The Benedict Tigers retained their title of the last remaining undefeated team in HBCU football, eking out a 14-7 win over the Fort Valley State Wildcats.
Benedict improves to 5-0 in SIAC play with the win (6-0 overall), becoming one of two teams remaining in the SIAC with an unblemished conference record as a result of Edward Waters’ loss to Kentucky State.
This game marks the second time this season Benedict has come away victorious despite being outgained by its opponent (Fayetteville State), recording a season-low 169 offensive yards to Fort Valley State’s 222.
Tigers’ wide receiver Jaxon Williams put the first points on the board on the first touch of the game, taking the opening kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown.
With a chance to match Benedict score for score, Fort Valley State’s offense stepped on the field and moved the ball efficiently to its opponent’s side of the field.
However, with the Wildcats just outside the red zone, the Tigers’ defense stepped up to record two big sacks, including one on fourth down to get off the field.
Benedict’s pass rush was a common theme in this game, forcing a season-high 6.0 sacks in addition to the two to end this drive.
In the past three games, the Tigers have recorded 16.0 total sacks, up from just 4.0 through their first three games.
From there, the game devolved into a defensive chess match with both offenses combining for just four first downs over the next seven possessions.
Fort Valley State broke the scoring drought in the second quarter, driving the ball 93 yards downfield for the longest drive of the game, culminating in a 46-yard touchdown connection from Don Hudson to J.T. Pendleton.
After combining for just 24 yards over the next six offensive possessions, Benedict put itself back in the lead with a 71-yard drive, dominated by the run game.
Converting a fourth-down past midfield, the Tigers eventually got the ball inside the 30, turning in a go-ahead 29-yard pass touchdown from Darius Ocean to Jaxon Williams.
This turned out to be the game-winning score as Benedict would eventually clinch the win with an interception by Isaiah Stephens, followed by a third-down conversion on the ensuing offensive possession to secure the win officially.
With an opportunity to end the regular season undefeated for the third time in the past four years, Benedict begins a two-week gauntlet, facing a pair of teams at the top of the standings in the SIAC.
The first contest sees them taking a trip to Jacksonville, Florida, for a matchup against Edward Waters.
