THE GAME:
Edward Waters will make the trip down I-95 to play Savannah State in what will be a match-up of Tigers vs. Tigers. It will be the season and conference opener for both teams. Savannah State won four of the final six games in 2024 while Edward waters ended the year with a two game winning streak. Savannah State and Edward Waters started playing each other in 1930 and EWU leads the all-time series 13-12-4. Kickoff of Saturday's contest is set for 6:00pm inside Theodore A. "Ted" Wright Stadium. The contest will also be the Faculty & Staff/Alumni Appreciation and we are asking all fans to come out wearing BLUE to support the Tigers!

STADIUM INFORMATION:
Theodore A. "Ted" Wright Stadium is a smoke-free facility. Additionally, Umbrellas are not permitted inside of the stadium. 

CLEAR BAG POLICY:
In An Effort To Create And Maintain A Safe And Enjoyable Gameday Environment, Savannah State University Athletics Is Adhering To A Clear Bag Policy.

TICKET INFORMATION:
Tickets Must Be Purchased Online At http://SSUAthletics.com/Tickets

WEATHER REPORT:
Saturday's forecast in Savannah shows it to be a high of 79° and a low of 71°. Winds are expected to blow East Northeast at 5-10 mph with a 70% chance of rain.

KELTON'S QUOTE
"We are really excited to see the 2025 version of the Tigers. The guys are primed and ready to take on Edward Waters on Saturday in what is expected to be a great game."

BROADCAST INFORMATION: 
Channel: ESPN+
Broadcasters: Todd Corder/J. J. Jurjevic
Broadcast Link: https://www.espn.com/watch/player?id=319ac8a3-f57c-4f7c-ae42-0234e5669889
Live Stats Link: https://ssuathletics.com/sidearmstats/football/summary

FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE:
Savannah State will be featured five times on ESPN Platforms.
SSU's season opener against rival Edward Waters will open conference's broadcast slate on August 30th, followed by the Tigers' first road contest of the season at defending SIAC Champion, Miles on September 20th, The Tigers' next ESPN+ broadcast will be on Saturday, September 27th in a home matchup against Kentucky State, then the inaugural Good Trouble Heritage Classic vs. Fort Valley State on October 18th in Augusta, Ga. Savannah State's final regular season ESPN+ broadcast will be on November 1st as the Tigers will travel to face Albany State.

PRESEASON HONORS:
Four Tigers were selected to the preseason All-SIAC team.
Defensive lineman Xavier Esquillen and linebacker Gary Davis, Jr. were both named to the First Team Defense while offensive linemen Keshawn Palmore and Khalifa Sene were both named to the Second Team Offense. Esquillen and Davis were also named to the HBCU Sports Division II Football Preseason All-American Team and Esquillen was named as an Honorable Mention HBCU College Football Preseason All-American from BOXTOROW.

HOME GROWN TALENT:
SSU has 12 players in its roster from eight different of the local high schools (Islands, Beach, New Hampstead, Calvary Day, Johnson, Life of Christ Academy, St. Andrews and Jenkins

TRANSFER U
Savannah State has a roster that has players that have transferred into the program from the FBS, FCS, Division II, Division III, NAIA and the junior college level.  Ten come from the FBS/FCS level (South Carolina State, Bethune Cookman, Yale, Middle Tennessee, St. Francis (Pa), East Tennessee State, Tennessee Chattanooga, Nebraska, Georgia Southern, Louisville and Valpariso).

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON:
Sophomore defensive back Eszaunie Earls is a Tiger legacy. His father, Eugene Earls, played free safety for the Tigers from 1984-87.

SAVANNAH STATE / EDWARD WATERS CONNECTIONS
Earnest Wilson III was the Savannah State head football coach from 2013-15. He is now the Edward Waters Football Operations/Special Teams Coordinator/Running Backs Coach. Joshua C. Jackson, the Savannah State Assistant AD for Media Relations, spent a combined 15 years at Edward Waters, with the last six serving as Sports Information Director.

BORDER WAR:
Savannah State has 24 players on the 2025 roster from Florida and with five hailing from Jacksonville.

COMMON OPPONENTS:
Savannah State and Edward Waters have five common opponents: Benedict, Miles, Kentucky State, Allen and Morehouse.

LAST YEAR
Jhaydon Sullivan completed 14-of-18 passes for 256 yards and four touchdowns in Savannah State's 27-20 victory over Edward Waters on October 19, 2024 at Nathaniel Glover Community Field & Stadium. Sullivan's final two touchdowns in the fourth quarter erased a 20-14 deficit that led to the Orange & Blue wining their fourth straight game. Savannah State's offense produced 339 yards while using the clock for 22:44 minutes. Linebackers Gary Davis, Jr. and Darrian Bell each had nine tackles. Tony Rountree Jr. had 2.5 tackles for loss.

SCOUTING EDWARD WATERS 
Edward Waters had a 3-7 record a year ago but four of those losses were by ten points or less. Former Bethune-Cookman and Alabama State head coach Brian Jenkins will be the Tigers interim head coach, replacing former head coach Toriano Morgan who left after four seasons to take the Co-Offensive Coordinator/Running Backs Coach position at his alma mater, Tennessee State. Five of EWU's players earned preseason all-conference honors in Desmon Self (OL), Makai Lovett (WR), Johntarrious Thomas (RB), Tyreese Williams (DL) and Brady Tillman (KR). Transfers Noah Bodden (Southern) and Demetrius Boney (Florida A&M) are in a battle to win the quarterback job. As a freshman, linebacker Trevon French led the team in tackles last year with 55 and had four interceptions. EWU was picked to finish eighth in the final standings.

Stay Connected
For complete coverage of Savannah State University Athletics, follow the Tigers on social media @SavStateTigers on Facebook, Instagram, and X (Formerly Known As Twitter), or visit the official online home of SSU Athletics at http://ssuathletics.com.