INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Benedict Tigers bring their high-octane offense to a big stage, as they take on Kentucky State University Saturday in the Circle City Classic in Lucas Oil Stadium.

Kickoff is 3 p.m. There is no live stream. Live stats will be available here.

In just three games, new coach Chennis Berry has unleashed an explosive, big-play offense. The Tigers lead the SIAC and rank among the Division 2 national leaders in several offensive categories, including total offense, pass efficiency, passing offense, and scoring.

And Benedict will get the opportunity to show off that offense in front of a big crowd in the largest arena they will play in this year. Lucas Oil Stadium, home to the Indianapolis Colts, is a 720-million architectural masterpiece with an exterior façade of nearly one million bricks with a retractable roof and large operable windows on the east and west ends. It has been named the NFL's top stadium several times since opening in 2008.

"This is an awesome opportunity for our players to experience playing in an NFL venue, one of the top venues in all the NFL. Any time our young men can get a chance to experience something like that, I think it's amazing."

And Berry is hoping his team can handle the bright lights and big stage of playing in Lucas Oil Stadium.
"Like I told them earlier, the field is still 100 yards long, 53 and a third wide. It's still football. We've got to go out and execute."

Benedict, 2-1, will be looking to rebound after last week's heartbreaking 41-34 loss to Savannah State and will be facing another team that relies heavily on a punishing ground game.

"Every week our objective is to be 1-0," Berry said. "We're up here to see if we can put a full game together and go back to Columbia, South Carolina 1-0."

Kentucky State, 1-2, led the SIAC in rushing offense in 2019, and kicked off this season where they left off, rushing for over 300 yards against Central State. Benedict gave up 284 yards rushing last week to Savannah State.

"Our defensive staff has put together a good game plan," Berry said. "We're going to try to slow down their rushing attack and like anything, we've got to execute the plan. The plan is one thing, but execution of the plan is another."

After Saturday, the Tigers return home for a conference meeting with Fort Valley State Oct. 2 with a 2 p.m. kickoff.