COLUMBIA, S.C. – There's nothing better than Homecoming on an HBCU campus. The parties, reunions, banquets, tailgating and concerts are all an important part of the HBCU culture. But the alumni, many of whom only return one weekend a year, are also anxious to cheer on the football team to victory.
 
The Benedict Tigers will look to do just that for the Tiger faithful when they take on Virginia University of Lynchburg on Saturday. Kickoff from Charlie W. Johnson Stadium is 2 p.m. Tickets are available at benedicttickets.com. The game can be viewed on the SIAC network. Live stats are available here.
 
The Tigers will be looking to get back in the win column after falling to Albany State last week. They will take on a VUL Dragons team that competes in the National Christian College Athletic Association in all sports except football, and as an independent in football. The Dragons are 3-6 overall, but 0-6 against NCAA teams, losing in those games by an average of 36.8 points.
 
In their game last week against NCAA Division II Livingstone, the Blue Bears rushed for 207 yards and held the Dragons to just 15 yards rushing.
 
Still, Benedict head coach Ron Dickerson Jr. says the Tigers can't take the Dragons for granted. VUL threw for 222 yards, and intercepted a pair of Livingstone passes on defense last week.
 
"They're a very good and sound football team," Dickerson said. "When you play up (in division), and you play a team that's as good or better than you, you have to play your best. I think they just got wore down. But they're going to come in and they're going to be excited. Anytime you play someone for Homecoming, they want to beat you. So we're going to have to work hard."
 
Despite last week's setback, the Tigers are still in contention for a berth in the SIAC championship game in two weeks. And Benedict is ranked in the top 10 in NCAA Super Region Two, which could mean a third trip to the NCAA playoffs in the past four years. So the Tigers have plenty of incentives to avoid the upset.
 
"It's an opportunity for us to get back on track against a good football team coming in here," Dickerson said.
 
In addition to being Homecoming, the final home game of the season also means it is Senior Day. The Tigers will honor 14 seniors at halftime.