title image via BPO+Digital Media
Courtesy of Tuskegee Athletics
In their highly anticipated 2024 season opener at the historic Cramton Bowl, the Tuskegee Golden Tigers faced off against the Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls in what turned out to be a closely contested game. Despite a valiant effort, Tuskegee came up short, falling 21-13 in front of a crowd of 15,438 fans.
The game began with Tuskegee receiving the opening kickoff, but their initial drive stalled, and they were forced to punt. Johnson C. Smith quickly capitalized, driving 21 yards in under two minutes, capped off by a 7-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Darius Ocean to Brevin Caldwell. Tuskegee’s defense managed to contain the damage for the rest of the quarter, but the offense struggled to gain momentum, ending the first quarter down 7-0.
Tuskegee found their rhythm in the second quarter. After a blocked punt by Timarcus Grayson gave Tuskegee excellent field position at the Johnson C. Smith 9-yard line, quarterback Raequan Beal connected with Karon Taylor on a 15-yard touchdown pass, tying the game at 7-7 after a successful extra point by Lorcan Ryans.
However, Tuskegee’s offense couldn’t sustain the momentum, and both teams exchanged punts for the remainder of the half. A missed field goal by Johnson C. Smith as time expired allowed the Golden Tigers to enter halftime tied, maintaining hope for a second-half surge.
The second half started with a bang as Johnson C. Smith’s Quavaris Crouch broke free for a 75-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage, quickly putting the Golden Bulls ahead 14-7. Tuskegee responded with a strong drive of their own, with Johnny Morris punching in a 1-yard touchdown run. Unfortunately, Ryans missed the extra point, leaving the Golden Tigers trailing 14-13.
Johnson C. Smith added another touchdown later in the quarter when Darius Ocean found Brevin Caldwell again, this time on a 37-yard strike, extending their lead to 21-13. Tuskegee’s offense struggled to regain its footing, as penalties and missed opportunities plagued their efforts.
Tuskegee’s defense stiffened in the fourth quarter, highlighted by a blocked field goal attempt that kept the game within reach. However, the Golden Tigers’ offense couldn’t capitalize, failing to score in the final quarter. A promising drive ended with a missed 44-yard field goal attempt by Ryans, and another drive was halted by a turnover on downs.
The Golden Tigers struggled offensively, managing only 50 rushing yards on 29 attempts. In contrast, Johnson C. Smith racked up 229 rushing yards, with Crouch alone accounting for 161 of those on 21 carries. Raequan Beal finished the game with 138 passing yards, completing 9 of 17 attempts, but threw one interception. The Tuskegee receiving corps was led by Rodricus Magee Sr. with 47 yards on two receptions.
Defensively, Kaquan Kimber was a standout for Tuskegee, recording 10 total tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss. Rossie Grimes and Charles Davis also contributed significantly, combining for 18 tackles and providing key stops throughout the game.
Up Next
Tuskegee will return to the drawing board this week as they prepare for their next matchup, another non-conference game, this time on the road against Grambling State. Kickoff for Saturday’s matchup is set for 6 p.m. inside Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium, and can be seen on HBCU GO.
