SIAC Week One: Skegee Comes Out Swinging

Chis Anderson and Tuskegee knocked of D1 Alabama A&M on Saturday. (Photo by Eric Shultz)

Game Of The Week: Tuskegee 23, Alabama A&M 7

Once again, Tuskegee proved that in HBCU football, NCAA Division classifications often go out the window. The reigning SIAC champs proved that its offense can still be potent, even without running back Derrick Washington.

Games like this are the reason Tuskegee’s gamble to forgo the Turkey Day Classic for a shot at the Division II playoffs could be a good decision.

Justin Nared threw for three touchdowns in the Louis Crews Classic. (Eric Shultz photo)

Offensive Player of The Week: Justin Nared, Tuskegee

Last season Nared was simply asked to manage the game while the offense relied on Washington and the running game. If Week One was any indication, Nared will have a much bigger role to play in 2013. Nared completed 11 of 18 passes for 206 yards and three touchdowns, a third of his total for all of 2012.

Defensive Player of The Week: Michael Herrod and Cameron Stallings, Stillman College

There were several defensive standouts in Stillman’s 52-0 blowout of Concordia-Selma, but Herrod and Stallings stood above the crowd. Herrod, a sophomore linebacker, was all over the field, recording eight tackles, 4.5 behind the line of scrimmage and a sack-and-a-half. Stallings picked off two passes and returned them for touchdowns of 26 and 48 yards, respectively.

Rookie Of The Week: Lake McGuffie, Morehouse 

The freshman from Hampton, GA burned Howard’s Division I defensive backs for 92 yards on four catches in his first game for the Tigers.

Trending Up: Kentucky State

KSU was very impressive in a 42-6 win over Kentucky Wesleyan.

Trending Down: Miles College

After an early 7-0 lead, Miles didn’t look like a SIAC contender in it’s 42-7 loss to North Alabama.