COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Benedict College Tigers hit the road for their first SIAC game, and take on the defending conference champions at Fort Valley State on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Wildcat Stadium.

Benedict is 2-1 after last week's 30-21 victory over Lane. Fort Valley State has started the season 0-2, including a 29-10 setback last week against Miles. The Wildcats started the season with a 34-9 loss to West Georgia, then had their scheduled game against Valdosta State on Sept. 9 cancelled due to weather.

The game will air on WXLC Kiss 103.1 FM, with an audio stream available on www.kiss-1031.com. Fort Valley State will offer a video stream ($6.99) and free live stats at fvsusports.com.

Last year, Benedict defeated Fort Valley State 28-14 to start the season 3-1 for the first time since 2003. The Tigers will be looking to start 3-1 in back-to-back seasons for the first time since resuming football in 1995.

The 0-2 Wildcats started out last year 1-6, including the loss to Benedict, but won their final three regular season games to win the SIAC East Division title. In the conference championship game, Fort Valley State beat Kentucky State 33-30 for their 12^th title in school history and first since 1999.

Benedict head coach Mike White is not underestimating the winless Wildcats. Against Miles last week, the Wildcats finished with 325 yards of total offense, but fumbled at the goal line and threw three interceptions.

"They're a typical Fort Valley team with a good defense and fast guys," White said. "They've got a pretty good and big front. Offensively, they give you the full range of vertical and horizontal with the outside running and the deep passes. For us, we've got to play good pass defense."

Last year, the Wildcats threw for 257 yards against the Tigers in Columbia and return quarterback Domontay Jones. This year, Jones has been backing up junior Slade Jarmon, a transfer from Mississippi Valley State. Jarmon has completed 20-of-39 passes for 243 yards in his first two games, with no touchdowns and two interceptions.

White said the Tigers will be focusing on stopping the Fort Valley State passing game.

"We gave up a few plays last year to Fort Valley. They hit us with quite a few yards in the passing game, so we look for them to come at us," White said. "We just need our pass rush, make sure we've got this quarterback in the pocket, and make sure we're on our man."

For the Tigers, White wants to see Benedict establish some consistency after last week's fourth-quarter rally to beat Lane. Through the first three games, Benedict is averaging 186 yards rushing per game. Benedict's stout defense ranks fourth in the nation and first in the SAIC in sacks per game (4.67). White also wants to see the Tigers improve on third down on offense, where they have converted 12-of-33 attempts (36.4 percent), while allowing opponents to convert on 40.8 percent of their third-down attempts.

"The key word is being consistent," White said. "Running the ball, blocking, tackling, just executing, not turning the ball over, just playing good football and I think we'll be fine. But I think they'll be pumped up and ready for us.

"It is really trying to get something going here and consistency. Some things we can count on, improve on our third downs, red zone scoring, red zone defense, tackling on the perimeter, just trying to execute and get off the field on third down and extend our drives. If I had to say one thing, it would be the third down both ways, offensively and defensively."

White said this is a big week for the Tigers as it is their first overnight road trip and their first game that counts toward the SIAC championship race. And he knows the Wildcats will be hungry to win their first game of the season.

"I'm pretty sure they'll be fired up and looking to come at us," White said.