COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Benedict College Tigers may be coming in to Saturday's Homecoming contest against Clark Atlanta University with a 0-6 record, but the Tigers have a 6-0 record in another category – Homecoming game victories over the last six years.

"This is our Homecoming. We expect a lot of alums and it should be a packed stadium. I hope we play up to it. I hope all of our mistakes and everything we've done bad in the past is washed away and we come out and play a great game and have a great Homecoming win," Benedict coach Mike White said.

 

Benedict Gameday

Benedict Tigers (0-6, 0-1 SIAC) vs. Clark Atlanta Panthers (0-6, 0-2)

Gametime: 2 p.m.

Radio: WLXC Kiss 103.1

Audio stream: www.kiss-1031.com

Live stats: Here

The Tigers have pulled out a win for the alumni each of the past six years. The last time Benedict lost a Homecoming contest was in 2008.

"I was reminded that we always win Homecoming, so I look forward to keeping that going," White said. "I think we'll come out and play well. I do like our guys' attitude. They've come out and prepared each week and I think they do feel that they're getting better and getting closer to getting over the hump with a win here."

During that six-year winning streak, Clark Atlanta has been a Homecoming opponent twice. Benedict won 10-7 in 2011 and 24-0 in 2013. The Panthers also enter Saturday's game with a 0-6 record and have been going through some of the same struggles as the Tigers.

Clark Atlanta is averaging 8.7 points per game, which ranks 164^th out of 169 NCAA Division II teams. Benedict, despite scoring 19 points in each of the last two games, is averaging 7.8 points per game and ranks 167^th. Defensively, the Panthers are giving up an average of 35.2 points per game, while Benedict is giving up an average of 36 points per game.

But White sees progress in his Tiger squad. Benedict has been in the game each of the last two weeks, and held a 19-16 lead over Lane late in the game last week before the Dragons got a 66-yard pass play that led to the winning touchdown with a little over a minute left in the game.

"We're trying to improve each week and we have improved each week, so we hope to put it together and come out with a win against Clark," White said.

Over the last two weeks, the Tigers had their first two rushing touchdowns of the season against Kentucky State, then followed that with a season-high 275 yards of total offense against Lane. After gaining just 16 yards on 10 carries in the first four games, freshman running back Raheem Jennings has rushed for 170 yards and two touchdowns on 34 carries over the last two weeks. White said a combination of factors are involved in those improving numbers, including better play by the offensive line and Jennings, as well as a coaching staff that now wants to stick with one primary back rather than switch offensive philosophies and attacks during the game when something is not working.

"I think we're trying to stay with our blocks and being more aggressive on the line of scrimmage," White said. "We're still a long way off but are doing a little bit better. We've got to try and stay with what we do. It's not great, but it's what we do and we've got to make that be good enough."

Another thing the Tigers have learned over the last two weeks is how important it is to play hard until the end of the game, especially after coming so close to a win last week.

"The biggest things we've learned the last two weeks is don't lose our composure and finish that fourth quarter. I think that will be our concentration a lot more this game, to play all four quarters and finish the game."

White wants to jump on the Panthers early. Clark Atlanta has been outscored 124-14 in the first half this season. But he also knows the Panthers have speed so the Tigers have to be ready.

"They're a fast team; a team that likes to play on the perimeter," White said. "I think they have a pretty sound defense. I think the key for us is we have to get out of the gate and have a good first quarter, then be able to maintain it. I was real happy last week that we didn't turn the ball over like we've been doing, so I hope we can keep that going. I think we'll be all right if we do that."