AUGUSTA, Ga. – A new coach brought some new enthusiasm for the Benedict College Tigers football team, but some old demons were too much to overcome as Mile College defeated Benedict 20-14 in overtime Saturday at Lucy Laney Memorial Stadium in the annual Augusta City Classic.

Miles drove 75 yards on 11 plays to score on a 1-yard run by Jordan Lewis with one minute left on the clock to cut Benedict's lead to 14-12. Lewis got the call again on the two-point conversion to tie the game. The key play on that drive was a 33-yard pass from David Thomas to Jerromy Mardis on fourth down and eight on their final drive in regulation.

The Tigers got the ball first in overtime, but quarterback Simeon Kelley fumbled the exchange on the second play in overtime, turning the ball back over to the Golden Bears.

On Miles' possession, Lewis carried the ball on all five plays, and ran in from one-yard out to seal the victory for the Golden Bears. Miles improves to 2-3 overall and 1-1 in the SIAC.

Benedict drops to 1-4 overall and 0-2 in the SIAC. The Tigers travel to face Stillman next week.

“I'm very proud of these guys,” said interim head coach James Woody. “These guys came to play some football.  The defense played well. I was really hoping the defense would pull it out for us again at the end. But we left some points out there. And we've got to protect the football.”

The Tigers lost a pair of fumbles, and had one interception, and missed two field goals. Benedict also had 14 penalties for 95 yards.

Miles scored first on a 33-yard field goal by Patton Chambers with 5:50 left in the first quarter, capping a 72-yard drive, after getting the ball when Benedict's Andy Polanco missed a 27-yard field goal wide right.

The Tigers scored with 14:09 in the second quarter on a 22-yard pass from Kelley to Kendariss Brown. The key play on that drive was a 22-yard pass from Kelley to Emmanuel Houston on third-and-18.

On Benedict's second play at the start of the second half, Kelley was intercepted by Tyrell Kinder. The Golden Bears moved the ball and had a first-and-goal from the 8-yard line, but the Tiger defense held, with Jamaa Massaline and Ishmyl Johnson stopping Lewis for a two-yard loss on third down. That led to a 24-yard field goal by Chambers to cut Benedict's lead to 7-6 with 11:01 to play in the third quarter.

Jeremy Vaughn intercepted a Thomas pass on Miles' next possession, but the Tigers could not capitalize. Two series later, Elijah Taylor intercepted a pass from Miles quarterback Tavarri Wiggins and returned it 41 yards for a touchdown, putting the Tigers ahead 14-6 with 1:23 left in the third.

Reynard Parks picked off the fourth pass of the day for the Tigers on the Golden Bears' next series, but once again the Tigers could not take advantage. After Miles turned the ball over on downs on the next series at the Miles 37-yard line, Benedict moved to the 16-yard line, where Polanco's 33-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Miles' Keenan Clark.

The Golden Bears took over at the 25-yard line with 6:37 to play, and went on their final drive.

Benedict's three quarterbacks – Kelley, Harlon Samuels and Chris Thomas, were the leading rushers for the Tigers with 41, 24 and 23 yards, respectively. Kelley was 4-for-11 for 64 yards passing with one interception.

Lewis led Miles with 90 yards on 28 carries and two touchdowns. Thomas was 13-of-26 for 152 yards and three interceptions.

Massaline led the Benedict defense with 10 tackles, while Dyrell Porcha had eight. Antony Davis and Martin Epps each had seven.

Boxscore