COLUMBIA, S.C. – Saturday's football game between the Benedict College Tigers and the Paine College Lions will have more subplots than an afternoon soap opera.

First, there is the hope between the two schools and organizers with the annual Augusta City Classic that this can turn into a rivalry game between the schools who are only about an hour apart.

Benedict is looking to finish the season with a victory and finish 5-5, which would be the Tigers' first non-losing record since 2009. Meanwhile, Paine is looking to score its first SIAC victory in its first season of football since restarting the program after a 51-year break.

Gameday Central

Benedict (4-5, 2-3 SIAC) vs. Paine (1-8, 0-5) 2 p.m.

Lucy Laney High School (1339 Laney Walker Blvd)

Internet Radio: Stretch Internet

Then there are the coaches. James Woody and Paine's Greg Ruffin coached for many years together, first at Tuskegee and then at Jackson State. Ruffin even served as Benedict's offensive coordinator in 2001.

Then you have a handful of Benedict players who hail from the Augusta area, including star wide receiver Kendariss Brown, who will be playing his final game for the Tigers, as well as freshman running back George Myers Jr., who played at Lucy Laney High School, where Saturday's game will be played.

Woody and Ruffin both see this contest as the beginning of a rivalry for the two schools.

"It's a rivalry game for us," Woody said. "That's one of their biggest games of the year. It's going to be a packed house. They do a good job with that Classic."

"They've been in a position where they really haven't had a rival in football, and it's always good to have a rival," Ruffin said about Benedict. "It means something to the fans. That adds to the uniqueness of all of that. We're 60 miles from each other. When I got the job and I called Woody and told him, 'You're on the clock.' We laughed about it, but now it's here. I think this is something both of us need to develop from an institutional perspective. If we do this the right way, this could really blossom into a heck of a football matchup for now and years to come."

Paine is 1-8 in its first year, but don't let that record fool anyone. Woody said the Lions are a good team and have been competitive in most of their games. The Tigers can't expect to coast to the finish line and Woody said the Tigers are working hard to finish strong.

"You always want to win your last game," Woody said. "Since I've been here, we've always lost the last game. The most important thing is to close out the season with a victory. 5-5 would be very good for us.

"Paine is a very talented team. You go back and look at the boxscores, they've outplayed most of the teams they've played. They took Fort Valley down to the wire, they took Morehouse down to the wire. Their problem is turnovers. Hopefully, they can continue that. I hope they don't stop now. Defensively, they were ranked in the country maybe two or three weeks ago. It's not going to be an easy task. We've got to come out and play."

The Lions have turned the ball over 29 times this season. Quarterback Loranzo Hammonds has thrown 16 interceptions, and 13 of those have been returned for touchdowns.

"That's got to be a record in Division II," Ruffin said.

Despite suffering a 34-0 loss to Clark Atlanta last week, Paine still ranks third in the country in passing yards allowed, and 21^st in total defense.

With a strong pass defense, the Tigers will be looking to establish a strong running game.

"They key for us is to run the ball consistently and take the pressure off Cam," said freshman offensive lineman Leander Palmer Jr.

One of the backs expected to help establish the ground game will be Myers, who is excited about returning to his hometown and high school stadium.

"This is a big, big game," Myers said.

Freshman punter Tory Mimbs is from nearby Sandersville, Ga., and expects to have a big crowd of family, friends and high school teammates at the game.

"It will be like I'm back home playing," Mimbs said.

And it will be the final home game for Brown, who has excelled this season as quarterback Cameron Stover's favorite target. Brown leads the SIAC in total receptions, receptions per game and receiving yards.

"I give all my praise to my quarterback Cameron Stover, and my O line for blocking so I can have a successful season, the best season since I've been at Benedict," Brown said.

Saturday's game, his last in a Tiger uniform and playing in his home town, will be special for Brown.
 
"I'm so excited. I've been waiting on Paine all year. And it's my last game, too," Brown said.