Box Score

MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- There was little surprise that the 2026 rendition of the Red Tails Classic was tightly contested, as each of the last three games were one-score affairs. Unfortunately for Tuskegee (0-1), the offense was unable to capitalize on a few prime scoring opportunities in a 27-17 loss to West Alabama Sunday night in front of 12, 521 at historic Cramton Bowl.

Brayden Jenkins opened the scoring for West Alabama (1-0) with a 1-yard touchdown run by Brayden Jenkins that capped a 14-play, 80-yard drive to give the Tigers a 7-0 lead. But Tuskegee responded quickly, using less than 90 seconds on the game clock to knot the score on an 18-yard scoring pass from Bryson McGrew (12-for-23, 215 yards) to Jermaine Hardy, Jr. But Luther Richesson (16-of-25, 215 yards) would throw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Madixx Morris midway through the second quarter to give the Tigers a 14-7 lead, an advantage they would take into the half. 

Trailing by a score, Tuskegee looked to be in position to tie the score in the third quarter. After scampering for a 20-yard gain on a reception, Nasir Powell was hit from behind and coughed up the ball. West Alabama recovered to squelch the threat, then began their own drive with hopes of putting even more distance between itself the Tuskegee. 

But Calvin Townes, Jr. (six tackles) came up with the big defensive play just as UWA was about to march into the end zone. TD Parker was a yard from the end zone when Townes poked the ball free and watched it bound out the side of the end zone for a touchback that gave the Golden Tigers new life. It looked as if TU was set to cash in on the opportunity when McGrew scrambled 45 yards on a third-and-1 play that flipped the field and put the ball inside the UWA 30. But a couple of missed throws stalled the drive before Lorcan Ryans missed left on a 43-yard field goal from the left hash to end another possible scoring drive for the Golden Tigers.

Richesson would then throw two more touchdowns (37 and 13 yards) in the fourth quarter - both to Kayden Cupp - that broke the game open with the only interruption in West Alabama scoring coming on a blocked extra point by Tyranny McGowan that was returned for two points by Denard Johnson.

A 51-yard pass from McGrew to Ean Nation set up a 9-yard touchdown run by McGrew (10 rushes, 85 yards), who then found EJ Hall for the two-point conversion to cut the deficit to 27-17 with 4:45 remaining. But a fumble by McGrew with just more than two minutes left snuffed out any last-minute heroics for the Golden Tigers.

Masiah Wells had a team-high seven tackles while Keenan Libecca, Nate Davis and Braylen Jessie each had six tackles for Tuskegee, which will travel to Mobile on Saturday to play Fort Valley State in the Port City Classic. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.