TUSKEGEE, Ala. __ The Tuskegee Golden Tigers fell to Alabama State, 34-6, in the 100th Turkey Day Classic at ASU Stadium, ending their regular season with a 5-6 record.
Despite a valiant effort, the Golden Tigers were unable to overcome a fast start by Alabama State and struggled to find momentum throughout the game.
The first quarter was dominated by Alabama State, who jumped to a commanding 21-3 lead. The Hornets quickly capitalized on big plays, including a 45-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kareem Keye to Jalen Jones at 13:07.
Just 48 seconds later, Alabama State struck again with a 73-yard touchdown pass to Robert McMinn.
By the 5:45 mark of the first quarter, Alabama State added another touchdown, a 20-yard pass to Eric Horn, putting the Hornets ahead 21-0.
Tuskegee responded with a 30-yard field goal by
Lorcan Ryans to cut the deficit to 21-3, but the Golden Tigers were unable to generate consistent offense.
In the second quarter, Tuskegee mounted a brief rally. A strong 13-play, 50-yard drive resulted in another field goal by Ryans, this time from 47 yards, to make it 21-6.
However, Alabama State responded almost immediately with a 63-yard touchdown pass to McMinn, putting the Hornets up 28-6 with just under six minutes remaining in the half.
Despite a solid effort from the defense, including a sack and a few key stops, Tuskegee was unable to find the end zone before halftime.
Alabama State continued to dominate in the third quarter, extending their lead to 31-6 with a 42-yard field goal by Brandon Gilliam at 4:30. The Golden Tigers struggled to gain traction offensively, failing to capitalize on a key interception and a punt return.
Despite a couple of promising drives, Tuskegee was unable to score, and Alabama State closed out the game with another field goal from Gilliam, making the final score 34-6.
Offensively, Tuskegee managed just 231 yards of total offense, with 138 yards rushing and 93 yards passing.
Johnny Morris led the rushing attack with 88 yards on 17 carries, while
Raequan Beal completed 9-of-20 passes for 86 yards but was intercepted twice.
Defensively, the Golden Tigers were led by
Terence Maize, who recorded five tackles, and
Masiah Wells, who had two tackles for loss.
Alabama State's offense was explosive, totaling 478 yards, with 331 yards coming through the air.
Keye passed for 331 yards and four touchdowns, with McMinn and Jones each catching over 100 yards of passes. The Hornets' defense was also strong, forcing three turnovers and limiting Tuskegee's offense to just 93 passing yards.
Despite the loss, Tuskegee showed resilience, especially on defense, and was able to control the clock with 35:55 time of possession. However, Alabama State's big plays and efficient offense proved too much to overcome.
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