Tuskegee rebounds with win over Central State Marauders

WILBERFORCE, Ohio -- The 17th-ranked Tuskegee University football team rebounded from last week's loss, and rebounded in a big way as they ran away from Central State University 42-14 on Saturday afternoon.
 
Tuskegee (7-1, 5-1 SIAC) used a 21-point third quarter and 304 yards of total offense to continue their push for a spot in the NCAA Division II playoffs, currently sitting third in the Super Region 2 standings this past week.
 
After a slow start on their first possession, the Golden Tigers drove down the field on their second possession. They used just 2:14 and six plays to drive 61 yards for the game's opening score, culminating with an 11-yard burst from fullback Branden Wilson for the 7-0 lead.
 
Central State tied the game on a 13-play, 75-yard drive that used 5:29 to open the second quarter. The Marauders used a mix of run and pass to drive the field, until Lavon Meeks ran into the end zone from six yards out to the game at 7-all with 9:38 remaining in the opening half.
 
But from there, the game belonged to the Golden Tigers.

Ballard finished 19-of-35 passing for 290 yard and two touchdowns, and he ran 19 times fro 101 yards. Freshman running back Jordan Bentley added 15 carries for 80 yard and two TDs, while Tevin McKenzie also caught a touchdown pass.

Ballard was named the game's MVP.

For Alabama State, Khalid Thomas ran 24 times for 170 yards a touchdown, and Quinterris Toppings had six carries for 127 yards and a touchdown. Willis White caught a 44-yard TD pass from Toppings.

Alabama State jumped out to a 14-3 lead, as Thomas scored on a 16-yard run after he returned a punt 54 yards. Topllings later scored on a 73-yard run.

Carden's 24-yard field goal gave Alabama A&M its only points of the first quarter, but Bentley's 22-yard TD run early in the second quarter made it 14-10.

Alabama A&M's Tere Calloway intercepted a pass in the end zone late in the first half, and the Bulldogs drove 67 yards in three plays. Carden's 30-yard field goal on the final play of the first half made it 14-13.

"The game went back and forth, but we didn't get down," Spady said. "At the half, I told our players that we needed to make a few adjustments, but we needed to get a quick start in the second half."

In the fourth quarter, Alabama State led 35-27, but Tevin McKenzie's 1-yard run cut the deficit to 35-33. Ballard then hit Kalias Robertson with the 2-point pass to tie the game at 35-all.

Alabama A&M had one last chance to win game on Carden's 34-yard field goal attempt with 1:12 to go, but it was blocked.

Alabama A&M finished with 555 yards -- 297 passing and 258 rushing. Alabama State ran for 391 yards.

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