COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Benedict College Tigers rushed for a season-high 301 yards and rebounded from their first loss of the season with a 31-3 victory over Clark Atlanta on Saturday at Charlie W. Johnson Stadium.
Christopher Johnson rushed for a season-high 111 yards on 14 carries and scored two touchdowns.
A'chean Durant rushed for a season-high 102 yards on just six carries, scoring on a 52-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
Benedict improves to 4-1 overall and 2-1 in the SIAC. Clark Atlanta dropped its third straight game and falls to 1-5 overall and 1-3 in the SIAC.
The Panthers scored first on a 37-yard field goal in the first quarter. On their second offensive series, Clark Atlanta got a 63-yard run by Trayvon Pinder for a first down at the Benedict 22 yard line.
Brent Clements tackled quarterback Kaleb Williams for a five-yard loss on third down to force the field goal attempt.
The Tigers took the lead early in the second quarter on a short 2-yard run by Johnson to cap off a 13-play, 67-yard drive that ate up more than five minutes off the clock.
The Tigers drove to the Clark 1-yard line on their next possession, but fumbled the ball and the Panthers recovered.
After a Clark Atlanta punt, the Tigers got the ball back one more time, converted on a third-and-13 play with a 17-yard pass to
Caleb Pearson and moved to the Clark 16-yard line. The drive stalled and
Zane Spires kicked a 33-yard field goal to make it 10-3 with 22 seconds left in the half.
Benedict took the second half kickoff and drove 74 yards on seven plays, with four plays for more than 10 yards.
Jett Peddy threw a 13-yard pass to
Curtis Favors Jr. in the end zone for the score and give the Tigers a 17-3 lead.
Joshua Lee intercepted a Clark Atlanta pass in the end zone to thwart a Panther drive.
Later in the third quarter, the Tigers put together an 86-yard drive on just eight plays, highlighted by a 32-yard pass from Peddy to
Demetris McKelvey, followed by a 29-yard run by Johnson to give the Tigers a 24-3 lead with 18 seconds left in the third quarter.
Lee intercepted his second CAU pass in the end zone to stop another Panther drive, and the quick-strike Tigers marched 80 yards on just four plays. Durant traveled all 80 yards on four carries, including the final 52-yard scoring jaunt that put the Tigers up 31-3 with 8:27 left in the game.
Kahmari Cook had nine tackles to lead the Benedict defense.
David Makonzo had six tackles and a pass breakup, while
Ethan Nation added six tackles and a quarterback hurry.
Benedict plays at Allen University next week, with the kickoff scheduled for 2 p.m. from Charles F. Bolden Stadium.
Curtis Favors Jr. makes a one-hand grab for a touchdown
against Clark Atlanta. Nathan Salley Photography
