TUSKEGEE, Ala.-Jhaydon Sullivan completed 12 of 19 passes for 178 yards and two touchdowns to lead Savannah State to their first win of the season, a 20-16 victory over Tuskegee on September 21, 2024.

It was Savannah State's first win over the Golden Tigers since a 20-12 victory in 1996 when Wendall Avery was the SSU head football coach.


The victory, which took place at Abbott Memorial Stadium before a crowd of 4,125 fans, gives SSU a 1-2 overall record and a 1-1 mark in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Savannah State, who trailed Tuskegee 16-6 after three quarters of play, scored twice in the fourth quarter to earn the win.

A pair of bad punts by Tuskegee played a factor in the SSU scoring drives.

A 11 yard punt by Tuskegee's Lorcan Ryans gave Savannah State a first and ten at the TU 45. 

From there, SSU launched a seven-play drive that took 3:54 off the clock that resulted in a two yard touchdown run by Shamarcus Poole with 8:44 left in the game that pulled Savannah State within 16-13. During the drive, Sullivan completed three of four passes including a 26 yard completion to Khiry Wallace that gave the Tigers a first and goal at the Tuskegee nine yard line.

After the SSU defense stopped Tuskegee on their next drive, Ryans had a nine yard punt that gave Savannah State a first and ten from the Golden Tigers 20 yard line.

It took Savannah State just one play to score as Sullivan threw a strike to Da'Shun Mitchell to give SSU a 20-16 advantage with 7:18 remaining in the contest.

Tuskegee started their final possession from their own 27 and marched to the SSU 30 but could get no further. Faced with a fourth and nine, quarterback Chris Robinson threw a pass intended for Quavon Beckford at the SSU ten but it fell incomplete and Savannah State took over on downs.

The Golden Tigers took a 7-0 lead with 8:40 left in the first quarter.

Savannah State drove to the Tuskegee 20 on their second possession of the game but a 30 yard field goal attempt by Jimmy Mal was no good.

Tuskegee (0-3, 0-1 SIAC) took over and drove to the Savannah State 11 before stalling and had to settle for a 21 yard field goal by Ryans with 14:58 remaining in the second quarter.

On their second drive of the second quarter, SSU had the ball at their own 49, thanks to a 20 yard punt return by Brent Carr. That set up a drive that took just three plays as Sullivan, a graduate transfer from Albany State, threw a 45 yard touchdown pass to Mitchell to cut Tuskegee's lead to 10-6 with 9:53 showing on the clock with Mal missing the extra point attempt.

Savannah State took the opening possession of the third quarter and drove from their own 34 to the Golden Tigers one before reserve quarterback Christian Burks fumbled the ball in the end zone and it was recovered by Tuskegee.

As a team, SSU produced 297 yards of offense with 274 coming via air. Burks completed four of six passing attempts for 96 yards which included a 41 yarder to Carr.

Mitchell, who has made a reception in 23 consecutive games, had five catches for 104 yards and two touchdowns while Carr had three receptions for 51 yards.


The Tuskegee defense hampered the Tigers ground attack which was limited to 23 yards. Poole had 15 carries for 19 yards for SSU.

Lexington Matthews had five punts for the Tigers, averaging 45.4 yards per punt.


Gary Davis, Jr. had ten tackles to lead the Tiger defense while Darrian Bell had nine tackles.

Savannah State was penalized eight times for 98 yards while Tuskegee drew 11 penalties for 89 yards.


SSU will return home on September 28 to face Fort Valley State at 6 p.m. at TA Wright Stadium.