ROME, Ga. –
Corion Powers scored on a 19-yard interception return with three minutes left to play as the 22
nd-ranked Benedict College Tigers survived a high-scoring fourth quarter to take a 24-20 victory over the Shorter Hawks on Saturday afternoon in Benedict's first football game without former Director of Athletics
Willie Washington in the stands.
"I was just happy to get the win. We dedicated the game to Coach Washington and his family and everything else. And it was a long week, you know, for everybody," Benedict head coach
Ron Dickerson Jr. said. "It was a very emotional week. It was a long trip up here, and then it was hot. You know, we just had a lot of things going on, and we had to focus in. The defense did well, and special teams did well. Offensively, we struggled. Then we had some good moments. After halftime, I said, we need to score offense, defense, and get some big plays on special teams, and they stepped up and they did that."
Benedict's
Christopher Johnson scored on a two-yard run early in the second quarter to give Benedict a 7-0 lead. The game was delayed about 45 minutes late in the second quarter due to lightning in the area. The score remained 7-0 at the half and at the end of the third quarter before the two teams combined for 37 fourth-quarter points.
A late third-quarter fumble by the Tigers gave the Hawks, 1-1, the ball at the Benedict 14-yard line. On the first play of the fourth quarter, the Hawks scored on a 5-yard pass to tie the score.
After a 40-yard kickoff return by
Chris Butler gave the Tigers the ball at the 50-yard line, the Tigers had a 42-yard touchdown pass from
Jett Peddy to
Tamyrion "TJ" Hatch called back due to a holding penalty. Later, a 16-yard run by
David Smith into the end zone was brought back due to another penalty. The Tigers did capitalize on the drive with a 34-yard field goal by
Zane Spires to make it 10-7 with 10:49 remaining.
Two big runs gave the Hawks a first-and-goal at the Benedict 8-yard line, but the Tiger defense kept the Hawks out of the end zone and they missed a 22-yard field goal.
A 69-yard pass from Peddy to Hatch then put the Tigers up 17-7.
The Hawks converted on third-and-10 with a 44-yard pass, then scored on a 19-yard pass to cut the lead to 17-14 with 5:29 left to play.
After a 49-yard Benedict punt by
Garrett Hyder pinned the Hawks down at their own 10-yard line,
Corion Powers, who was named Defensive MVP of last week's victory over Johson C. Smith, picked off a Shorter pass and returned it 19 yards for a touchdown. That made it 24-20 with 2:58 left to play. Powers finished with 11 total tackles.
"CP's been playing really good, and did what he was supposed to do at the right spot, and at the right time," Dickerson said. "Anytime you can score on defense or special teams, that really helps put you in a great situation to win."
Shorter drove the field in just over a minute, scoring on a four-yard pass with 1:33 remaining. The Tigers blocked the extra point to make it 24-20. The Tigers had the ball for just 27 seconds, and the Hawks got the ball back with one minute left. After picking up one first down, the Hawks ran out of time and a fourth-down pass was incomplete.
Peddy went 15-for-30 for 197 yards and one touchdown. Hatch was his top target, hauling in four passes for 124 yards.
David Smith rushed for 86 yards on 15 carries.
"I want to thank all the fans," Dickerson said. "I think we had more fans than they did, and they were loud and exciting. And I just want to thank everybody that came and supported Benedict. That was very meaningful for our team."
The Tigers are on the road again next week when they open SIAC play at Fort Valley State. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
