Albany State prepares for SIAC road game against Tuskegee

ALBANY — Albany State spent Saturday making Lane College miserable.

Now comes the harder part: taking that performance on the road and proving it can travel.

The Golden Rams will visit Tuskegee at 2 p.m. Saturday, stepping into one of the SIAC’s most historic venues for a game carrying significantly more intrigue than the teams’ records suggest.

Albany State is 3-3 overall and 3-1 in the conference following a 51-0 demolition of Lane. Tuskegee is 2-4 and 2-2, has lost two straight and recently fired head coach Aaron James.

That does not make the Golden Tigers harmless. It might make them dangerous.

“This is a good football team that is in transition and has something to prove,” Albany State coach David Bowser said.

Tuskegee relieved James of his duties Oct. 4, one day after a 30-28 loss to rival Morehouse. Longtime assistant and offensive line coach Keith Higdon was named interim coach while the university conducts a national search.

Higdon’s influence was immediately noticeable.

In his first game leading the program, Tuskegee ran 49 times for a season-high 255 yards in a 27-19 loss at Central State. Ja’Khael Rowser rushed for 106 yards, his third consecutive 100-yard performance, while quarterback Bryson McGrew added 93.

“The offense is led by a very good run game,” Bowser said. “They also play three quarterbacks. We have to keep them in second-and-long.”

Saturday will be Tuskegee’s first home game since the coaching change, and Bowser expects an energized crowd at Cleve L. Abbott Memorial Alumni Stadium.

Albany State is preparing accordingly.

The Golden Rams plan to pipe crowd noise and music into practice this week, forcing players to communicate while learning to tune out everything that will surround them Saturday.

“It’s a tough place to play,” Bowser said. “You have the history and the mystique. We have to take all of that out of it and block out all the things around us.”

That means eliminating a problem that has followed Albany State throughout the season: penalties.

Bowser wants the Golden Rams to remain aggressive and physical without allowing enthusiasm to become carelessness. Penalties can derail drives, erase explosive plays and give a struggling opponent the momentum it needs.

“We’ve got to get these penalties down,” Bowser said. “Sometimes we’re overzealous, especially with these guys who don’t play a lot.”

The challenge comes one week after Albany State played its most complete game of the season.

The Golden Rams outgained Lane 388-89, rushed for 245 yards and never punted. Their defense held the Dragons to minus-18 rushing yards, while the offense, defense and special teams each produced touchdowns.

Quarterback Jeffery “JD” Davis threw two touchdown passes and ran for two more scores. Albany State’s defense and special teams overwhelmed Lane before the game had time to settle.

Bowser wants the same physical edge Saturday, only with greater discipline.

Tuskegee’s defense will make that difficult.

“TU has a very good interior defensive line,” Bowser said. “They are aggressive on the perimeter of the defense, and they are very sound.”

For Albany State, the formula is straightforward: establish the running game, control the tempo and stay ahead of the chains. Doing that would keep the Golden Rams’ defense rested and prevent Tuskegee’s crowd from becoming a factor.

“We must be able to run the football, control the play clock and eliminate the penalties while still being aggressive and physical,” Bowser said.

Albany State has won the past two meetings, including a 7-3 defensive struggle last season. But Saturday represents something different.

Tuskegee will be playing at home for the first time under an interim coach. Albany State will be trying to prove last week’s rout was more than one enjoyable Homecoming afternoon.

The music will be loud in practice this week. It will be louder in Tuskegee.

Bowser’s message is to ignore the noise, respect the history and play clean football.