COLUMBIA, S.C. – After being overpowered by the S.C. State Bulldogs in a mismatch, the Benedict Tigers return to Division II competition and open SIAC play when they take on the Fort Valley State Wildcats on Saturday in the Augusta City Classic.

Kickoff is 2 p.m. at Lucy Laney High School (1339 Laney-Walker Blvd, Augusta, GA 30901).

The Wildcats come into the game 1-2. Fort Valley State opened the season with a loss to Valdosta State, the No. 1 ranked team in Division II, then lost by one-touchdown to Savannah State, a Division I team. Last week, the Wildcats defeated Clark Atlanta University in double overtime. Benedict has struggled against the Wildcats, going 2-13 since Benedict resumed football in 1996. Last year, Fort Valley State defeated Benedict 33-10 en route to winning the SIAC East Division title and a trip to the SIAC Championship game and the NCAA playoffs.

"Fort Valley is a good football team. I've known coach Pittman for a lot of years," Woody said. "They've got size, they've got speed, they've got quickness and they're well coached. We cannot play the way we played last week and expect to beat this football team. We've got to play mistake free – no interceptions, no fumbles. We've got to create more turnovers defensively. And special teams has got to be sharper. If we put those three things together, we should be good to go."

Benedict had four turnovers in last week's loss to S.C. State. Turnovers were a big problem last season, including three turnovers in last season's loss to Fort Valley State. Woody doesn't want to go down that road again. That's why the Tigers worked hard this week to clean up the mistakes that were so prevalent against S.C. State.

"That game was out of our mind on Sunday. Our focus has been on Fort Valley State," Woody said. "These guys are totally focused. We've had a good week of practice. The guys did a great job of learning their assignments. I'm excited and we'll see how these guys are going to respond.

"We're a better team than we were last year. We're much more focused. We're strong and bigger. Fort Valley is a very good, sound football team and they're very consistent. The thing is we've got to create turnovers, get in good field position and let the offense just manage the game. Marcus (Graham) has got to play his best game and not try to do too much, and let the defense and special teams carry us and we'll be OK."

One of the leaders on the defense for the Tigers is senior safety Martin Epps, an Augusta native who played his high school football at Lucy Laney Stadium, the site of Saturday's game.

"I'm glad I get to play in my home high school stadium one more time, but this is going to be the last time," Epps said. "I can't believe it's been four years. I can't believe it's my last time around. I'm very excited, but at the same time I'm kind of shocked that time has flown by so fast."

Epps led the Tigers with 78 tackles last season. But when a safety leads a team in tackles, it means the opposition is usually connecting on a lot of passes or breaking long runs. Woody said prior to the season that he did not want Epps leading the team in tackles this season.

"If he's making tackles, that means the big boys up front aren't doing their job," Woody said. "We're expecting him to have a high energy game, but to play within the system, and we're needing a little more out of him."

Epps is ready to give more. "I know I've got to go out with a bang so I've got to show my home town what I can really do for my last season and represent my home town to the fullest," he said.

The 5-foot-11 senior has not only been one of the leaders for the Tigers on the field, but has excelled in the classroom. Epps, a biology major, is carrying a demanding 20 credit hours for the second straight fall semester, mixing a full schedule of classes, labs, early-morning football practices, team meetings, games and travel. And he will graduate with honors this December, finishing his degree requirements in just three and a half years. Last year, he was named to the Capital One Academic All-Super Region 2 football team, one of three members from the SIAC named to the 23-member squad. He was also selected by the NCAA to participate in a student-athlete leadership forum this past summer.

"He's our leader in the classroom as well as the football field," Woody said. "Those guys respect him and listen to him."

"It is very, very tough," Epps said of his academic rigors. "Trying to balance and commit to football and the meetings and everything, and remain a scholar athlete at the same time. It's very stressful. And since I'm a biology major, doing lab research and the whole combination. It can be stressful at times."

Epps has applied for an internship in California focusing on biological studies after he graduates. After completing that internship, he plans to attend medical school with his goal to become a doctor.

"I talk to a lot of the players. I'm more of the type of leader who will pull a guy to the side or get someone on a one-on-one basis and just give them some of my knowledge or some of my experiences," Epps said. "I just try to motivate them to keep striving for the stars and keep striving for greatness and don't settle to be a mediocre player or a mediocre student in the classroom but strive for the best of your abilities."