August 26, 2006

TUSCALOOSA, AL--- In the first annual Heritage Classic the Stillman Tigers fell 24-6 to the Tuskegee University Golden Tigers at Stillman Stadium in Stillman's season opener on Saturday evening. The game was broadcast on ESPNU and was the first ever sports event televised from Stillman's campus.

Stillman started the game with excellent offensive executions, but untimely penalties and missed opportunities sealed Stillman's doom. Stillman opened the game with an 11 play, 72-yard scoring drive. Charles McCullum (QB, Jr., Atlanta, GA) connected with Phillip Bryant (TE, Sr., Akron, AL) for Stillman's only score of the game. Freshman kicker Petar Obradovic missed the point after kick.

On the ensuing possession Tuskegee capped a seven play, 34-yard drive with a 40 -yard Roosevelt Echeverry field goal, cutting Stillman's lead to 6-3.

The Golden Tigers found their offensive stride in the second quarter and never looked back. Tuskegee scored 14 points in the quarter. At the 13:07 mark Tuskegee's Brian King recovered a McCullum fumble and returned it 32-yards for the touchdown. Echeverry converted the extra point to give Tuskegee a 10-6 lead.

On Tuskegee's final drive of the first half a defensive pass interference negated a Denatay Heard (DB, Jr., LaGrange, GA) interception and gave the Golden Tigers a first down on the Stillman 35-yard line with 00:00 remaining on the clock. On the next play Kevin Huff connected with Lorenzo Crawford for a touchdown. Echeverry's kick made the score 17-6.

Tuskegee scored its final points of the game when SaJason Finely capped a nine play, 76 yard drive with a seven yard run. Echeverry's kick made the final score 24-6.

Stillman finished the game with 312 total yards ( 272 passing and 40 rushing) and Tuskegee recorded 360 total yards (236 passing and 124 rushing). The Tigers committed 13 penalties for 82 yards and three turnovers. Tuskegee had nine penalties for 87 yards and three turnovers. Stillman converted eight of its 16 third downs and the Golden Tigers went two for seven.

McCullum led Stillman with 274 total offensive yards. He completed 17 of his 27 pass attempts for 255-yards with a TD and interception. He also rushed for 19 yards. Huff went 15 for 24 for 236 passing yards with a TD and interception.

Tuskegee's Richard Fitzhugh led all running backs with 70 yards. Stillman's Marcus Bryant (Sr., Akron, AL) led all receivers with six receptions for 140-yards. Kenneth Brown (WR, So., Atlanta, GA) followed Bryant with four receptions for 83-yards. Crawford led Tuskegee with five receptions for 91-yards and a score.

Harvey Logan (LB, Jr., Tuscaloosa, AL) and Larry Albert (LB, Jr., Augusta, GA) recorded 10 tackles each. Albert also recorded a sack. Jonathan Hall led Tuskegee with 10 tackles.

Stillman (0-1; 0-1 SIAC) will be idle next week, but will return to action on Sept. 9 when the Tigers travel to Selma, AL to face Concordia. Kick off is scheduled for 5 pm. Tuskegee (1-0; 1-0 SIAC) will also be idle next week and will return to action on Sept. 9 to face Miles in conference play.