JACKSON, Miss. – In their first road test of the 2025 campaign, the Tuskegee Golden Tigers were unable to overcome a powerful Jackson State squad, falling 30-0 inside Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium.

The defeat drops Tuskegee to 2-1 overall, snapping the program's unbeaten start to the season.

The Golden Tigers entered the matchup riding momentum after two strong showings to open the year, including a shutout victory in their first-ever night game at Abbott Memorial Stadium.

Against Jackson State, however, Tuskegee ran into a veteran squad that combined a high-powered offense with a disruptive defense to control the contest from the opening quarter.

Jackson State set the tone early in the first quarter when quarterback Jared Lockhart capped a 52-yard drive with an 11-yard rushing touchdown.

The Tigers doubled their lead in the second with another Lockhart score on the ground, before stretching the margin to 21-0 at halftime on Lockhart's 21-yard touchdown strike to wideout Jameel Gardner Jr.

Tuskegee's best scoring chance came late in the first half when All-SIAC kicker Lorcan Ryans attempted a 42-yard field goal, but his kick drifted wide, leaving the Golden Tigers still in search of points.

Defensively, Tuskegee battled to slow Jackson State's rhythm, highlighted by an interception from defensive back Quincy Crawford and a team-leading seven tackles from defensive back Denard Johnson.

The Golden Tigers managed to record seven tackles for loss and a sack, yet Jackson State's offensive balance proved too much. The home Tigers piled up 511 total yards, including 252 on the ground and 259 through the air, while limiting Tuskegee to just 109 yards of offense.

The second half saw Jackson State tack on nine more points to seal the victory. After a loss of yards on a run resulted in a safety early in the third quarter, Parker Stofa powered in from one yard out on the ensuing possession, putting the game out of reach.

Tuskegee's offense continued to struggle against Jackson State's defensive front, which allowed just 24 rushing yards on the day and consistently disrupted the passing attack.

Quarterback Raequan Beal completed 9-of-17 passes for 93 yards, while graduate sophomore wide receiver EJ Hall led all Tuskegee receivers with three catches for 39 yards. Running back Johnny Morris paced the ground attack with 32 yards on 11 carries, though the Golden Tigers could not find sustained success against a physical defensive line.

Up Next
Tuskegee will look to rebound despite a short week, as the team will return to conference play on the road against Benedict on Thursday, Sept. 18. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET, with live coverage available on ESPN+ and the Golden Tiger Sports Network.
 
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