SAVANNAH, Ga. -- Savannah State University was just too generous on a festive Saturday Homecoming against Tuskegee University.

The Tigers committed five turnovers and had a key fourth-down penalty lead to a score in a disappointing 21-14 loss to Tuskegee before an overflowing crowd of 12,723 at Theodore A. Wright Stadium.

"I take complete blame for the loss. I have to be smarter with the football," said SSU quarterback Jadon Adams, who had three fumbles and an interception before getting benched midway through the fourth quarter.

The Tigers dropped to 2-6 overall, 1-5 in Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play. SSU has lost five games in a row, three by a touchdown or less.

"Winning is hard," Tigers coach Aaron Kelton said. "(Tuskegee) has a good ballclub. We wanted to win Homecoming. We're disappointed, embarrassed, whatever you want to call it but it's not to stop us from coming back next week and winning Senior Day and the game after that. The (next) games aren't going anywhere."

Tuskegee (6-2, 5-1) entered the game among five teams in the conference with just one loss. Undefeated Benedict, SSU's next opponent, leads the SIAC.

But the Tigers played Tuskegee on even terms for most of the day. The Alabama school finally took the lead with 6:57 left on quarterback Christopher Roberson's 1-yard touchdown run.

SSU had a final chance. Backup quarterback Christian Burks engineered a drive to the Tuskegee 16 with about two minutes to go.

On first down, wideout Brent Carr made a sensational, diving catch near the back of the endzone, but officials ruled he didn't get his feet down in bounds.

The next play, Tuskegee's Mikael King intercepted Burks to seal the visitors' win.

Kelton wouldn't question the call, nor a fourth-down pass interference call late in the third quarter that led to Tuskegee's tying touchdown.

"That's what they called," Kelton said. "(Officials) aren't going to take it back, so that's what it is."

SSU scored touchdowns on its final two full possessions of the first half to take a 14-7 advantage.

Both scores were set up by long pass plays to Da'Shun Mitchell during the final six minutes of the half. The senior wide receiver was in the right spot at the right time to haul in a deflected pass for a 30-yard gain. Another 15 yards were tacked on for roughing the passer and the Tigers moved from their own 36 to Tuskegee 19.

On the next play, Adams caught the defense flat-footed with a fake option pitch and scooted around right end for the final 19 yards and a touchdown to tie the game at 7.

SSU defense recorded a three-and-out on Tuskegee's next possession and gave the ball back to the offense at the 44. On the next play, Mitchell gained a step on his defender and Adams threw a perfect pass resulting in a 54-yard gain to the 2.

A fumbled snap moved SSU back to the 9, but running back Shamarcus Poole streaked around the right side and just inside the pylon for a touchdown on the next play to give the hosts a 14-7 lead.

It was a nice rebound for Mitchell, who dropped a pass behind the secondary which might have gone for a touchdown on the second play of the second quarter.

Mitchell finished with five catches for 133 yards.

SSU's defense was solid while holding Tuskegee almost nine points under its season average.

The defense made a big stop in the first half after Tuskegee recovered a fumble at the SSU 1. The Tigers held two running plays for non gain before defensive back Ahlik Booker intercepted an underthrown fade pass in the end zone. 

But SSU's offense stagnated in the second half. The Tigers had only one first down on their first five possessions after intermission.

A fumbled pitch on an option play led to Tuskegee's tying touchdown – a 2-yard run by Johnny Morris with 3:58 to go in the third quarter.

Adams' interception set up Tuskegee's go-ahead score.

"Working hard doesn't guarantee you'll win" Kelton said. "We'll play to win. There were stretches where we did. We played better than we did last week (in a 21-10 loss to Central State)."

SSU will host Benedict College next Saturday on Senior Day before ending its season on the road at Lane College in Jackson, Tenn., on Nov. 4.