MOBILE, Ala. — Fort Valley State University came within one possession of pulling off a statement victory Saturday at the Port City Classic, battling the Tuskegee University Golden Tigers in a hard-fought 24-23 thriller at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.
The Wildcats came out ready to compete, setting the tone early with a defense that refused to give Tuskegee much room to operate. Fort Valley State held the Golden Tigers to just three points through the first half, keeping the game within reach while the Wildcats' offense worked to find its rhythm.
Fort Valley State's offense responded with several key plays, including a powerful rushing touchdown from Kennique Bonner-Steward, who punched the ball into the end zone on a four-yard touchdown run to give the Wildcats another spark.
The Wildcats also found the end zone through the air when quarterback Don Hudson Jr. connected with wide receiver JaTony Pendleton for a spectacular 43-yard touchdown reception. Pendleton finished the afternoon with five receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown, providing one of the game's biggest offensive highlights.
Hudson Jr. delivered an efficient performance under center, completing 18 of 22 passes for 179 yards and one touchdown, while also contributing 37 rushing yards. The Wildcats' ground attack added another dimension, totaling 213 rushing yards on the afternoon. Michael Cabellero led the rushing attack with 79 yards on nine carries, including a 43-yard run.
Defensively, Fort Valley State continued to battle throughout the contest, recording 30 total tackles, six tackles for loss, two pass breakups and three quarterback hurries. The Wildcats' ability to limit Tuskegee early helped keep the game tightly contested and gave the offense opportunities to remain within striking distance.
After entering halftime with a 13-3 advantage, the Wildcats continued to fight as Tuskegee mounted its comeback in the second half. Fort Valley State answered with scoring drives of its own, but the Golden Tigers ultimately edged the Wildcats 24-23 after a late fourth-quarter push.
Despite the heartbreaking result, Fort Valley State showed tremendous resilience and proved it could compete with one of the SIAC's top programs. The Wildcats produced 392 total yards, converted 7 of 12 third downs, and fought until the final whistle in front of more than 6,000 fans at the Port City Classic.
