THE GAME
Coming off of their 35-28 win over Clark Atlanta,Savannah State will step away from conference play, as  the Tigers will try to keep their momentum going and make it two wins in a row as they face Lincoln University California at Theodore A. Wright Stadium. It will be the Tigers first home game since playing Central State on September 14.
 
LAST YEAR
This will be the first meeting between SSU and Lincoln University California. While Savannah State's s football beginnings dates back to 1915, the have a relatively new program. having started in 2021.

KELTON'S QUOTE
"Coming off a big game in Atlanta we are looking to build on our performance. We are playing with more confidence but we need to keep playing hard, physical and fast to continue our success! We need another win this week at home."

LAST WEEK
Savannah State put together their best performance of the season with the offense scoring 35 points and gaining 386 yards while the defense held Clark Atlanta to 27 yards rushing and sacking the quarterback three times.
 
TOP OFFENSIVE PLAYERS
Christian Burks and Jhaydon Sullivan have been sharing quarterback duties the past few weeks. Burks is the Tigers leading passer with 337 yards and a touchdown while Sullivan has thrown for 268 yards and four touchdowns. Quarterback Jadon Adams is the leading ground gainer with 126 yards and a touchdown but the confidence of running backs Joseph Hampton (111 yards and one touchdown) and Shamarcus Poole (82 yards and one touchdown) has been growing each game. Da'Shun Mitchell has 18 receptions for 303 yards and three touchdowns is the leading pass catcher while Brent Carr (14.7 yards per catch), Demeke Colbert (13.7) and Khiry Wallace (22.0) are all threats.
 
TOP DEFENSIVE PLAYERS
Anchoring the defense is linebackers Darrian Bell (38 tackles), Uchenna Nwoha (31), Gary Davis, Jr. (25) and Tavare Brewton (20). Defensive back Ahlik Booker has 18 tackles while defensive lineman William Jones and Xavier Esquillen have 3.5 tackles for loss each.
 
SPECIAL TEAMS
Brent Carr has six punt returns for 74 yards and Deandre Creary has three kickoff returns for 89 yards. Lexington Matthews has a 70 yard punt and Jimmy Mal has kicked a 41 yard field goal.
 
SCOUTING THE OAKLANDERS
Lincoln University California is still looking for their first win. The team averaged just six points in their first four games but during their last two contests have scored 20 and 14 points respectively. However, they have been outscored 307-58 so far. Quarterback Jack Clavel has thrown for 763 yards and five touchdowns. Darius Maxwell (140 yards) and Trey Dimmings (158 yards) are two of the top pass catchers and when they turn to their ground game, expect Anastacio Prado (109 yards) and Jamin Miller (121 yards) to carry the load. Slyvester Ware (6-2, 228) and Omega Williams (6-6, 235) anchor the defensive line while Leon Koraki (5-11, 160) will be at linebacker. Roaming the secondary will be Isaiah Robinson (6-1, 190) and Chance Williams (5-11, 190).
 
THE SKINNY
In a game where both schools use rotating quarterbacks, a win for Savannah State would do three things: Give them two wins in a row for the first time since 2022; even their overall record to 3-3; and give the team and fan base some much needed enthusiasm as they enter the final stretch of the season. The Tigers must keep a level head and not overlook Lincoln who enters the game with a 0-6 record and has not tasted victory since a 70-0 triumph over Hibert in 2022. Hopefully, SSU can continue the offensive and defensive improvements they made against Clark Atlanta in hopes top finish the season with a winning record.
 
CALIFORNIA CONNECTION
Savannah State wide receiver Jalen Leonard is the only player on the roster from the west coast. Leonard is from Murrieta, California which is about 450 miles from Oakland.

CATCHING ON
Wide receiver Da'Shun Mitchell has caught a pass in 25 consecutive games.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
According to statistics listed on the NCAA.com website, Brent Carr is 16th in Division II in punt returns (12.3) and Darrian Bell is 34th in the nation in solo tackles per game (5.0).

POLL WATCHING
Savannah State received five votes in the latest BOXTOROW HBCU Division II Coaches Poll

GETTING A LEG UP
According the statistics listed on the NCAA.com website, Lexington Matthews is ranked second in punting in the SIAC and No. 27 in Division II with a 41.8 yards per punt average.

WHATS IN A NAME
There are 20 players on the team that share the same last name. Three have the last name of Brown, Johnson, Jones or Williams while two have the sir name of Anderson, Davis, Leonard or White.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION-The SSU roster is made up of players from eleven states (Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, Kentucky, New York, Texas, California, Alabama, Massachusetts, North Carolina and Maryland) as well as the District of Columbia

WELCOME TO THE MARSH
Savannah native Harold Nelson and former North Carolina wide receiver Steven Jerry has joined the Tiger coaching staff this year. Nelson will be the tight ends and assistant offensive line coach while Jerry will be overseeing the wide receivers. Nelson has coached on the high school level in Savannah (Windsor Forest, Calvary Day and Islands) and in Florida and is owner of his own training company, Energy Sports Academy. Jerry's collegiate coaching resume list Central Florida, William & Mary, East Tennessee State, Virginia State, Florida A&M, Benedict and New Mexico Highlands, before coming to SSU

REFURBISHED TURF
SSU is among four HBCUs in Georgia and Alabama who will debut a refurbished football field this fall thanks to grants totaling more than $6.5 million from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation. The work at T.A. Wright Stadium included the installation of a new turf and upgrades to the drainage system to improve field quality, safety and accessibility to community groups.

TRANSFER U
SSU has 28 players on the roster that have transferred from other schools. The programs, which range from FBS to junior college, include Albany State, Morgan State, St. Augustine, Bluefield State, Livingstone, Grambling State, South Carolina State, Mercer, Georgia Military, Pitt, Butler Community College, New Haven, Louisville, McPhearson, Louisburg, St. Thomas, Dean, Los Angeles Valley CC, Oklahoma Panhandle State, Notre Dame College, Lake Erie, UNC Pembroke, Georgia Southern and Florida.

HOME GROWN- SSU has ten players in its roster from eight different of the local high schools (Islands, Beach, Savannah High, Bethesda, Johnson, Windsor Forest, St. Andrews and Jenkins.

THE SIZE OF IT- Punter Lexington Matthews the tallest player on the team at 6-foot-5 but Offensive lineman Arnez Jones is the biggest at 360-pounds. Running back AJ Brown is the shortest player on the roster at 5-foot-7 while wide receiver Jalen Leonard is the lightest at 150 pounds.

PRESEASON HONORS
Eight Tigers were selected to the preseason All-SIAC team. Deandre Creary was named to the First Team Defense while Ahlik Booker and Nathaniel Chisholm were named to the Second Team Defense. Jadon Adams, Da'Shun Mitchell and Shamarcus Poole were named to the Second Team Offense while AJ Brown and Joseph Hampton were named as Second Team Return Specialists.

FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE
SSU appeared on the HBCU Go platform on September 7 with their game with Southern. Savannah State will also appear on ESPN+ three times during the 2024 season. The Tigers will play Central State on September 14 at Theodore A. Wright Stadium at 6 p.m. and will host Fort Valley State on Sept. 28 at 2 p.m. The 2024 SSU Homecoming match-up with Lane on October 26 will also appear on ESPN+ with a 3 p.m. kickoff.

NIL PARTNERSHIP
The Savannah State University Department of Athletics and Influxer have formed a partnership which will help SSU student-athletes with Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) merchandising opportunities. Influxer, an approved licensed NIL vendor, will house a complete NIL merchandise store for all Tiger student-athletes who choose to participate, featuring officially licensed apparel with their names and jersey numbers.