:51 left in the half, McNair efficiently moved the Tigers down the field, culminating in a 6-yard touchdown pass to tight end Connor Ruth from Knoxville, Tennessee, with just 24 seconds remaining. The score sent Tennessee State into the break with a 14-7 lead and all the momentum.

The third quarter belonged entirely to the Tigers. Their defense continued to harass Starks, while McNair engineered another lengthy scoring drive. He found his favorite target of the day, Devaughn Slaughter from Indianapolis, Indiana, for an 8-yard touchdown pass with 1:28 left in the quarter. Slaughter finished with seven receptions for 42 yards and the score, extending the Tigers’ lead to 21-7.

Howard’s offense, led by Starks, struggled to find any consistency against a swarming Tennessee State defense. Starks completed 14 of 27 passes for 116 yards and was intercepted twice, both by Gay. The Bison’s ground game, which showed flashes with Reagan Jr. gaining 44 yards and Billy Roberson II from Lake Orion, Michigan, adding 28, was often stymied by negative plays and penalties.

The Tigers’ special teams unit, led by punter Mark Shenouda of Mount Juliet, Tennessee, consistently flipped field position. Shenouda averaged over 43 yards on seven punts, pinning the Bison deep in their own territory on multiple occasions.

Tennessee State put the game completely out of reach early in the fourth quarter with a 34-yard field goal from kicker Freddy Perez of Carrollton, Georgia, making the score 24-7.

Howard mounted a final, desperate drive in the closing minutes, moving into Tennessee State territory, but the drive ultimately stalled, sealing the victory for the Tigers.

Defensively for Tennessee State, the pressure was constant, resulting in multiple sacks and the two critical interceptions that halted Howard’s progress. For Howard, the defense managed to force one fumble, recovered by Kaleb Gallop of Portsmouth, Virginia, but it was not enough to spark a comeback.

With the win, Tennessee State improves its season record to 1-5. Howard falls to 3-3. The Tigers will look to build on this performance when they host Western Illinois next Saturday. Howard returns home to face Morgan State. The combined score of 31 points fell well below the pregame over/under line of 42.5, contrary to the projection from Interstat’s game simulator, which had forecast a higher-scoring affair with Tennessee State winning 41-27. The Tigers had been installed as a slim 2-point favorite pregame.