Box Score

WILBERFORCE, Ohio -- Interim head coach Keith Higdon seemed to have a clear philosophy going into his first game leading the Tuskegee football program against Central State.

Pound the rock.

The Golden Tigers ran the ball 49 times for 255 yards - both season highs - but could not withstand the Marauders' aerial assault in a 27-19 loss Saturday at McPherson Stadium. CSU quarterback Jackson Wasik threw for 319 yards and four touchdowns - the last coming early in the fourth quarter of a one-point game - to send Tuskegee (2-4, 2-2 SIAC) to a second straight defeat.

Tuskegee quarterback Bryson McGrew was able to get it done in the air and on the ground, combining for 223 yards of total offense and a touchdown pass, which was a 23-yard strike to EJ Hall midway through the first quarter that gave the Golden Tigers a 7-0 lead. But on the Marauders' thrid play from scrimmage on their ensuing drive, Wasik connected with Avantae Burt on a 60-yard touchdown pass to tie the score less than a minute later.

The Wasik-Burt connect was a problem all afternoon for Tuskegee as the two hooked up twice more for scores. CSU finished a seven-play, 84-yard drive with a 20-yard scoring pass to Burt early in the second quarter to put it ahead. A Lorcan Ryans 25-yard field goal right before halftime cut the deficit to 14-10. But a five-play, 90-yard drive to open the third quarter - highlighted by a 68-yard completion to Tryon Williams - was finished with a 19-yard pitch-and-catch between Wasik and Burt for a 20-10 lead with 12:37 left in the third quarter.

The Golden Tigers mounted their comeback from there. A methodical 13-play, 60-yard drive that took more than seven minutes ended with a 43-yard field goal by Ryans to cut into the deficit. After a missed CSU field goal, McGrew got 31 of his 93 rushing yards on one play, which ultimately led to an 11-yard touchdown run by Ja'Khael Rowser with 12:24 remaining. But the extra point was missed and Tuskegee still trailed 20-10.

Central State then quickly made its way back into the end zone. A 33-yard kick return was followed by a 53-yard completion and, finally a 9-yard touchdown pass from Wasik to Gregory Hughes to give the Marauders an eight-point advantage. The Golden Tigers then went on another lengthy drive in hopes of tying the game. But the 13-play, 67-yard trek was short-circuited when they failed to get in the end zone on four plays after having first-and-goal from the 6. CSU got the ball back with 4:22 remaining, converted three first downs, and TU never got the ball back.

Rowser has 22 carries for 106 yards, his third straight game crossing the century mark on the ground. Renoldo Spivey, Jr. added another 41 yards on 12 totes and Preston Parker had a team-high four catches for 37 yards. Denard Johnson had a team-high six tackles (one for loss) and Ezekiel Moore had two tackles and a sack for Tuskegee, which hosts Albany State next Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.