TUSKEGEE, Ala. | Tuskegee University and sixth-seeded North Greenville University will meet for the first time in school history as the two take to the turf at Younts Stadium with a quarterfinal berth in the NCAA Division II playoffs on the line. The game will kick at 12 noon (est) and can be heard on the Tuskegee Digital Network, with pregame beginning at 11:45 am (est).

Tuskegee (9-2), the seventh seed in Super Region 2, advanced to the contest with a 35-33 victory over Newberry behind the balanced offensive attack that put up 412 total yards on the second-seeded Wolves on the road. Redshirt freshman Kenny Gant led the Golden Tigers offensively with 143 total yards on the day with a touchdown, while sophomore Javarrius Cheatham hauled in three touchdown passes - matching his season total.

In their opening round contest, the Golden Tigers also made a pair of big defensive plays as freshman defensive tackle Kali James and junior safety Jonah McCutcheon each recorded interceptions, and the team held Newberry a yard short on fourth down to seal the victory late.

Over the course of the season, Tuskegee has been led offensively by SIAC Offensive Player of the Year Kevin Lacey. The senior has thrown for 1,956 yards in 11 games this season, throwing for 17 touchdowns and just six interceptions. The senior has thrown to the ball to 14 receivers, but none more than Desmond Reece - a second team All-SIAC selection - who has hauled a career-high 49 receptions for 842 yards and nine touchdowns. His other two favorite targets on the year, both big targets, have been Cheatham (28-415-6 tds) and Leo Gilbert (20-394-5 tds).

Meanwhile, Gant took over the team leading rushing this season, with 453 yards on 82 carries.

Defensively, the Golden Tigers have been one of the best all season, as they rank in the top 10 nationally in several categories. They are led by a trio of linebackers who have combined for 281 tackles on the season, including 123 by the SIAC Defensive Player of the Year Osband Thompson - who also has 10.5 tackles for loss. Junior middle linebacker Quavon Taylor has recorded 99 tackles this season, while weak side linebacker Kalil Gray has recorded 59.

Senior defensive end Daryl George leads the team in sacks this season, recording 7.5 of the team's 36 sacks on the year. A total of 14 players have recorded a sack this season, including SIAC all-conference pick Julian Morgan. With his 3.5 sacks this season, the senior defensive end has now recorded 22.5 sacks over this three years at Tuskegee.

The team has also forced 15 turnovers, including 12 by interception in 2016. Junior Jonah McCutcheon has recorded three of those interceptions this season, including one last week to help seal the victory late in the fourth quarter.

The winner of the contest on Saturday will move to the quarterfinal round where they will face either top-seeded North Alabama or fifth-seeded UNC Pembroke.

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