Courtesy of Donald Hunt and the Birmingham Times

When the Tuskegee football team opened its season with a 14-6 victory over Alabama State last week, the Golden Tigers catapulted into the national rankings. As a result, Tuskegee broke into the top 25 in the NCAA American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) poll and is ranked No. 22 in the country among Division II schools.

It was the second straight for Tuskegee over ASU of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). The Golden Tigers were able to step up in class and grab a victory over the Hornets, an FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) opponent.

Tuskegee put together a strong defensive presence in this game. It was led by preseason All-American linebacker Osband Thompson who had a terrific performance. Thompson, a 6-foot, 205-pound senior, had 14 tackles, two quarterback hurries and one forced fumble.

The Golden Tigers had several contributors on the defense such as linebacker Kevin Dawson (seven tackles), safety Jonah McCutcheon (seven tackles, one interception), defensive back Darnell Hill (six tackles) and defensive lineman Kenderius Whitehead (six tackles). McCutcheon had the biggest play of the day. He returned a 46-yard interception for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to help seal the win.

In the last four meetings with Albany State, Tuskegee has not allowed the Golden Rams to score more that 20 points.  Dating back to 2013, Willie Slater is 4-0 all time against Saturday's opponent.

Tuskegee will battle 20th-ranked Albany State in the NCAA (AFCA) poll on Saturday, Sept. 9 in Phenix City, Al, in a Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) matchup. The kickoff is set for 5 p.m. and the game will be streamed live on ESPN3 via the NCAA Showcase.  Live audio of the fourth annual White Water Classic can also be heard on the Tuskegee Digital Network