The Benedict Tigers began week four of the 2025 HBCU football season with a clinical performance, knocking off Tuskegee 45-24 to maintain an unblemished record.
In addition to its win in the 2022 SIAC championship game, this marks the first time in school history Benedict has beaten Tuskegee in consecutive meetings.
This is also the third time in the past four seasons Benedict has started a season 3-0 (ended the regular season with a perfect 10-0 record in previous two instances).
In his first start at quarterback for Benedict, Johnson C. Smith transfer Darius Ocean delivered 213 passing yards, completing 19-of-29 pass attempts, and scoring four touchdowns.
Malaqhi Jones led the team with 90 receiving yards on five receptions and a touchdown while Troy Hillman caught two touchdowns for the Tigers.
Benedict defensive lineman Israel Nwokocha anchored the Tigers’ defense with eight tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss, and 1.0 sacks.
Tuskegee wide receiver EJ Hall was the team’s top performer, hauling in four receptions for 80 yards, and accounting for the team’s two receiving touchdowns.
Offense? Yeah, we’ve got that too. 🔥
Your Benedict Tigers are 3-0!#TigersWin #TheBestofBc #BenedictFootball pic.twitter.com/2QwkwDgZqi
— BC Tigers Athletics (@benedict_tigers) September 19, 2025
The Golden Tigers’ offense set the tone on the first offensive possession of the game, carving up the Benedict defense with a balanced offensive attack, capping a 96-yard drive with a 32-yard touchdown pass.
This served as the first touchdown the Benedict has surrendered this season thus far, having recorded 10-0 shutouts in its first two victories over Fayetteville State and Central State, respectively.
Benedict would immediately respond with a touchdown drive of its own, with a 50-yard pass from Ocean to Jones setting the Tigers up inside the red zone, then capitalizing with a two-yard touchdown pass two plays later.
After being forced to punt on their next offensive possession, the Tigers inadvertently set Tuskegee up with a short field that would lead to a 20-yard pass connection from Raequan Beal to Hall, giving them a 14-7 lead.
In the second quarter, the Benedict offense began to click, scoring 21 unanswered points in the period to take a 28-17 lead into the half.
The Tigers benefited from multiple Tuskegee penalties, being flagged for pass interference four times in the second quarter, including three times on the final drive of the half that set up a touchdown before time expired.
Tuskegee was never able to regain any momentum to give itself a chance to win the game, with its only two drives crossing midfield ending in an interception by Cam Williams and a turnover on downs.
On the other hand, Benedict would score a pair of insurance touchdowns to create further separation, putting the exclamation point on its victory.
