TUSKEGEE, Alabama | After playing three consecutive non-conference games to open the 2015 campaign, the 18th-ranked Tuskegee University Golden Tigers will hit the road to face Lane College in their SIAC opener Saturday afternoon.
The game is schedule for a 2 pm kickoff in Jackson, Tenn. and can be seen/heard on the Tuskegee Sports Network.
Tuskegee (3-0) will be looking to win their conference opener for the fourth consecutive season, with the last loss coming in 2011 to Stillman. They will be looking to do so against Lane (1-2) who is looking for their first win in school history against Tuskegee, and is coming off of a 7-3 loss to FCS-member Bethune-Cookman last weekend.
However, none of those numbers matter when the two teams line up and play on Saturday afternoon.
"You can't take anyone lightly," Tuskegee junior quarterback Kevin Lacey said. "Football starts 0-0, so no one is ahead. It doesn't matter how many times you beat someone, you can always lose any day. It is anyone's game, you just have to come out and execute to your potential and whatever happens."
The Golden Tigers rank as one of the best defenses in the country this season as they enter the contest on Saturday. They are currently in the top 15 in several categories which include defensive touchdowns (tied for first), passing efficiency defense (fourth), interceptions (fifth), red zone defense (sixth), scoring defense (eighth), turnovers (13th) and turnovers gained (15th).
They will be facing one of the top offenses in the SIAC this weekend in Lane, as the Dragons lead the league in third down percentage (.679), first downs (65), rushing offense (235.0 ypg) and turnovers lost (four).
"They have a really good quarterback and all of their skill guys are back this year," Tuskegee defensive coordinator Joseph Carter said. "They have built around that, it is going to be interesting to see. They do a lot of motion with receivers and try to outnumber you like that before they snap the ball.
"It will be tempo again. This team will be one of the fastest we have faced up until now, and they will check it from the sideline. It means the coaches will get a chance to see what defense they think we are in, and make the perfect call. That is the challenge."
However, the Golden Tigers offense moved the ball last week as they ran 10 more plays than Winston-Salem State and outgained the Rams by 139 yards.
"We did better and I think we are getting better," Tuskegee head coach Willie Slater said. "We were able to drive the ball down the field, particularly the drive to start the second half. I thought that was a key drive in the game. We didn't have a lot of turnovers, we had the turnover late which was bad.
"The defense came out there and only gave up three points on the turnover. It ended up being a positive thing because they were able to hold them to just three points."
Tuskegee will need the positive on both sides of the ball as they play their first "true" road game of the season this week. The Golden Tigers have been on the road already once this year, but not in a hostile environment.
"We just have to maintain the focus that we have had this season," Lacey said. "We have a long drive to Jackson, distractions are really not good. You don't want any distractions, you have to carry the focus from Tuskegee to Jackson."
Slater has reminded the guys about this week's game and what it can mean for the program.
"I spoke to the players this morning," Slater said. "I know how bad we wanted to beat Winston-Salem State and in turn I know that is how bad they want to beat us. We better have our A game when we go up there.
"Once we leave here, it's just us. Everything is just us. There are no distractions at all. When we play at home we leave on Friday, but up until that point there are a lot of distractions. We try to get them back in and on tune. But when we leave on a road trip, we don't have distractions like that and guys seem to gel a little bit better."
The Golden Tigers depart on Friday as they head to Jackson, Tennessee to face Lane.
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