WILBERFORCE, Ohio __ Tuskegee football continued its dominant run in SIAC play, earning a commanding 30-14 road victory over Central State on Saturday, October 26, to extend their winning streak to five games.
The Golden Tigers' impressive all-around performance pushed their season record to 5-3 overall and 5-1 in the SIAC, as they remain strong contenders in the conference race.
The game opened with both teams feeling out each other's defenses, but it was Tuskegee that struck first late in the quarter. On their second drive, quarterback
Raequan Beal led the Golden Tigers downfield, mixing passes and runs to set up a two-yard rushing touchdown by
Reggie Brigman to cap off a nine-play, 65-yard drive. With
Lorcan Ryans converting the extra point, Tuskegee took an early 7-0 lead.
In the second quarter, the Golden Tigers continued to put pressure on Central State's defense. Beal found success through the air, connecting on a five-yard touchdown pass to Spivey Jr. to finish off a balanced drive. The extra point made it 14-0 in favor of Tuskegee.
Central State's offense struggled to gain momentum, with Tuskegee's defense keeping them in check, holding them scoreless throughout the first half.
Charles Davis Jr. and the rest of the defense kept Central State's ground game bottled up, forcing multiple punts and turnovers on downs.
After halftime, Tuskegee's defense continued to dominate, while the offense looked to extend their lead.
Lorcan Ryans added to the Golden Tigers' advantage with a 28-yard field goal, pushing the lead to 17-0.
Central State finally found their rhythm late in the third quarter, capitalizing on a turnover to score their first touchdown of the game, making it 17-7. However, Tuskegee quickly answered with a decisive nine-play, 76-yard drive, highlighted by
Desmond Leverette's three-yard touchdown run, restoring a commanding 24-7 lead heading into the final quarter.
Central State attempted a comeback early in the fourth, scoring another touchdown to cut the lead to 24-14. But Tuskegee sealed the victory with a 53-yard touchdown run on a reverse by
Quavon Beckford, capping off a strong rushing performance for the Golden Tigers. Ryans missed the extra point, but Tuskegee still led comfortably at 30-14.
Beal led the offense, completing 7-for-18 passes for 128 yards and a touchdown. Despite being pressured throughout the game, he made timely throws and managed the game effectively.
The Golden Tigers' rushing attack was spearheaded by
Zina Mulbah, who racked up a game-high 62 yards on 11 carries, while Leverette added 58 yards on 20 carries, including a crucial three-yard touchdown run in the third quarter that extended Tuskegee's lead to 24-7.
Beckford added to the Golden Tigers' ground game with a pivotal 53-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, solidifying the win. He also contributed with two receptions for 29 yards, while Brigman also added a rushing score, and Spivey Jr. caught a touchdown to help Tuskegee control the game.
Defensively, Davis Jr. had an outstanding performance, leading the team with seven tackles and being a constant presence all over the field. Meanwhile,
Rossie Grimes and
Adean Glover both added five tackles from the secondary.
The Tuskegee defense allowed just 62 rushing yards and 181 passing yards, containing the Marauders' attack for most of the game. The secondary stepped up to limit Central State's passing attack and secure the victory.
Up Next
The Golden Tigers now look ahead as they push forward to a battle next week against Clark Atlanta, a key game in the SIAC race. The meeting between programs will take place inside Panther Stadium next Saturday, with kickoff set for 1 p.m.ET.
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www.goldentigersports.com.
