TUSKEGEE, Ala. – In a thrilling contest at Abbott Memorial Stadium, the Tuskegee Golden Tigers fell 20-16 to Savannah State in their 2024 home opener and SIAC debut.
Despite leading for most of the game, Tuskegee surrendered two fourth-quarter touchdowns, allowing Savannah State to stage a late comeback. The defeat drops Tuskegee to 0-3 on the season and 0-1 in conference play.
The Golden Tigers came out strong in the first quarter, scoring on their second drive of the game. Following a defensive stop, Tuskegee put together a 90-yard drive over just four plays, punctuated by a 1-yard rushing touchdown from
Johnny Morris with 8:40 remaining in the first quarter.
Lorcan Ryans added the extra point, giving the Golden Tigers an early 7-0 lead.
Tuskegee's defense continued to keep Savannah State in check, forcing multiple punts. Early in the second quarter, the Golden Tigers' offense added to their lead. A sustained 8-play, 69-yard drive was capped off by a 21-yard field goal from Ryans, putting Tuskegee up 10-0 just seconds into the quarter.
Savannah State, however, responded quickly. With 9:53 left in the second quarter, quarterback Jhaydon Sullivan connected with wide receiver Da'Shun Mitchell on a 45-yard touchdown pass. Savannah State's kicker missed the extra point, and the score stood at 10-6. Both defenses tightened up for the remainder of the quarter, and Tuskegee took the four-point lead into halftime.
Coming out of the break, Tuskegee looked to put the game out of reach. After a fumble recovery by the Tuskegee defense stalled Savannah State's opening drive of the third quarter, the Golden Tigers embarked on their longest drive of the game — a 13-play, 80-yard march that consumed nearly seven minutes of clock. The drive culminated in a 1-yard touchdown run by
Christopher Roberson with 4:15 remaining in the third quarter. Unfortunately, Ryans' extra point attempt was blocked, leaving the score at 16-6.
Tuskegee's defense held firm, forcing another Savannah State punt on the next drive. At this point, Tuskegee seemed in control, heading into the final quarter with a 10-point advantage and momentum on their side.
The tide began to turn early in the fourth quarter. Savannah State struck quickly, driving 45 yards in under four minutes. Running back Shamarcus Poole capped off the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run at the 8:44 mark, cutting the deficit to 16-13 after a successful extra point.
Momentum swung further in Savannah State's favor moments later. After forcing a Tuskegee punt, Savannah State capitalized on excellent field position. Sullivan once again found his favorite target, Mitchell, for a 20-yard touchdown strike. The pass put Savannah State ahead for the first time all afternoon at 20-16, with just over seven minutes left in the game.
Despite trailing for the first time, Tuskegee was not done fighting. The Golden Tigers mounted a determined drive, starting at their own 27-yard line with just over seven minutes left. Roberson led the offense down the field, converting on a critical fourth down and moving the ball inside Savannah State territory. However, the drive ultimately stalled, and Tuskegee turned the ball over on downs at the Savannah State 30-yard line with under two minutes remaining.
Tuskegee's defense gave the offense one last chance, forcing a quick three-and-out and a Savannah State punt with 38 seconds left. Starting from their own 29-yard line, Tuskegee managed to move the ball 38 yards in six plays, setting up a potential game-winning field goal. However, Ryans' 36-yard attempt sailed wide as time expired, sealing the victory for Savannah State.
Despite the loss, Tuskegee's offense showed significant improvement, outgaining Savannah State 393 total yards to 297. The Golden Tigers were balanced on offense, with Roberson rushing for 49 yards and a touchdown, and Morris adding 11 carries despite being limited to negative yardage overall.
Quarterback
Raequan Beal completed 8 of 14 passes for 146 yards, with his longest pass going for 91 yards to
Reggie Brigman, who led all receivers with 107 receiving yards. Roberson also contributed through the air, completing 12 of 26 passes for 113 yards. The Golden Tigers finished with 289 passing yards.
Defensively,
Terence Maize led the team with seven total tackles, while
Javeon Miller recorded a sack.
Cameron Reynolds provided a key interception in the second quarter to halt a Savannah State drive. Despite these standout performances, Savannah State's timely fourth-quarter surge proved too much to overcome.
Next Up
The loss drops Tuskegee to 0-3 on the season and 0-1 in SIAC play. The Golden Tigers will look to bounce back next week when they face conference opponent in Edward Waters in Jacksonville, Fla. Kickoff for the matchup is set for 7 p.m. ET and can be seen on HBCU GO.
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