COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Fort Valley State University Wildcats jumped out to a big first-half lead and held on to defeat the Benedict College Tigers 40-23 in a regionally-televised SIAC football game Thursday night at Charlie W. Johnson Stadium.
Fort Valley controlled the first half and took a 31-3 halftime lead before a quarterback switch helped the Tigers score the final 20 points. Benedict fell to 1-3 on the season, and 0-1 in the SIAC. Fort Valley won its first game of the season, improving to 1-3 overall and 1-1 in the SIAC.
Christopher Thomas, cleared to play this week, entered the game in the third quarter and the Tigers trailing 40-3. On his third play, he found Mujihad Assad in one-on-one coverage down the right sideline. Assad stutter-stepped to get free from his defender, and raced to the end zone for an 84-yard touchdown pass. Thomas finished the game completing 8-of-14 passes for 192 yards and two touchdowns, both to Assad.
In the fourth quarter and facing fourth down from the Fort Valley State 16-yard line, Thomas found Thomas McBride open, and McBride was dragged down just shy of the goal line. Tyquad Bazemore ran in from a yard out on the next play to make the score 40-17.
The Tigers recovered a Wildcat fumble on the next series, and Thomas completed another scoring pass to Assad, this time from 28-yards out, for the final score with 1:05 left in the game.
Benedict returns to action next week to face Miles College in the Augusta City Classic in Augusta, Ga. on October 1.
Fort Valley's Travis Richmond led the Wildcats with 134 yards rushing on 15 carries. The Wildcats, who entered the game averaging 90 yards rushing per game, churned out 270 yards on the ground on 47 carries against the Tigers.
The Tigers gained just 42 yards rushing on 35 carries. Starting quarterback Harlon Samuels led the team with 34 yards rushing.
Daniel Shield and Sarnie Johnson led the defense with five tackles each.
Fort Valley took a 7-0 lead on a 4-yard run around the right side by Richmond with 7:43 left in the first quarter. On their next possession, the Wildcats needed just three plays to go 57 yards for their next score, with Richmond getting the call again, blasting through the middle of the defense and racing 43-yards for the touchdown.
The Tigers marched on a 14-play, 70-yard drive that stalled at the Fort Valley 13-yard line, where Andy Polanco put Benedict on the scoreboard with a 30-yard field goal, cutting the Wildcats' lead to 14-3 with 14:09 left in the second quarter.
Fort Valley drove down and had a first-and goal at the Benedict 10-yard line on its next possession, but the Tiger defense held the Wildcats to a 25-yard field goal with 9:34 left in the second quarter.
Benedict was forced to punt on its next possession, and Fort Valley's Demario Barber fielded the punt, was chased backwards before getting a key block, and then raced around the left side and went 57-yards for a touchdown, putting the Wildcats ahead 24-3 with 7:02 on the clock in the second quarter.
The Wildcats added one more score in the first half, with Winfred McAllister capping off the drive on a 2-yard run with 2:24 on the clock, giving Fort Valley State a 31-3 lead at the half.
Fort Valley State added a safety in the third quarter when the Wildcats sacked Harlon Samuels in the end zone. The Wildcats scored their final points with 3:14 left in the third quarter when Dominique Patterson intercepted Simeon Kelley and returned the pickoff 75 yards for a touchdown.
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