The Golden Tigers combined several timely defensive stops with All-American quarterback Jacary Atkinson's powerful running Saturday to defeat Alabama A&M 34-24 in front of an announced crowd of 47,273 in the Circle City Classic in Indianapolis.
Tuskegee quarterback Jacary Atkinson produced 219 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns Saturday, leading the Golden Tigers to a 34-24 victory over Alabama A&M in the Circle City Classic at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Atkinson, an NCAA Division II All-American and the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference player of the year last season, rushed for 147 yards and two touchdowns and passed for 72 yards and another TD. His rushing total was the sixth-highest in the 25-year history of the annual Classic.
Tuskegee (5-0), by percentages the most successful program among HBCUs and the 2007 black college national champion, extended its overall winning streak to 21 straight games. It was the Golden Tigers' first appearance at the Circle City Classic.
Gerald Stockdale was 15-of-25 passing for 231 yards and two touchdowns, Ulysses Banks finished with 71 yards rushing and a score, and Nate Baxter had 103 yards receiving and a touchdown for the Bulldogs (2-4), who dropped to 1-2 in the Classic.
Tuskegee pushed a 13-7 halftime lead to 20-10 on Atkinson's 2-yard scoring run with 11:40 left in the fourth quarter. Atkinson set up the touchdown with a 55-yard quarterback keeper.
The victory extended the Golden Tigers' winning streak to 21 consecutive games, the second-longest in school history, and should allow them to hold on to their No.1 ranking among history black colleges and universities with a 5-0 record.
Atkinson rushed for 147 yards and two touchdowns against the Bulldogs, who left the SIAC in 1998 and now play in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The senior from Valley, Ala., had five rushes of 10 yards or, including a 38-yard touchdown run on the Golden Tigers' first possession that capped a three-play, 68-yard drive and gave them a 7-0 lead.
Atkinson also had a two-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, on which he dragged a defender into the end zone, as the Golden Tigers went ahead 20-10.
Atkinson's rushing total was the sixth highest in the 25-year history of the Circle City Classic. He also tossed a 14-yard first-quarter touchdown pass to Jason English that extended Tuskegee's lead to 13-0. Atkinson kept that drive alive with a 36-yard run to Alabama A&M's 15-yard line.
The Golden Tigers' defense twice turned Alabama A&M away without a touchdown after the Bulldogs were in the shadow of their goal line.
They held Alabama A&M (2-4) to a third-quarter field goal that made the score 13-10 after the Bulldogs had the ball first and goal at the one-yard line. They also stopped Alabama A&M on the Tuskegee four on the Bulldogs' last possession of the game.
The Golden Tigers also forced Alabama A&M to turn the ball over on downs when they held on fourth-and-1 at the Tuskegee 48 with 9:24 left in the third quarter.
The Golden Tigers went away from their usual modus operandi against Alabama A&M. They outscored their opponents 95-10 in the first half of their previous four games. However, they only led the Bulldogs 13-7 after two quarters before scoring three times in the fourth quarter to pull the game out.
Alabama A&M
QB #5 Jacary Atkinson 6'1.5" 204 4.67 QB 2009: A QB who though built a bit like Pat White runs more like Tim Tebow. Again I agree that he times up his runs well. Was decent working underneath on flares, flat routes, throwing screens and other shorter routes. May be looked at other positions. I think safety might be his best bet in the NFL, but as Steve Martin has said he could make a very nice living from day one up north. Priority UDFA

DE #49 Jarvis DeVaughn 5'11.6" 246 4.87 He is a good the pass rusher at this level, but only had 3 tackles, 1 solo, 1 TFL and lacked the kind of fluidity or pop that would allow him to be a 3-4 OLB or a Mathis style DE at the next level. His best shot might be as Jeremiah Trotter type 2 down MLB. UDFA

WR #8Jason English 5'10.6" 19 4.66 He has ball skills, will go across the middle will take a hit and hold on. But smallish, slow possession receivers from DII schools have a hard way to running sharper routes would help. Only had 1 catch for 14 yards. UDFA

WR # 9 Jonathan Lessa JR is a big target a Bowe-type he had 2 grabs for 31 yards making him the leader of the mostly ground bound Golden Tigers.

Bill, A&M didn't have anybody worthy of a PP listing, right?

Steve, I watched the game again, I might add these:
#13 QB Gerald Stockdale 6'1.4" 228 4.76 A converted wide receiver/tight end, while replacing the injured Kevin Atkins the senior was by far the most impressive player for Alabama A&M. Stockdale was 2-3 for 97 yards and one touchdown in his A&M passing career before Saturday, but all of those completions came on gadget plays where he was out wide. In comeback mode with TU knowing he had to throw he consistently moved the Bulldogs into scoring opportunities finishing with 15-25 for 231 yards and two scores and had 20 yards on 4 carries. He is a bit like Robert Lane the former Ole' Miss QB/FB/H-Back UDFA

TB Ulysses Banks frankly looked sluggish, based on that game I would not invit him to camp.
Defense
#9 ILB Alfred Williams the RS senior Transfer from Duke 6'1.3" 241 4.79 was able to stack and shed, sift through trash and on top of 2 solo tackles and 7 assists he had 2 KORs for 15 yards. He won't be doing that at the next level reminds me of former NU standout Tim McGarigle but a bit quicker, may stick on special teams. Priority UDFA.
Others-
Only a Sophomore "Baby Larry Fitzgerald" #86 WR Nate Baxter 6'2.2" 214 4.59 had 6 snags, not including a TD on a very nice Fade that was wiped out on a bad call when he was ruled out of bounds still he totalled 103 yards 1 TD a long of 35 yards. He is one to watch, if he can get to the low 4.5s to 4.4s he could be a late-round bargain.

Sounds good.

Listen, Bill. Please get with Craig S. about a segment for "The Fastest Forty in Football" on the top HBC PPs, if you don't mind. I think that would make some very good radio.

Bill and I have actually already had a conversation about something like this and it will be cropping up very soon

I'd love to!!