MONTGOMERY – Tuskegee’s offense didn’t inspire a lot of confidence among its fans in the first half of the fifth annual Red Tails Classic at Cramton Bowl on Sunday night.

Through 30 minutes, the Golden Tigers had just five first downs, nearly half as many penalty yards (40) as total yards (84) and had failed to convert any of their six third-down opportunities.

Still, they trailed Winston-Salem State just 10-3.

“I feel like in the first half, we weren’t sticking to what we know, the little things,” said Tuskegee senior quarterback Raequan Beal. “We preach that every day. The little things can make you win games; they can also make you lose games. So I felt like in the first half, we were too much in our heads. Little mental mistakes. I made some bad reads. We had some missed assignments and dropped balls. And all those things are not us. Throughout (preseason fall) camp, that wasn’t us. That was never our identity.

“We said, ‘Hey guys, settle down, first half, we’re only down seven.’ That was the great part. Our defense was playing a hell of a game. We just came out in the second half with a different mentality. We were going to punch them in the mouth and play ‘Skegee football.”

The Golden Tigers rallied with a pair of Beal touchdown passes in the second half and a Lorcan Ryans’ field goal provided the game-winning points as Tuskegee won the Red Tails Classic for the second time in three years with a 20-17 victory on Sunday.

And while Tuskegee’s offense didn’t just flip a switch and turn into a different unit, the Golden Tigers were more efficient in the final 30 minutes, thanks in large part to their quarterback who kept his teammates focused throughout the game.

“I feel like he’s always confident,” tailback Johnny Morris said. “That’s why we look at him as a leader. He’s always going to be the same way, even keel.”

Tuskegee coach Aaron James praised Beal’s ability to continue to focus on the game plan and attention to detail even when things weren’t going as planned in the first half.

“The guys’ play in the first half wasn’t our style of football,” James said. “We came out for the second half and I told them, hey, we’ve got to have this. We put in all the work from the spring to the fall camp for a reason.

“Like I told him, you’ve got to have a short-term memory, you’ve just got to get to the next play. And he did that. Once he sees the ball come out of his hands and his receivers catch it, he can play lights out. His competitiveness is through the roof.”

Beal was 8 of 20 for 65 yards and an interception in the first half, accounting for much of the Golden Tigers’ 84 total yards. After going 0 for 6 on third down conversions in the first half, Tuskegee went 6 of 8 in the second half, converting their first on a Beal keeper with 12:40 remaining in the third quarter that seemed to provide the spark the offense was needing.

He went on to complete 10 of 13 passes for 85 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the second half, part of a 156-yard performance that wasn’t spectacular but was certainly necessary if the Golden Tigers wanted to win the football game.

His efforts earned him the Most Valuable Player award for the game. As he reflected on the season opening victory, he recalled a pointer from offensive coordinator Harry Williams.

“One of our sayings from Coach Harry is, ‘So goes the head, so goes the body,’” Beal said. “I feel like when you start mentally getting in your head, your body follows. I think we did a very good job in the second half calming down and going, ‘Hey guys, we’re right there.’ Little mistakes is the reason we’re down seven points. I feel like we could have had 28 to 35 points in the first half. So it’s coming out in the second half and we punted the ball, what, maybe one time? And we ran the ball well in the second half. We just controlled the game and played ‘Skegee football. That’s all.”

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.

Final Stats>

MONTGOMERY – Clay Norrell has been named the Executive Director of the IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl, FCS Kickoff and Red Tails Classic, assuming the position previously held by Johnny Williams, who passed away on Feb. 4 after a lengthy illness. Norrell spent the last six years as the Assistant Executive Director under Williams’ tutelage.

“I am deeply humbled and honored to be appointed as the Executive Director of the IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl, FCS Kickoff and Red Tails Classic,” Norrell said. “I look forward to stepping into this new role and carrying forward the enduring legacy that Johnny Williams entrusted to us.”

Norrell’s experience includes management of more than twenty different football games as Assistant Executive Director, working closely with community partners and sponsors, while also overseeing game operations and game volunteers. Norell was also heavily involved in the planning of various game events and logistics and served in the same capacity for the Myrtle Beach Bowl since 2021.

“We are excited to have Clay carry on the legacy and leadership of the IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl,” said Clint Overby, Vice President of ESPN Events. “Johnny Williams has left a lasting impact on the sport of college football, and I know that Clay will do an excellent job in furthering our event opportunities in Montgomery.”

Norrell was chosen for the inaugural class of the Football Bowl Association Leadership Symposium in 2019 and serves on the Board of Directors for the AUM Department of Kineisology Advisory Board and the YMCA of Montgomery County Boys Work Committee. He is also member of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity.

A native of Tuscaloosa, Norrell is a graduate of Troy University with a degree in business management. He is married to the former Hayden Turner Norrell.

