MONTGOMERY – After a sluggish first half, the Tuskegee University football team scored on all three second-half possessions for a 20-17 come-from-behind win over Winston-Salem State University in the fifth annual Red Tails Classic at the historic Cramton Bowl.
Tuskegee (1-0) ran 37 plays for 170 yards in the second half and converted 6-of-8 third down conversions. In the first half, the Tigers managed only 84 total yards and did not convert any of the six third down attempts.
“We scored on every second half possession,” Tuskegee senior quarterback Raequan Beal said. “We had the same thing happen in one of our scrimmages. The defense dominated the first half and we came back with a big second half. We know how to respond.”
Beal was the second half catalyst, going 10-for-13 for 85 yards and two touchdowns through the air to earn Red Tails Classic MVP honors. For the game, he was 18-for-33 for 150 yards with two passing touchdowns and one interception. He completed a pass to 10 different receivers.
“I told out team at halftime, we were beating ourselves,” Tuskegee head coach Aaron James said. “We have to play our brand of football in the second half. We’ve got to have this.”
Tuskegee took the second half kickoff and marched 62 yards in seven plays to tie the game at 10-10. Beal capped the drive with an 18-yard touchdown pass to freshman wide receiver Preston Parker.
On its next possession, Tuskegee regained the lead, 17-10, with a 10-play, 47-yard march that ate up almost six minutes of the third quarter clock. Beal capped with drive with a 6-yard scoring strike to sophomore wide receiver Rashad Wilson, Jr. It was Wilson’s only catch of the game.
Winston-Salem State (0-1) answered with a 75-yard scoring drive with 13 minutes left on the game clock. Rams quarterback Daylin Lee, who had a touchdown pass nullified by a holding call, came back three plays later and found Davontay Deloach on 34-yard catch-and-run that tied the game at 17-17.
Lee was 9-for-19 for 169 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Deloach led the team with three catches for 55 yards and the touchdown.
Tuskegee used a nearly eight-minute drive that produced a 29-yard field goal by junior Lorcan Ryans to give the Tigers a 20-17 lead.
The Tigers defense forced a three-and-out and the offense was able to run out the clock for the opening night win.
Winston-Salem State led 10-3 at halftime as both offenses struggled the find any rhythm.
The two teams were a combined 0-for-13 on third down in first 30 minutes.
“The opportunities were there,” Winston-Salem State head coach Robert Massey said. “We had too many penalties and too many dropped passes. I feel like we let this one get away.”
Lorcan hit a 31-yard field goal to give the Tigers a 3-0 lead.
Lee threw a 50-yard TD pass to Ja’Hari Mitchell on the final play for the first quarter to put the Rams up 7-3. Mitchell caught the ball at the Tigers 20-yard and bobbled it twice for gaining control and raced to the endzone. Mitchell caught two passes for 84 yards and one touchdown.
The Rams had two 50-yard plays the first half, totaling 102 yards and one touchdown. The other 30 plays netted 94 yards.
Linebackers Devon Irving, Jr. (9) and Kaquan Kimber (7) led the Tigers in tackles. Senior defensive end Massiah Wells recorded two sacks and junior free safety Antonio Knight had the lone interception.
The Rams were led by junior defensive end Kyle Williams and senior linebacker Jamieson Alston with nine tackles each.
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