COLUMBIA, S.C. – The real test for how improved the Benedict Tigers are this season will come Saturday, when the Tigers open SIAC play at home against the Fort Valley State Wildcats at 6 p.m.
The Tigers are 2-1, coming off that last-second victory over Elizabeth City State University last Saturday in the Down East Viking Classic in Rocky Mount, N.C. Benedict will be looking to start the season 3-1 for the first time since restarting football in 1995, and their first three-game win streak since closing the 2010 season with three victories.
Last season, the Tigers lost to Fort Valley State 35-30 in Augusta, Ga, giving up 20 points on mistakes. Fort Valley took advantage of two blocked punts and an interception return and still had to hold off a late Benedict rally for the win.
With a new punter, healthy long snappers, and veteran transfer quarterback
Cameron Stover, the Tigers have not been making the costly turnovers that were a problem last couple of seasons. Stover has thrown two interceptions in 87 pass attempts. This year, the Tigers have taken advantage of opponent turnovers, especially on special teams. Benedict scored a touchdown on a muffed ECSU punt last week, and scored on a blocked punt against Lane.
"The difference is in our special teams," Benedict head coach
James Woody said. "Coach
Darrell Suber is doing a great job. We went to school together and played together at Central State University. He was an All-American and was great on special teams, and that's been carrying on into our special teams here. We put a lot of time into it and you can see the difference. We have two or three snappers now, where last year we only had one snapper and he got hurt the first game which kind of hurt us the next two or three games and put us in a tough situation."
Playing mistake-free football is just one of the keys for the Tigers against the Wildcats, who come into Saturday's game also 2-1. The Wildcats are also coming off an emotional victory, beating Clark Atlanta by blocking an extra point in the final minute that would have tied the game.
The Wildcats, who upset Division I Savannah State 42-28 two weeks ago, are using a two-quarterback system, and both are dangerous with the arm and their feet. Last week against Clark Atlanta, Otis Brown and Malcolm Eady combined for 261 rushing yards. Brown also threw a pair of touchdown passes.
"They use two quarterbacks and both of them can run," Woody said. "So we've got to be able to stop this running game. They're going to come in and try to run the football. We definitely want to stop the run and make them do something they don't want to do."
The Wildcats can also be dangerous throwing the ball. In the win against Savannah State, wide receiver Drelon Freeman had five receptions for 204 yards and two touchdowns.
"Fort Valley State is big, they're strong, they're fast. It's going to take our best game to beat those guys. The best thing about it is we have them at home. We have some momentum, and we'll see what happens," Woody said.
Fort Valley State head coach Donald Pittman expects a tough game out of the Tigers.
"Benedict is a very good team. They always play us tough," Pittman said. "Coach Woody always has a very aggressive team. They'll have a balanced offense with the passing game and the run game, and they have a good defense and special teams. I know they'll be a big challenge for us."
Offensively, the Tigers want to rely on that balanced offense, with a strong game from Stover and mixing it up with their deep stable of running backs. That will be a tough task against the Fort Valley State defense, led by All-American linebacker Donald Furr.
"They're peaking right now defensively," Woody said of Fort Valley State. "We're going to have to be able to run the football to win this game. And Cam has got to be consistent. He's got to come out fast paced. If he comes out early and very consistent and with a sense of urgency, I think you'll see a good day by him. If he struggles and lacks a sense of urgency, it's going to be a long day."
The Tigers are averaging almost 100 yards rushing per game as a team.
George Myers Jr. leads the team with 31 yards per game, but the Tigers rotate four other talented running backs.
"We've got backs who can run the football. But we want to get Myers more touches. We want to get (Jervic) Blocker more touches, as well as (Kenneth) Hurley and (Tyquan) Bazemore and (Detron Jermal) Wallace," Woody said. "We're kind of loaded back there and we only have one football. But the good thing about it is those guys are not selfish. When they get their number called, they've got to go. I'm glad and happy we've got a lot of depth back there, because last year we didn't have the depth. We got some freshmen who could come in and play right away and I'm really happy with the consistency."