By Tim Gayle

It was a simple run up the middle, but it changed the look of the fourth Red Tails Classic for the remainder of the game.

Johnson C. Smith tailback Quavaris Crouch took a handoff on the first play of the second half and sprinted through a huge hole on the way to the end zone 75 yards away, breaking a 7-7 tie and lifting the Golden Bulls to a 21-13 win over Tuskegee on Sunday night at Cramton Bowl.

“That was a big momentum changer,” Tuskegee coach Aaron James said. “We had a missed assignment there, a blown assignment. The running back went straight up the middle, up the ‘A’ gap and scored a touchdown. Coming out of the half, you know, that should never happen.”

James is correct, but Crouch would go on to rush for 48 more yards in the fourth quarter that helped seal the win, part of a 161-yard night that earned the senior Most Valuable Player honors in his long-awaited return to college football.

“It feels awesome,” Crouch said. “I thank God because I never knew I was going to put a jersey on again.”

Back in what almost seems like a lifetime ago, Crouch was considered the top college prospect in America, a five-star running back and linebacker that had lifted his Harding High team to a state championship in 2017. Tennessee won the recruiting battle and Crouch played as a linebacker for the Volunteers in 2019 and started 10 games in 2020. As questions arose concerning the program and coach Jeremy Pruitt, Crouch jumped in the transfer portal and went to play for Mel Tucker at Michigan State in 2021.

Now it was Tucker who was on the hot seat regarding off-the-field issues following the 2021 season and Crouch jumped in the transfer portal again, but never really landed. He came back to Charlotte in 2022 and 2023, finding a job and taking community college courses before trying his hand, one last time, this season at Johnson C. Smith, now as a running back.

Crouch matched his first-half rushing total with a 15-yard run late in the first half to give the Golden Bulls an apparent lead, but it was nullified by a holding penalty. A missed field goal followed and the two teams were tied at 7-7 at the half. So far, Crouch had done little to remind anyone of the talent that made him a five-star recruit.

That all changed with his first carry of the second half.

“I feel like the biggest thing I was telling myself is to stay patient,” he said. “At first, I felt like it was moving slow, I wasn’t hitting it like I wanted to, but keep pressing, keep communicating with the offensive line and the coaches, trust in the process, everything we said we would do, and it started hitting for us.”

It’s been five years since he played any running back, but every good runner knows where to deliver the credit for his touchdown.

“The offensive line,” he said. “You can’t do nothing without the offensive line. They always take care of me and keep me healthy. I feel like we’ve got a good group.”

His 161 yards were the second most in the four-year history of the Red Tails Classic, trailing only Emanuel Wilson, now with the Green Bay Packers. Wilson was a tailback coached by Johnson C. Smith coach Maurice Flowers when Flowers was at Fort Valley State. Now Flowers has another talented running back who shook off a slow start with a dominant second half.

“We just knew that we weren’t playing our best ball in the first half,” Crouch said. “In the second half, we put it together, put on more steam. Just like the Clemson-Georgia game that was kind of close in the first half, in the second half Georgia came and pushed it on out. So we were just trying to follow the example they gave us.”

Johnson C. Smith turned a negative into a positive and ran past Tuskegee 21-13 in the fourth annual Red Tails Classic at the historic Cramton Bowl.

Junior tailback and Michigan State transfer Quavaris Crouch scored on the first play of the third quarter when he raced 75 yards to give the Golden Bulls a 14-7 lead just 11 seconds into the second half.

Crouch had a touchdown nullified by a penalty in the final seconds of the first half and the Golden Bulls missed a subsequent field goal that left the teams tied at halftime.

“Upset’s a good word to say,” Johnson C. Smith head coach Maurice Flowers said. “What we said at halftime was let’s stop helping them. Most of the things that they got were things that we gave them.”

Crouch took a simple handoff on the first play of the third quarter, found a hole and outran Tuskegee defenders for the go-ahead 75-yard touchdown run.

“What we did, if you go back to Pop Warner football, you might call it ‘Dive Right’ or ‘Dive Left,’ Flowers added. “I mean, that’s what it was. You had to just trust what you’ve been taught. And so when you have a veteran team, that’s what you can do. You can trust the team and just trust the process because they believe in the system. And if you believe in the system, the system is sound. We should be able to make some big plays to keep us in the game.”

Tuskegee head coach Aaron James called it a “momentum changer”.

“We had a blown assignment,” James said. “The running back went straight up the middle, up the ‘A’ gap and scored a touchdown. Coming out of the half, you know, that should never happen. Like I said, it was just a mental mistake and we’ve just got to go back and clean up a lot of things.”

Crouch finished with 21 carries for 161 yards and one touchdown to earn Red Tails Classic MVP honors. The 161 rushing yards and 75-yard run are both the second most in Red Tails Classic history.

