COLUMBIA, S.C. – Albany State running back Jarvis Small rushed for 234 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Golden Rams to a 40-14 victory over the Benedict Tigers on a cold and windy Saturday at Charlie W. Johnson Stadium.
The Rams built a 33-0 lead at halftime as Small scored all four of his rushing touchdowns in the first half.
Albany State improved to 6-2 overall, with its sixth straight win, and 5-0 in the SIAC. Benedict snapped a two-game winning streak and fell to 4-5 overall and 2-4 in the SIAC.
"They were bigger and stronger on both sides of the line and they manhandled us," Benedict coach
James Woody said.
After trailing 33-0 at the half, the Tigers came out determined in the second half.
Cameron Stover completed a 25-yard pass to
George Myers Jr. for a first down at midfield, then threw a 48-yard pass to
Kendariss Brown on a fake option pitch play for the first score.
The Golden Rams followed with a 12-play, 70-yard drive with Adrian Alexander scoring on a 5-yard rush to push the lead to 40-7.
Detron Jermal Wallace returned the ensuing kickoff 63 yards and a personal foul penalty on Albany State gave the Tigers the ball at the ASU 13-yard line. Stover completed a 13-yard pass to
Jeremy Glinton to cut the lead to 40-14.
The Tigers attempted an on-sides kick, and the Golden Rams fumbled the surprise kick, but after a scramble for the loose ball, the Golden Rams recovered.
Albany State had a first-and-goal at the Benedict 8-yard line, but the Tiger defense held and the Golden Rams missed a 23-yard field goal.
Stover, returning to the lineup after missing the last game and a half with a concussion, completed 16 of 41 pass attempts for 179 yards and had a season-high four interceptions.
Albany State, which entered the game with the nation's second-ranked defense, held the Tigers to 199 yards, their second-lowest output of the season. Benedict managed just 20 yards on the ground, its second lowest total this season.
"Playing against a great defense, you have to move the football," Woody said. "We made a lot of mistakes and dropped a lot of passes early."
Woody said he challenged the team at halftime to score three touchdowns in the second half, and they nearly accomplished that goal.
"I'm proud of this team. They did not give up. They could have easily given up in the third quarter, but they're fighters. We're getting better each week. We went against a very good defensive team, and I thought in the second half our kids played well."
Albany State finished with 325 yards rushing, the most against the Tigers since South Carolina State had 381 yards on the ground in the season opener.
The Tigers conclude the 2014 season next Saturday in Augusta to face Paine College in the annual Augusta Classic.
