COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Benedict College Tigers have had two weeks to prepare for their biggest game of the season, a Homecoming contest against Miles College.

The Tigers (0-4 overall, 0-2 SIAC) are still searching for their first win, and a victory on Homecoming would be especially sweet. The Tigers will have a tough task, facing the defending SIAC champion Golden Bears (4-1 overall, 2-0 SIAC). The game will be streamed by FloSports here (monthly subscription required). Kickoff is 2 p.m. in Charlie W. Johnson Stadium.

Despite Miles being a member of the SIAC and the defending SIAC champions, this game will not count in the conference standings for either team.

Benedict had a bye week last week and haven't played since the humbling 50-16 loss against Fort Valley State in the HBCU Upstate Classic in Greenville. S.C. The Tigers are anxious to return to action and have used the two weeks to go back and fix some of the costly mistakes that have plagued the team through the first four games.

"We tried to go back and looked at our past games and some of the things we haven't done well and tried to take some extra time and go back to the classroom, walkthroughs, and get down the things we are misfiring on," said Benedict head coach Mike White. "That's going to be key against a good team like this, because they will hit all your weaknesses if you allow them to."

White said a key will be for the Tigers to come out of the locker room and play well from the start. Benedict has been outscored 83-37 in the first half so far this season, while in the second half have played teams closer, being outscored 57-45.

"We've been working on our special teams, our coverage, our run defense, we've been working trying to run the ball," White said. "Again, for us, it's the little details that count a lot, especially when you are playing against good teams. The third quarter, we seem to play a little better, but we haven't played well coming out. That's what we're going to have to do against Miles, is play a good first quarter, and hopefully continue that throughout the game."

The Golden Bears are averaging 37.4 points per game and average more than 209 yards rushing per game, and another 222 yards passing per game. Miles also has last year's SIAC Defensive Player of the Year, Austin Stephens, leading the defense which is holding opponents to 40 yards rushing per game.

"It is kind of hard to say where they are weak at," White said. "They play extremely hard and are very fast. They run the ball, they throw the ball, and they are probably the top offense in the conference. And defensively, they are very fast and just play good football. They are a well-coached team. Again, we are just going to have to match that and be able to execute for a chance to be successful here at Homecoming."

The Tigers will have the extra incentive of playing in front of the large Homecoming crowd.

"It's an exciting week because it is Homecoming," White said. "It's a big matchup against a very good team, probably the best team in the conference. It is good we had the open week. We are healthy and ready to go, and we are going to need to play our best game to match up with this team.

"I think it's going to be an exciting Homecoming. We have quite a few seniors and this is their last Homecoming, and you can tell by the way they are practicing and pushing their teammates, they are looking forward to this. It should be a good crowd and should be a good, exciting game."