COLUMBIA, S.C. – After a disappointing 0-2 start, the Benedict College Tigers are ready to regroup and start fresh with their first SIAC conference game on Saturday, taking on the Savannah State Tigers at 6 p.m. in the Augusta Classic at Lucy Laney High School stadium.

"It's a huge blow to us, being 0-2," said Benedict College head coach Mike White. "I think going into the conference schedule, where you haven't lost a game, is where we're trying to concentrate on, with Savannah and Fort Valley next, Miles and Albany State. Each game is going to get tougher and tougher, and we're going to have to show what we're made of if we want to be in the race at the end. And it starts with Savannah on Saturday."

The Tigers return to Augusta to take part in the Augusta Classic for the first time after a two-year hiatus. Benedict has lost the last six games in the Augusta Classic.

Benedict is coming off a 34-31 loss to Johnson C. Smith last week in their home debut. The Golden Bulls rushed for 278 yards in the game, including three long touchdown runs of more than 64 yards. BC's run defense will be put to the test again this week against a Savannah State (1-1) team that is averaging 340.5 yards per game on the ground.

"This will be a huge challenge for us," White said. "They have a huge run game. We're getting ready to go to the meat of our schedule. This is a tall test to try and slow them down a little bit. They are on a roll right now."

Savannah State rushed for 435 yards and six touchdowns in a 60-21 victory over Virginia Lynchburg last Saturday, with a pair of running backs crossing the 100-yard mark. Savannah State operates a potent option attack that will put the Benedict defense to the test.

"They are a great running team. They have a lot of speed with option. They've got a lot of playmakers, starting with their quarterback," White said. "They've just got a good offense, they really do. When you put 60 points up, you're pretty good."

White said the BC Tigers have been working hard to correct the mistakes from last week that allowed the Golden Bulls to run through the Benedict defense, scoring on runs of 83, 73 and 64 yards.

"When we go back and look at the film, we had four or five plays, I think they caught us where we were trying to play them a little different in passing situations. I think two of the touchdowns were third and long, and they actually hit us with running plays and caught us off guard right there," White said. "I think we'll come back and bounce back from that and tighten up. Because you have to against a strong running game like Savannah."

Savannah State returns to the SIAC after being a member of Division I MEAC for the past 18 years. Savannah State is returning to Division II and the SIAC. White said Savannah State still has plenty of Division I talent on the roster and expects a tough game on Saturday.

"Offensively, I thought we made some improvements from the first week. That's going to be a slow process each week with our young offensive line and trying to make small improvements each week. Their defense will put a lot of pressure on us and our young guys are going to have to play well and we're going to have to take care of the football against them."