Sparked by another outstanding performance from All- American quarterback Jacary Atkinson, Tuskegee rolled to 34-24 victory over Alabama A&M at the 25th annual Circle City Classic at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The Oct. 4 win extended Tuskegee&rsqu
Sparked by another outstanding performance from All-American quarterback Jacary Atkinson, Tuskegee rolled to 34-24 victory over Alabama A&M at the 25th annual Circle City Classic at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
The Oct. 4 win extended Tuskegee’s winning streak to 21 games, the second longest in school history. The Golden Tigers are the top-ranked team in Black college football this season with a 5-0 record.
“We did enough to outscore them, that’s about all you can ask,” said Tuskegee head coach Willie Slater. “Our kids came out and got the job done.”
Atkinson rushed for 147 yards and two touchdowns for Tuskegee. The senior from Valley, Ala. scored on a 38-yard run in the first quarter to give the Golden Tigers a quick 7-0 lead.
In the second quarter, Atkinson increased the Tuskegee lead to 20-10 on a two-yard scoring run.
“He’s a very elusive runner,” Slater said of Atkinson. “To me, that’s the edge we have. Of all the great teams I’ve been around, the X-factor was the quarterback and his ability to run the ball. Once you get him in the secondary, it’s hard to get him down.”
Atkinson’s 147 yards rushing was the sixth highest in the history of the Circle City Classic. In addition, he also tossed a 14-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jason English.
The Golden Tiger defense also came up big in the game, turning back Alabama A&M twice when they were in scoring territory.
"The defense played well," Slater added. “They made some timely plays for us when they had to.”
Tuskegee returns to Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action Saturday when they face Morehouse in the annual “Skgee-House” Classic in Columbus, Ga.
“Every game is a big game for us,” Slater continued. “Morehouse is a good team. We know we will have our work cut out for us in that game.”
Copyright 2008 Chicago Defender. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
About Post Author
