COLUMBIA – Since day one of the season, the mantra for the Benedict College Tigers has been to go 1-0 each day, each practice, each game. That philosophy takes on bigger meaning when the seventh-ranked and undefeated Tigers take on Wingate University in the second round of the NCAA Division II Football Championship.
 
"It started back in training camp. The 1-0 won't change. It was always important, but it's very, very important now because if you win, you keep playing. You lose, you go home," said Benedict head football coach Chennis Berry. "It's definitely a 1-0 mindset."
 
Kickoff is 1 p.m. from Charlie W. Johnson Stadium. Tickets are available here or will be on sale at the game. Parking is free for this game, although there is a charge for tailgate spots. The game will be available to watch on the HBCU League Pass Plus app, available on Amazon Firestick or Roku devices. The stream is also available here. Live stats will be available here or on the official NCAA page here.
 
The Tigers have not only made history with their best season in school history and first-ever playoff appearance, but will be proudly carrying the HBCU banner. Benedict is the only remaining HBCU team in the playoffs after two CIAA schools – Fayetteville State and Virginia Union – lost in the opening round.
 
The Tigers have an ultimate goal to make history as the first HBCU football team to win a Division II national championship. Since 2002, four D2 HBCU football teams have earned a No. 1 seed. Albany State did it twice – in 2004 and 2010 – losing in the region finals both years. Winston-Salem State, playing in a different region, was a No. 1 seed in 2011 and 2012. The Rams lost in the semifinals in 2011, then lost to Valdosta State in the national championship game in 2012. The last SIAC team to win a playoff game was Tuskegee in 2016. Since 2002, schools from the SIAC and CIAA have gone 15-34 in playoff games, while SIAC schools have gone 5-15.
 
"We want to represent HBCU football," Berry said. "We want to represent the SIAC conference. We feel we play some really good football. We've put ourselves in a position where we can compete nationally, and we want to prove our worth. It's important that when we come out on Saturday, we represent not only Benedict College, not only for the state of South Carolina, not only for the SIAC, but for the whole HBCU circuit."
 
The Tigers, 11-0 and owners of the nation's longest winning streak at 13 games dating back to last season, will be facing off against statistically the nation's best defense. Wingate, 10-2, ranks first in Division II in total defense, allowing opponents just 215.2 yards per game. They rank third in scoring defense, giving up 10.6 points per game. The Bulldogs have the SAC Defensive Player of the Year in DJ Horne. On offense, Benedict averages just under 400 yards per game at 393.8 and their 37.2 points per game ranks 13^th best in the country. Over their past four games, Benedict is averaging 49 points per game.
 
"They're a very, very good defense. But we'll be prepared. Our offensive guys have had a really good week of practice," Berry said. "We're going to execute our offense against what they do on defense. Ultimately, it's going to come down to the team that's able to run the football and the team that's able to stop the run."
 
Wingate will also be going up against a formidable defense. Benedict ranks fifth in total defense, allowing opponents 236.9 yards per game and fifth in scoring defense at 12 points per game. Benedict allows just 126.3 passing yards per game, best in Division II. Wingate's offense averages 332.3 yards per game and 25.8 points per game. Loobert Denelus was named the SIAC Defensive Player of the Year and leads NCAA Division II in sacks.
 
"We went 1-0 for 11 straight weeks. We're focused on going 1-0 again. We've got a good football team coming in here this weekend. We'll be locked and loaded and ready to go."
 
The winner will face the winner between Delta State and West Florida next week for the Super Region 2 championship.