Tuskegee answered with a 51-yard touchdown drive set up by Devon Cooper’s 32-yard kickoff return.

Senior running back Johnny Morris capped the five-play drive with a 1-yard TD run. Junior Lorcan Ryans missed the extra point attempt, leaving the Tigers with a 14-13 deficit.

Johnson C. Smith junior receiver Bevin Caldwell was the playmaker in the passing game. He caught seven passes for 90 yards and two touchdowns. Caldwell had a 37-yard catch-and-run touchdown late in the third quarter to give the Golden Bulls a 21-13 lead.

Johnson C. Smith turned a fumble recovery into a touchdown in the final minute of the first quarter for the game’s first score. Junior linebacker Chris Jackson recovered a fumble by Tuskegee freshman receiver Reggie Brigman at the Golden Tigers’ 21-yard line.

Five plays later, junior quarterback Darius Ocean tossed a 7-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Caldwell in the corner of the end zone to give the Golden Bulls a 7-0 lead with 58 seconds left in the first quarter.

Tuskegee made a big play on special teams to set up the game-tying touchdown on the next possession. Sophomore Timarcus Grayson blocked a punt to put the Golden Tigers at the 9-yard line.

After taking an 11-yard sack on first down, junior quarterback Raquon Beal redeemed himself with a 15-yard touchdown pass to junior receiver Karon Taylor to knot the score at 7-7 with 10:41 left in the first half.

Johnson C. Smith (1-0) played in the Red Tails Classic for the first time.  Flowers improved to 2-0 as head coach at the Red Tails Classic. He led Fort Valley State to a 30-0 win over Tuskegee in the inaugural Red Tails Classic in 2021.

Tuskegee (0-1) fell to 1-3 in Red Tails Classic games, losing twice to Fort Valley State (2021 and 2022) and a third time on Sunday. The Golden Tigers’ lone win came against Fort Valley State in 2023.

MONTGOMERY – The 2024 college football season begins in 85 days and the first prime time game of the season will take place at the historic Cramton Bowl in Montgomery.

The 10th FCS Kickoff will be played on Saturday, Aug. 24 at 7 p.m. (ET) and will be televised by ESPN.

Southeast Missouri State and North Alabama will meet in this year’s game.

In addition, the fourth annual Red Tails Classic will be played on Sunday, Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. (ET) and will be televised on ESPNU.

Johnson C. Smith will face Tuskegee in this year’s game.

The FCS Kickoff dates back to the 2014 season. The first three games were played at campus sites.

ESPN Events brought the game to Montgomery in 2017, where Jacksonville Stare defeated Chattanooga 27-13.

This is the seventh FCS Kickoff played at the Cramton Bowl.

North Alabama will be making its second straight appearance in the FCS Kickoff. The Lions dropped a 17-7 decision to Mercer last year.

Southeast Missouri State is making its debut in the event, and will be the 16th different team to play in the FCS Kickoff.

Tuskegee will be the home team in the Red Tails Classic for the fourth straight year. The Tigers faced Fort Valley State in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

Johnson C. Smith will be making its inaugural appearance in the Red Tails Classic.

For ticket information log on to www.Montgomerykickoffgames.com

About ESPN Events

ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, owns and operates a portfolio of collegiate sporting events nationwide. In 2024, the 34-event schedule includes four early-season college football kickoff games, 17 college bowl games, 10 college basketball events, the premier regular season college softball and gymnastics events, as well as the Band of the Year National Championship. Collectively, these events account for over 400 hours of live programming on ESPN platforms, reaching 60 million viewers and attracting more than 650,000 annual attendees. Each year, the portfolio of events features more than 20 Division I conferences and hosts over 4,000 participating student-athletes. With satellite offices in more than 10 cities across the country, ESPN Events builds relationships with conferences, schools and local communities, as well as providing unique experiences for teams and fans. Follow ESPN Events on Facebook, Twitter/X and YouTube.

Montgomery – The Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls and Tuskegee Golden Tigers will meet in the fourth annual Red Tails Classic at the historic Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala., on Sunday, Sept. 1. The game time, ESPN platform designation and ticket information will be announced at a later date.

The game was created in 2021 by ESPN Events to honor the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen.

“We are grateful to ESPN Events for showcasing this event on Labor Day weekend,” Johnny Williams, Executive Director of the Boeing Red Tails Classic and Camellia Bowl, said. “We have tremendous support the last three years from not on the Tuskegee community by the City of Montgomery. We are excited to host such a prestigious event again.”

Tuskegee is playing the Red Tails Classic for the fourth straight year. The previous three meetings came against conference rival Fort Valley State. The Golden Tigers posted a 7-4 record last season, including a thrilling 37-31 win over Fort Valley State in the Boeing Red Tails Classic.

