TUSKEGEE, Ala. __ Tuskegee's success in one-score games finally came up short on Saturday afternoon against SIAC opponent Edward Waters, as the Golden Tigers failed to make a stop on the final play, giving way to a 41-38 loss with time expired.
Leading 38-35 after a touchdown pass from
Christopher Roberson to
Corey Petty with under 30 seconds to play, Edward Waters converted a 46-yard pass deep as time expired, shocking the over 30,000 fans in attendance.
With the loss, Tuskegee is now 5-2 overall and 4-1 in SIAC play, while Edward Waters improves to 4-3 and 4-2 in the SIAC.
The Golden Tigers appeared ready to run away with the game, jumping out to a quick two-score lead following a pair of touchdown runs from sophomore
Johnny Morris in the opening quarter. But Tuskegee saw that lead slip away due to turnovers and two key plays in the half, as Edward Waters recovered a fumble in the endzone for their first score, followed by a 36-yard run by Jyron Russell, where he seemed to be down before rolling over a defender to score and tie the game at 14-14 in the second quarter.
TU opened the game with the ball, receiving the opening kickoff before driving down 60 yards in just three plays. The offense gained 38 yards on a connection from Roberson to Petty on the first play of scrimmage, followed later by a four-yard run by Morris for the first score of the game.
Following the score, Tuskegee's defensive unit stood strong on their first drive, forcing a three-and-out. The offense got right back to work after the change of possession, as a Morris started off the drive with two carries, followed by a 19-yard pass from Roberson to Noah. Morris capped finished the possession on the next play, rushing for 28 yards and a score to put the Golden Tigers up 14-0.
After another Edward Waters punt, this time pinning Tuskegee inside their own 20, EWU made a play on defense, recording a sack and forced fumble, that was recovered in the endzone for their first touchdown, pulling within one score at 14-7 with just over six minutes to go in the first. EWU later evened the score early in the second quarter on a five-play, 66-yard drive and score from Russell, before the
Lorcan Ryans closed out the half with a 31-yard field goal to take a 17-14 lead into the half.
Edward Waters took its first lead of the afternoon in the second half after a five-play 91-yard drive to take the 17-14 edge at the 7:27 mark in the third quarter. Tuskegee responded on the next drive with a 59-yard bomb, this time Roberson to
Antonio Meeks for a score on the opening play of the possession, to regain the lead at 24-21, a score that would remain until the final quarter.
The fourth quarter saw five total touchdowns and 34 total points in the 15-minute span, seeing the lead change hands twice before the final score to decide the contest.
EWU scored 14 unanswered points to start the quarter and go up 35-24 lead, their largest of the game, as they forced Tuskegee into a three-and-out and fumble on their first two drives of the frame. The Golden Tigers later responded with 14 straight points towards the close of the quarter, as Roberson ran in one score, before connecting with Petty to regain the lead with just seconds to play, followed by the final drive from Edward Waters to take the win.
Roberson went 21-for-34 through the air for 323 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions in his first start, along with scoring once on the ground in the contest.
Johnny Morris rushed 13 times for 66 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while Meeks came up strong in his return from injury, catching a career-high nine passes for 179 yards and a touchdown in the loss.
Up Next
Tuskegee will return to action next Saturday, October 21, as face off against Savannah State inside of Theodore A. Wright Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. ET, with the game broadcast on ESPN+.
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