Tuskegee – The Golden Tigers of Tuskegee University survived a game riddled with turn overs to defeat the Fort Valley State University Wildcats 35-28 in Cleve Abbott Stadium. The two teams combined for 10 turnovers.
Fort Valley struck first with 6:25 remaining in the first quarter when Malcolm Eady dashed in from two yards out; Juan Serna's kick was good. Tuskegee's
Hoderick Lowe sprinted full speed ahead with 17 seconds remaining for a 36-yard touchdown;
Trevor Wylie split the uprights to tie the game.
With 35 ticks left in the half Niykiem Floyd returned a fumble recovery for 60-yards to score. Serna's kick was successful.
The Golden Tigers came out the locker room with victory on their minds;
Devozea Gaines blew past everyone for a 89-yard kickoff return. Wylie's PAT sailed as straight as an arrow through the goal posts. Less than two minutes later,
Jawell Ratliff returned an interception 42-yards for a pick six; Wylie once again hit pay dirt. With the momentum shifted in Tuskegee's favor, Lowe scurried into the end zone from nine yards out. Wylie once again successfully added the point after.
The Wildcats rallied back in the beginning of the fourth on a quarterback keeper as Otis Brown launched into the end zone on a four-yard run (Serna's kick was good).
Tyree Brooks rushed four-yards into the end zone (Wylie kick) to take the Golden Tigers up 35-21. Fort Valley ended scoring on a 32-yard pass to Dreion Freeman from Brown; Serna put up the extra point. With a score of 35-28 the Wildcats were driving the ball to score, but a big interception by Ratliff with 1:00 minute remaining changed the flow of the game. He (Ratliff) returned the ball 30-yards to the Fort Valley 35-yard line to place the final nail in Fort Valley's rally back.
Kevin Lacey went 8-13-1 for 75 yards and was sacked twice. He also picked up 33 crucial yards on the ground.
Justin Nared went 3-8-1 for 38-yards.
Lowe rushed for 55-yards on two carries and two touchdowns.
Michael J. Thornton tallied 31-yards on 10 carries, while
Marquel Gardner caught three receptions for 43 yards.
Defensively,
El' Malik Chinn paced Tuskegee with 13 tackles (7 solo, 6 assists).
Jawell Ratliff exploded with six solo tackles and three assists but that paled in comparison to his two interceptions returned for 72 yards.
Darian Hall added seven total tackles, four solo and three assists.
Osband Thompson also had seven tackles (2 solo and five assists) and one interception returned for 53-yards.
The Golden Tigers travel to Columbus, Georgia, to take on the Morehouse Tigers in the 79th Tuskegee-Morehouse Football Classic. Kick-off is set for 5:00 PM ET at A.J.McClung Stadium.
