COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Benedict College Tigers kick off the 2018 football season with some very high expectations, and will be tested early against a very good Florida Tech team on Saturday night in Charlie W. Johnson Stadium.

Kickoff is 6 p.m. A live video stream is available here, and live stats are available here. Tickets are $15.

"It feels great to finally kick off the season," Benedict head coach Mike White said. "There's a lot of excitement around our program. I think our guys have worked very hard this summer and preseason to get ready for this game. And what a big game to start off with."

Florida Tech went 5-6 overall last season and 3-5 in the ultra-competitive Gulf South Conference. The high-powered offense averaged more than 370 yards per game last year, and returns 1,000-yard rusher Antwuan Haynes, while wide receiver Romell Guerrier had 500 receiving yards. The defense is anchored by All-American defensive end Adonis Davis, who set the school record for tackles for loss (19) and sacks (7.5) in a single season.

"Our tackles have to do a really good job, period," White said. "Those guys on the line have to be solid all year long for us to give Dominique what he needs and give the backs what they need. It's going to come down to them, so they're going to have to do a good job against a very good defensive line this week."

The Tigers are looking to improve on last season's impressive record. Benedict went 7-2 overall, with both losses coming on the road in overtime. They went undefeated in five home games, and won with a dominating defense. Benedict ranked fifth in NCAA DII in total defense (270.2); fourth in team sacks (3.67 per game); second in team tackles for loss (10.3 per game); first in first down defense (148); eighth in rushing defense (88.8 ypg); and 16th in scoring defense (17.2 ppg). And Benedict returns seven starters off that defensive squad.

"The defense is definitely our strength," White said. "I know for a fact that the front four we have is as good as any team in this conference and probably anybody we'll face. That front four is that good. I don't know if I've ever said that about a front four I've coached before. That's how good this group is. I look for big things out of them. They understand what we are expecting them to do."

The Tigers return starters Charles Williams, Wendell Bing and Rickym Holmes on the front, and add 6-foot-6, 385-pound Joshua Siaosi to clog up the middle. Siaosi was moved from the offensive line in the spring and has flourished on the defensive side now. All three linebackers return in Shaquille Husser, Amari Andrews and Xavier George, who led the Tigers with 48 total tackles last season.

Safety Robert Cummings and cornerback Traviontae Brown return to the secondary, while the other spots will be filled with a mixture of veterans and freshmen. "We have some younger guys who have come along and done a good job back there," White said.

One of the biggest questions for the Tigers entering the season is the health of quarterback Dominique Harris. The big, strong-armed signal caller threw for 126 yards per game and rushed for 37 yards per game and eight touchdowns before going down with a season-ending knee injury halfway through the fifth game of the season last year.

White said Harris has been sharp in preseason workouts and he is excited to see him back on the field again.

"Dominique looks good, he looks very good," White said. "I was a little bit worried about him when practice started, would he be limping or show any signs of his injury. He's showed no signs of his injury at all. He's had a great offseason – studying and training. He's back and probably in better shape than he was last year, since he's had the extra time to concentrate on just being a better quarterback. So I look for him to have a good year."

And White said the Tigers may look to throw the ball more than in previous years with Harris at the helm and a slew of speedy receivers.

"I'm just excited about Dominique throwing the ball down the field. I think this is the best group of receivers that we've had, and this is my fourth year," White said. "That is going to be the wild card for us, are we going to be able to go down the field with the football? I look for Dominique to throw the ball and throw it well and I look for these guys to make plays. They've done it all camp, so I expect them to do it this year."

White said he doesn't have a lot of information about Florida Tech, but knows they will pose a tough challenge and wants to put on a good performance for the home crowd.

"They're very well coached, they do a good job of running the ball, they've got a little different scheme that we really don't see that often, and they do a good job of play-action passes," White said. "I'm just excited that this is our first home game. We played well at home last year and we want to keep that going. I do like the challenge that we have a tough team coming in here. I'm excited and the players are excited."