“We are excited to once again open our upcoming football season with a nationally televised game in the Red Tails Classic,” head coach Aaron James said. “Our program has enjoyed tremendous support over the past few seasons with Montgomery being one of our surrounding areas, while we also look to bring home a win again like we did in 2023.”

Johnson C. Smith is making its Red Tails Classic debut in 2024. The Golden Bulls posted a 7-4 record last season and played in three separate HBCU Classics. Johnson C. Smith, located in Charlotte, NC, plays in the NCAA Division II Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association.

“The Red Tails Classic has so much tradition and playing against Tuskegee University, one of the most storied championships football programs makes it meaningful,” JCSU head coach Maurice Flowers said. “It is an honor to be able to play in the Red Tails Classic. We are excited, this is great for our football program to be playing in a nationally televised game.”

ESPN Events

ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, owns and operates a portfolio of collegiate sporting events nationwide. In 2024, the 34-event schedule includes four early-season college football kickoff games, 17 college bowl games, 10 college basketball events, the premier regular season college softball and gymnastics events, as well as the Band of the Year National Championship. Collectively, these events account for over 400 hours of live programming on ESPN platforms, reaching 60 million viewers and attracting more than 650,000 annual attendees. Each year, the portfolio of events features more than 20 Division I conferences and hosts over 4,000 participating student-athletes. With satellite offices in more than 10 cities across the country, ESPN Events builds relationships with conferences, schools and local communities, as well as providing unique experiences for teams and fans. Follow ESPN Events on Facebook, Twitter/X and YouTube

By Tim Gayle

He did virtually all of his damage in the first half, but Antonio Meeks made it a first half to remember for Tuskegee fans with four huge plays that led to a trio of touchdowns in the Golden Tigers’ 37-31 win over Fort Valley State on Sunday evening at Cramton Bowl.

Meeks finished the game with six receptions for 149 yards and a touchdown, providing big play after big play in the third annual Boeing Red Tails Classic to earn most valuable player honors.

“I feel like that’s my strong suit, big plays,” Meeks said. “My team, when they need me the most, I feel like I’ll come through every time. Big plays is what I made my name off of. I expect to continue to do that.”

Although he didn’t start making an impact for Tuskegee until late in his freshman season last year, former offensive coordinator and now head coach Aaron James expected good things out of his sophomore this season.

“Last year, he was a true freshman and he busted his tail to get back this year,” James said. “Tonight, he was just amazing. I told him earlier in the week that we were going to come to him and he showed up and showed out. Hats off to him. He got the trophy for the MVP and he deserved it.

“He works early, he works late after practice on his craft. Over the summer, he put in the grind and it showed tonight on the field.”

He was a human highlight film for much of the first half. After a pair of three-and-outs, a fumbled punt return gave the Golden Tigers new life at the Fort Valley 49-yard line. After a 3-yard run by Chase Sellers, Bryson Williams lofted a deep pass down the left sideline. Meeks pulled in the ball over Fort Valley corner Landon Austin for a 33-yard gain to the 13-yard line and two plays later Tuskegee tied the game at 7-7.

After Fort Valley’s ensuing possession ended in a punt, the Golden Tigers went back to Meeks again. Another Williams’ pass down the left sideline was grabbed for a 38-yard gain to the Fort Valley 5-yard line and the Golden Tigers scored on the next play for a 14-7 lead.

Late in the first half, leading 17-14, the Golden Tigers struck again as Meeks started inside, veered back out and caught a pass for a 44-yard gain to the 23. Sellers ran for no gain, then for 3 yards before Williams hit Meeks with a slant-in for a touchdown.

On the play, Williams’ pass was a little high and behind Meeks, but the sophomore reached up and back and snared the ball for a 24-14 lead.

“It always makes me happy when a receiver goes and gets the ball when it’s kind of ungettable,” Williams said. “Meeks is a receiver who’s going to lay out for the ball every time, regardless of where it’s at.”

Meeks agreed the touchdown was his favorite play of the night, but the earlier catch that set up the Tigers’ second touchdown was a close second after he wrestled the ball away from Fort Valley cornerback Jamal Janvier.

“It was kind of like a 50-50 ball and once we landed, the ref was telling me to get up,” Meeks said. “And I told the ref, ‘No, I’m not getting up, I want the ball.’ We were fighting for like 30 seconds over who wanted the ball. The ref was trying to pull me up and I was like, ‘No, I’m not getting up, you’ve got to get him up.’”

Unlike last year’s Red Tails Classic, a 21-6 loss in which Tuskegee showed little offense and Meeks managed just one catch for 19 yards, the 2023 version had a little bit of everything, including a special performance by the sophomore receiver from Lilburn, Ga. He said it was exactly what he expected.

“I absolutely did,” Meeks said. “I put a lot of preparation into my craft so what else can you expect? I didn’t expect to go out there and not give it my all, not show up.”