The Clark Atlanta University Panthers will finally step foot on their home turf Saturday when they host defending Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference champions Tuskegee at 7 p.m. in Panther Stadium.

It's Week 3 for the Panthers (0-2) who have lost close games on the road at Mississippi College and at rainy, muddy Central State last weekend.  But Saturday, they'll be on the Panther Stadium field turf to open CAU's five-game home season to take on the SIAC's defending champions, Tuskegee (1-1).

"Every time we play Tuskegee, our kids really get up for this game," said CAU Head Coach Kevin Ramsey.

They host a Tuskegee team that was picked to win the SIAC again this season after taking the title in 2017.  Tuskegee got a 30-16 win over CAU last season, but for three quarters, it was a battle. CAU had two turnovers and a safety in the first seven minutes of the game to fall behind 16-0 early.  But the Panthers had four of the games final six scores in battling back, but falling short late 30-16. 

"Turnovers kind of hurt us, but we got right back in it and it went all the way to the end, so I was really pleased with our play a year ago," Ramsey said.

Tuskegee lost an overtime thriller to FCS SWAC team Alabama State 26-20, but bounced back last week to blank Albany State 20-0.   On offense, they are led by preseason All-SIAC quarterback Jamarcus Ezell, who has been steady in averaging 168 yards a game, and running back Kenny Gant, who has rushed for 136 yards in two games.  Justice Owens ran for 97 yards in the Golden Tigers loss to Alabama State.

On defense, they are led by linebacker Davoris Thomas, the SIAC's preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Thomas had ten tackles, 1.5 sacks and forced two fumbles in last season's game with CAU.

"They are a sound football team," Ramsey said. "We you play soundness, it's about tackling well. And on offense, it's about blocking and getting forward movement and sustaining drives."

After last week's 7-0 loss in bad conditions for both teams at Central State, Ramsey said Saturday should be a totally different contest on what is to be a warm, dry night in Atlanta.

The CAU offense, which put up 30 points in the opener at Mississippi College, will have quarterback Charles Stafford back at the controls.  Stafford is the SIAC's fourth-ranked quarterback – just ahead of Ezell – as he has thrown for 358 yards and two touchdowns this young season.  Last week also saw the debut of Texas Southern transfer quarterback Elijah Odom who rushed 13 times against Central State.  Their top targets will be wideouts Johnathan Sanders, who caught 14 passes against Mississippi College, and Josh Banks who missed most of the last season after getting hurt in last year's Tuskegee game. Senior Roger Thomas leads the rushing attack, as he has averaged 53 yards in two games. 

On defense, the Panthers boast a squad that, though it's early, has the SIAC's top pass defense and is second in total defense. The Panthers are led by Kameron Rogers and Kenneth Morgan, both of whom have 14 tackles this season.  William Profit has 11 stops, while Ezekiel Edmonds has ten.

Ramsey says his team is ready on a night that they are asking fans to wear all black at Panther Stadium.

"I think a game like this, these guys will rise up," Ramsey said. "I've been really pleased with this week of practice and preparation and I'm real pleased with our coaches in preparing our guys for this ball game."