FAIRFIELD, Ala. — Miles College rushed for 206 yards and gained 420 yards of offense to defeat the Benedict College Tigers 23-13 on Thursday night in the CBS Sports Network Division II Game of the Week.
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
