Tuskegee and Morehouse set to meet on Saturday

Live Audio

ASPiRE TV - 2 PM

COLUMBUS, Georgia| The eighth-ranked Tuskegee University Golden Tigers have opened the season winning their first five contests as they head into the 81st annual Tuskegee-Morehouse Classic at AJ McClung Memorial Stadium Saturday afternoon.
 
Tuskegee (5-0, 1-0 SIAC West) and Morehouse (2-3, 0-1 SIAC East) will meet for 106th time in their history on Saturday afternoon, and the Golden Tigers will be looking to win their fifth consecutive in the series. Tuskegee has also won 11 of the last 12 meetings dating back to 2004.
 
The Golden Tigers are coming off of a come-from-behind 21-16 victory over then 21st-ranked UNC Pembroke last weekend, while Morehouse gave up a 22-point fourth quarter lead against Clark Atlanta last weekend.
 
Senior quarterback Kevin Lacey leads Tuskegee this season with 1,036 yards through the air and nine touchdowns. The senior has completed 62-of-101 passes with just two interceptions on his way to a pair of SIAC Offensive Player of the Week awards. He was also named to the Black College Football Hall of Fame Player of the Year Watch List last week, joining four other Golden Tigers – Osband Thompson, Julian Morgan, Leeward Brown and Jonah McCutcheon.
 
Senior receiver Desmond Reece has caught 19 passes for 447 yards and five touchdowns, including 146 yards and two touchdowns last week against UNC Pembroke. Leo Gilbert has recorded 11 for 209 and three touchdowns, while Javarrius Cheatham has recorded 10 for 120 and a touchdown.
 
Jayjerien Craig leads Tuskegee on the ground with 328 yards on 56 carries and two touchdowns this season, including a 100-yard game against Albany State in week two.
 
Thompson leads Tuskegee defensively with 53 total tackles and six tackles for loss, while earning a pair of SIAC Defensive Player of the Week awards and was named BOXTOROW National Player of the Week in week one. Fellow linebacker Quavon Taylor is second on the team in tackles with 45, while Kalil Gray has 25 for the season.
 
Daryl George has recorded 3.5 sacks for a team that has recorded 16 on the season, and is one of the best in the country in defense. The Golden Tigers are ranked sixth in total defense (238.8 yards per game), six in team passing efficiency defense (92.95), ninth in scoring defense (14.2 ppg) and tied for first in fourth down conversion percentage.
 
The Golden Tigers rank at the top of the SIAC in both offense and defense, averaging 28.6 points per game and allowing just 14.2 points per game. Meanwhile, Morehouse is averaging 21.2 points per game and giving up 23.8 points per game.
 
The game will broadcast on ASPiRE TV and can be heard on the Tuskegee Digital Network, with kickoff set for 2 pm (est).
 
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