Benedict had just 34 yards of total offense in the first half, but played much better in the second half and finished with 269 yards of offense.
Benedict fell to 2-3 overall and 0-2 in the SIAC. Miles improved to 2-3 and 1-1 in the SIAC.
Quarterback Cameron Stover completed 28 of 46 passes for 262 yards and one touchdown, a 26-yard throw to Kendariss Brown early in the fourth quarter. Brown led the Benedict receivers with nine catches for 124 yards.
Benedict’s only score in the first half came on a 73-yard return by Zeffery Clark Jr. after a blocked field goal by Christopher Crosby.
Evan Pegues led the Benedict defense with 16 total tackles, including 5.5 tackles for loss for -12 yards.
The Golden Bears scored on their first possession, going 77 yards on eight plays. The scoring play was a 37-yard pass from Demetric Price to Antonio Pitts.
Benedict came up with a big defensive stop on the Golden Bears’ next series. Miles had a first-and-goal from the 8 and picked up seven yards on first down. The Tigers stuffed Miles for a two-yard loss on second down. After an incomplete pass, the Bears went for it on fourth down from the three, and LaMarcus Hudson and Kelvin McCollum stopped Jonathan Clark for a two-yard loss.
The Bears went 65 yards on nine plays for their next score, giving Miles a 14-0 lead. Price ran a quarterback keeper from the 1. The key play in the drive was a 16-yard pass on third-and-seven.
Benedict cut the lead to 14-6 when Miles’ Nick Christiansen attempted a 50-yard field goal. Crosby blocked the kick, and Clark picked up the loose ball and raced 73 yards for the score. Tory Mimbs missed the extra point.
After a punt and a penalty, the Tigers took over on their next series from their own 1-yard line. On the first play, a high snap to Stover resulted in a safety, giving Miles a 16-6 lead. The Bears took the ensuing possession and went 52 yards on seven plays for another score, a two-yard run by Jamarcus Hill, to give Miles a 23-6 lead at the half. Hill led the Golden Bears with 125 yards rushing on 25 carries.
After Benedict cut the lead to 23-13 on Brown’s 26-yard touchdown catch with 14:46 left in the game, the Tigers threatened on their next possession, driving to the Miles 14-yard line. But the drive stalled there, and Mimbs attempted a 31-yard field goal, but never got the kick off because of a bad snap.
Benedict will be home on Sept. 11 against Stillman.
Courtesy: Benedict Sports Information
