Tennessee St. routs Butler 31-0 in FCS playoffs

Published Nov. 30, 2013 4:39 p.m. ET

foxsports

Michael German tossed two touchdown passes and Ryan Mitchell had two touchdown receptions as Tennessee State routed Butler 31-0 in the first round of the FCS playoffs on Saturday.

German connected with Mitchell for a 25-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter and with Wesley Samuels for a 17-yard score in the second as Tennessee State (10-3) built a 17-0 halftime lead.

The Tigers extended their lead to 31-0 in the third quarter with a 26-yard interception return for a score by Daniel Fitzpatrick and a 21-yard touchdown pass from Ronald Butler to Mitchell.

Tennessee State advances to face conference foe and No. 2-seeded Eastern Illinois on Dec. 7, which beat the Tigers 34-16 earlier this season.

Butler gained just 257 total yards in its first FCS playoff game in program history. The Bulldogs were the first-ever team from the Pioneer Football League to make the playoffs.