Albany State earns 7-3 homecoming win over Tuskegee

ALBANY — The fans packed into the Albany State Coliseum didn’t get a shootout for homecoming — but they got something even better: a gritty win sealed by the kind of defense that has long defined Golden Rams football.

Behind a relentless “Dirty Blue” unit and a bruising ground attack led by Tiant Wyche, Albany State beat Tuskegee University 7–3 on Saturday afternoon in front of the biggest crowd of the year. The victory lifted the Golden Rams to 6-1 overall and 5-0 in the SIAC.

The game’s only touchdown came early. After quarterback Jaydon Kinney’s first pass was intercepted by Tuskegee’s Mikael King Jr., the Albany State defense immediately answered by forcing a punt. Kinney and the Rams then pieced together a 12-play, 90-yard drive that set the tone for the afternoon — 10 of those plays were runs, six by Wyche, who capped the march with a 2-yard touchdown run. Kyle Wright’s extra point made it 7–0 midway through the first quarter, and that proved to be all Albany State would need.

Wyche finished with 94 yards on 18 carries and the game’s lone score, while Aljhanod Thomas added 73 yards on 12 carries. True freshman quarterback Zhay’Lyn Bell, a 6-foot-5 product of Atlanta, took over at quarterback and guided the offense the rest of the way. Bell completed 10 of 21 passes for 68 yards and rushed 11 times for 54 yards, showing poise and mobility in his most extended action yet.

It was Albany State’s third straight game without quarterback Isaiah Knowles who was injured in the Alenn University game earlier this season.

Tuskegee’s lone score came midway through the third quarter on a 50-yard field goal by Lorcan Ryans, trimming the lead to 7–3. Later in the quarter, Wright attempted a 39-yard field goal for Albany State, but Tuskegee’s Timothy Grayson blocked the kick.

The Golden Tigers threatened again late, driving inside Albany State territory, but on fourth-and-14 from the 38, defensive back Corey Petty stepped in front of a pass to seal the victory with a game-clinching interception.

Statistically, the Rams dominated the trenches. Albany State rushed for 215 yards on 47 carries and outgained Tuskegee 284-196 in total offense. The Golden Rams held the Tigers to 85 rushing yards and just 3 of 15 conversions on third down.

Defensive end Derrock Drayton, a junior from College Park, led the charge with five tackles and three for loss, as the Dirty Blue front bottled up nearly every Tuskegee drive.

The victory came on national television on ESPN+, with next week’s road matchup against Benedict College in Columbia, S.C., set to air as well.