ASU offense dominates in Turkey Day Classic against Tuskegee

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) - On Thanksgiving, the oldest HBCU rivalry classic ignites as two teams compete in what is now the 101st Turkey Day Classic.

In the historic rivalry game between Alabama State and Tuskegee, Te’Sean Smoot delivered with ease as the Hornets outperformed the Golden Tigers.

Highlight Player

With an impressive outing, Smoot threw for 422 yards, completing 20 passes out of 24 attempts. In addition to the passing game, he also contributed 33 yards on the ground. Finishing the game with an 83 percent completion rating, Smoot attributed 28 of the 58 points the Hornets scored.

Game Highlights

Johnny Morris rushed for 13 yards to help set up a 67-yard touchdown between Michael Franklin and Devon Cooper to put the Golden Tigers up early, 7-0.

Although Tuskegee scored, Alabama State stood toe to toe with a stern response, with Smoot finding Jalen Jones deep for 69 yards before punching the ball in for six to tie the game.

After an offside penalty, Zina Mulbah II found the endzone, giving the Golden Tigers the 14-7 lead.

Horents wideout Ajai Harrell caught a 45-yard pass to set up an easy walk-in touchdown to tie the game at 14.

Two penalties played pivotal roles in the Golden Tigers’ scoring, including Mulbah’s contribution in the run game. Tuskegee was back on top, 21-14.

The ASU offense didn’t crack under pressure; instead, they thrived. Smoot found room to tally 20 yards on foot, followed by Marcus Harris II’s first down gain. Dylan Creech reeled in the touchdown pass from Smoot, tying the game again at 21.

An opportunity to take the lead was in sight, as Smoot connected with Jones again for a 43-yard pass. Following that effort, the Hornets scored, giving them their first lead in the game at 28-21.

After ASU’s fourth touchdown, a wave of points came crashing onto Tuskegee. The Golden Tigers were unable to score again, while the Hornets tacked on 30 additional points.

Alabama State defeated Tuskegee 58-21.

What’s Next?

Today’s loss makes Tuskegee’s record 4-7 in the regular season. The Golden Tigers finished with a 3-5 record in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, holding the eighth spot.

ASU ended its season with a 10-2 record. The Hornets currently sit in the first spot above Jackson State with a 7-1 conference record.

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