COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Benedict College Tigers travel to Atlanta to take on the Clark Atlanta Panthers in a key SIAC showdown and what could be a defensive showdown.

The game at CAU Panther Stadium kicks off at 2 p.m. The game is Clark Atlanta's Homecoming game and tickets are $30. A live stream on Flofootball is available here ($19.99 for monthly subscription).

Benedict, 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the SIAC, comes into the game with the second-ranked defense in NCAA Division II, allowing just 209.4 yards per game. The Panthers, 2-4 overall and 1-1 in the SIAC, are ranked third defensively in the SIAC and 18^th in the country, allowing 287.5 yards per game.

"They are a good defensive team," Benedict head coach Mike White said about the Panthers. "We're going to have to establish ourselves on the ground and we need to have an explosive play or two in terms of passing."

The Tigers average 137 yards per game on the ground. The Tigers will rotate a trio of running backs in Raheem Jennings, Trini Charlton and Phillip Brown, who is coming off a 91-yard performance last week against Virginia Lynchburg.

White wants to see the Tigers jump out quick and take control of the game from the start.

"I really do think that's the key," White said. "The better first quarter, the better first series we have coming on the field, that really kind of translates over to a good offensive day. It seems like the games that we've got out quick offensively, we've been pretty good. So I think that's key for us is to get off to a good start."

The Tigers will look to use the fourth-best run defense in the country to slow down the Panthers and running back Roger Thomas, who ranks second in the SIAC with an average of 75.7 yards per game. White expects the Panthers to rotate a pair of quarterbacks, including Elijah Odom, who ranks second on the team in rushing.

"They are a team that runs the ball well," White said. "They do have a really good running back. The quarterback is a good runner. I do know they are going to try and run the ball. Once again, we're going to have to play good rushing defense. Again, we need to be sound in what we do in terms of our assignments defensively."

Not only do the Tigers have a tough run defense, the Tigers have intercepted nine passes, including seven in the past two games. While Clark Atlanta has had success running the ball, the Panthers have thrown 12 interceptions and have turned the ball over 18 times so far this season.

Saturday's game marks a stretch of three key SIAC Eastern division opponents, and the Tigers know the importance of playing well over the next three weeks.

"It's important to stay focused on your opponent, and we know it's kind of hyped when you're talking about a conference game. We know what is at stake, but what we've been telling our players is to stay focused. Every game we play from now on is a big game, don't get too high and when we make a bad play, don't get too low. Stay focused and lets finish and play four quarters."

After this week, the Tigers return home for a Homecoming battle against Morehouse, which is undefeated heading into this weekend. After that, Benedict wraps up its home slate against Albany State.