Jackson State Hosts Tuskegee in W.C. Gorden Classic

Jackson, Miss. — Jackson State will host Tuskegee in the W.C. Gorden Classic on Saturday at Veterans Memorial Stadium. The game kicks off at 6 p.m. and will be streamed on SWAC TV.

The Tigers lead the all-time series against Tuskegee 3-1, with Jackson State winning the last two matchups, including a 30-0 victory last year. In that game, Jackson State’s defense limited Tuskegee to just 24 yards rushing and 85 yards passing, allowing only two drives into the Tigers’ territory.

Jackson State enters the contest with a 2-0 record, coming off a 66-14 win over Edward Waters during the Hope Labor Day Classic on Sept. 5. The Tigers have posted a 14-3 record at home under head coach T.C. Taylor since 2023 and are 6-0 at home in 2024.

Jackson State’s running game has been productive, with Nate Blount IV rushing for 101 yards against Tennessee State earlier this season. Wide receiver Jabari Jones and Kam Sallis earned MVP honors in recent games, with Sallis recording seven tackles and Jones catching an 88-yard touchdown.

Defensively, Andrew Ivaniciuc and Keith Bass Jr. earned SWAC weekly honors following the Tigers’ close win over Tennessee State. Ivaniciuc made a 21-yard field goal late in the game, while Bass totaled six tackles, including a sack. Jared Lockhart was named SWAC Offensive Player of the Week after passing for 388 yards and four touchdowns.

Jackson State has won three SWAC championships, appeared in three Celebration Bowls, and claimed the 2024 HBCU national title. The Tigers have also played in four of the last five SWAC championship games, winning three.

The upcoming game marks the fifth all-time meeting between Jackson State and Tuskegee. Jackson State won last year’s game in Jackson, 30-0, and also defeated Tuskegee in 2019. The teams will meet again Saturday night to continue their rivalry.

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