PHENIX CITY, Ala. — The Golden Tigers of Tuskegee University stood before the Marching Crimson Pipers, with their hands raised in a salute as the alma mater was being played, in victory. With wide smiles and a soaked Willie Slater, head football coach, you could feel the elation of the 20-12 victory.

The contest began, as one would expect of two defensively charged teams, scoreless in the first. The second quarter saw daylight for the Golden Rams of Albany State University as Frank Rivers launched a 37-yard bomber to Yancy Burns. The point after by Zachary Gayden split the uprights. The game was delayed due to lightning in the area for 30 minutes with a little over five minutes remaining in the half, yet this did not delay the Golden Tigers next drive of 70-yards from yielding a 22-yard field goal by Trevor Wylie, to take the score to 7-3 heading into the locker rooms for halftime.

In the third quarter Tuskegee came alive scoring 17 uncontested points to push ahead 20-7 going into the fourth. Quarterback Kevin Lacey, who paced the Golden Tiger offensive unit, led this surge in scoring. In the top of the third, Michael J. Thornton rushed into the end zone on an eight-yard dash. Wylie found the uprights again for the point after. Not done by far, Tuskegee strengthened their lead when Lacey found Larry Cobb in the end zone on a four-yard strike. Wylie once again hit pay dirt with the point after. The final points for the Golden Tigers came on a 41-yard field goal by Wylie with less than two minutes remaining in the quarter.

With a 20-7 lead heading into the final quarter, Tuskegee could taste their victory.  With lightning in the area, the Golden Rams fought to steal the thunder from Tuskegee with a safety early in the quarter. The defense for the Golden Tigers was undeterred as they held Albany State out of the end zone, forcing them to settle for a 21-yard field goal by Gayden to wrap scoring with 6:41 remaining in the contest.

Lacey went 6-of-12 on the night for 137-yards, a touchdown and tacked on 19 yards on the ground.  Because of his scampering ability, Tuskegee was placed in excellent scoring position. Justin Nared, starting quarterback, hit his receivers six time on eight tries for 68-yards in the air, on the night.

Impressively, Hoderick Lowe maintained he Tuskegee offense with 39 yards on 12 carries, Michael J. Thornton scored on one of his five carries, to tack on 16 yards for the Golden Tigers.

Chinn,Tyrin Thurmon, Darian Hall and Brandon Griffin tied to lead the Golden Tigers' defensive unit with seven tackles. Chinn had two solo and five assists and one breakup, Thurmon had four solo and three assists and one tackle for a loss of one yard, while Griffin also had two solo and five assists. Hall paced the defensive unit with two solo tackles, five assists, one tackle for a loss of nine yards and one quarterback hurry.

Frank Rivers, quarterback, was spot on for 16 of his 37 passes for 164 yards, while Jarvis Smalls chipped in 161-yards on 23 carries. For their defense, Tavarius Washington had a big game with nine tackles; seven of which were solo. Cedric Ashe and Nick Scott both talled six tackles, Ashe had six big solo plays, while Scott pulled in five solo and one assist.

There is no rest for the Tuskegee Golden Tigers as they immediately begin to prepare for their contest against Winton-Salem State in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Kick-off is set for 6:00 p.m. ET.