TUSKEGEE, Ala. | The memories of last year's game still sit with members of the 14th-ranked Tuskegee University football team.
 
The Golden Tigers led in the fourth quarter until two touchdowns late handed Miles the 26-23 victory. The loss knocked Tuskegee out of the SIAC Championship game; however, it fueled a quarterfinal run for the Golden Tigers in last year's NCAA Division II playoffs.
 
The two teams meet again on Saturday, this time at Birmingham's Legion Field with kick off set for 5 pm and the stakes are different in 2016.
 
Tuskegee (7-1, 2-1 SIAC West) is looking to maintain their regional ranking and earn a spot in the NCAA Division II playoffs, while Miles (5-3, 2-1 SIAC West) will have one more game remaining after this week's contest – the Turkey Day Classic against Alabama State.
 
The Golden Tigers lead the series 45-14-1 overall, but it is the last 10 years that everyone is looking at it in the series. The two teams have met 10 times, and Tuskegee leads the series Miles 6-4.
 
"They are a very good football team," Tuskegee head coach Willie Slater said. "They have good skill players, and they seem to have our number a little bit. They are the one team in the conference that has been able to beat us over the last few years."
 
Although the teams have ultimately split the last 10 meets, with Tuskegee gaining the edge, the Golden Tigers have won four of the last six. But none of that matters when the two teams line up to play on Saturday.
 
The two are highlighted by a pair of defenses that are, not only one of the best in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), but in the nation too. Tuskegee ranks in the top 10 in seven different categories nationally, including second in total defense (232.0 ypg) and seventh in scoring defense (14.3). Meanwhile, Miles ranks in the top 10 in the nation in three categories, and are ranked 11th overall in total defense (279.3 ypg).
 
This season, the Golden Tigers defense has allowed opponents to rush for 100-plus yards – as a team – just three times in seven games, and have not allowed an opponent to reach 300 yards of total offense through those same seven games. They will be tested by a Miles offense that averages 294.4 yards per game and 27.3 points per game – second in the conference just behind Tuskegee (27.8 points per game).
 
Osband Thompson leads the Tuskegee defense 89 total tackles, including 7.5 tackles for loss. He and teammate Quavon Taylor (74 total tackles) have combined for 163 total tackles this season. The Golden Tigers have combined for 28 total sacks and 63 tackles for loss, while forcing 12 turnovers – including nine interceptions.
 
Offensively, senior quarterback Kevin Lacey leads the team with 204.9 yards per game of total offense – 1,465 of those yards coming through the air. The senior is responsible for 15 total touchdowns this season – including 13 through the air. Lacey has picked apart defenses by throwing the ball to 13 different receivers, but none more than senior Desmond Reece who has 32 receptions for 614 yards and six touchdowns. The senior's best game came against UNC Pembroke when he caught six passes for 147 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
 
Javarrius Cheatham has hauled in 19 receptions this season for Tuskegee, a new career-high, for 238 yards and three touchdowns. Senior tight end Leo Gilbert has caught 15 passes for 267 yards and four touchdowns – a total off 11 over the last two years.
 
A total of 12 players have carried the football for Tuskegee this season, with freshman Jayjerien Craig leading the way with 409 yards on 81 carries and a pair of touchdowns. He is followed by redshirt freshman Kenny Gant with 270 yards on 53 carries, while senior fullback Jerome Lewis has scored four touchdowns on the ground.
 
The game will be televised by the ASPiRE Network and can be heard on the Tuskegee Digital Network, beginning with pregame at 4:30 pm.
 
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