MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — John Howse IV was frustrated with himself.
It was the first drive of the game for Tennessee Tech and the Blue Raiders had forced the Golden Eagles into a third-and-13 from their side of the field. Attacking Cover 3, the free safety Howse had come down on a shallow route, allowing the deep dig to be completed over him for the first down.
"We'd been practicing it all week," Howse said postgame. "I saw it, the first time I messed it up."
Defensive coordinator Brian Stewart wasn't worried about his safety, making his first start for the Blue Raiders, and just the second of his career after transferring from Vanderbilt this summer.