TUSKEGEE, Ala. | For the third time in a calendar year, the two favorites to compete in the SIAC Championship game will meet on the gridiron this weekend.
 
Tuskegee (1-0) and Albany State (0-1) will meet in the second annual Whitewater Classic Saturday afternoon at Garrett-Harrison Stadium in Phenix City, with the game not counting toward the conference standings. Kick off is scheduled for 5 pm (EST).
 
The two teams met last year in the Classic, with Tuskegee coming out on top 20-12 behind three big plays. The Golden Tigers were held to just 55 yards rushing and 260 totals yards of offense, although they possessed the ball for 29:30 of the game.
 
"We had some big plays in the passing game," Tuskegee head coach Willie Slater said in his weekly press conference. "Last year we had the scramble with the big play to Larry Cobb who went in for the touchdown, and the big play to (Marquel) Gardner going toward the complex where he caught the ball of the top of the head of the defender where he went for the touchdown.
 
"Then we had a post to Kaleep Williams, that was a big play, we just big played them last year and didn't move the ball really well. That is a big concern of mine right now, are we going to be able to move the ball?"
 
The two teams met again in the SIAC Championship Game, another game that went down to the wire with the Golden Tigers coming out on top 47-41.
 
"The way we look at football on our end is that it is going to be a roller coaster," Tuskegee defensive coordinator Joseph Carter said. "Sometimes they are going to make plays on their end, sometimes we are going to make plays. What you have to do is take each play for what it is and let it go, and come back and play the next one as hard as you can play. That is what we preach to our guys a lot, and in those two games we played last year were roller coasters."
 
However, those two games were played last year and this is 2015.
 
Each team has changes they have made since last season, including players and in the case of Albany State a new coaching staff.
 
"He is doing some things that are different," Slater said. "Looking at the Valdosta State film they are blitzing more which can present a problem. You can tell it is a different style, definitely a different style. We just have to try and make adjustments and see if we can move the ball on them. Offensively they are about the same. We just have to recognize what they are doing and make the proper adjustments."
 
Tuskegee comes into the game off of a 26-0 victory over Clark Atlanta in the opener, while Albany State fell to perennial NCAA Division II power Valdosta State 21-13. In the Golden Tigers victory, the team held Clark Atlanta to just 38 yards rushing (net) and 202 yards of total offense. They also forced four Panthers' turnovers, while putting up 312 yards of total offense themselves.
 
"It is a confidence booster that we compliment each other," junior quarterback Kevin Lacey on last week's performance. "We compliment the defense, and the special teams compliment us both.  Not saying I want to, but if I make a mistake, it is good knowing that someone is going to be there to lift me up. Last week they didn't give up a touchdown, and if you don't score you can't win."
 
This will be the 42nd meeting all-time between Albany State and Tuskegee, with the Golden Tigers holding a 22-19-1 advantage in the series. The two have meet eight times since 2006, with Tuskegee holding a 7-1 advantage. Over the last 20 meetings, Albany State holds a slim 10-9-1 advantage.

The game will be webcast only this week on the Tuskegee Sports Network by clicking on the link above.
 
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