Benedict unleashed a torrent of big plays for four quarters to beat Clark Atlanta 59-24 and stay unbeaten in the SIAC.
These Tigers are not the same Tigers that started the season. Scoring 94 points in two weeks after scoring 20 in the first two weeks is beyond wild.
“We have to win together,” said Tigers Head Coach Ron Dickerson, Jr. “If all three of us (special teams, offense, and defense) win, we win together.” The Tigers did just that, scoring in all three phases of the game.
It was special teams that gave the Tigers their first points of the game. Jaxon Williams took the opening kick and raced 92 yards down the Panthers’ sideline for a touchdown. Benedict special teams 7, Clark Atlanta 0.
Williams added another touchdown later in the quarter on a 42-yard reception courtesy of Darius Ocean. Tigers offense 14, Panthers 3.
Jaikob Douglas and Sean Treasure came up with a huge stop, tackling David Smith short of the first down and turning Benedict over on downs for the first time in the game. Quarterback Xzavier Jackson, starting in place of injured starter Zy McDonald, capitalized on the energy transfer, completing two big passes and moving the Panthers to midfield.
Just when it looked like Clark Atlanta was going to march down the field, Benedict’s defense played spoiler. Ty’Metrius Patterson strip-sacked Jackson of the ball. Defensive end Israel Nwokocha scooped up the loose ball in stride and sprinted for a 27-yard score. Tigers defense 7, Panthers 0
Jackson responded with a 46-yard touchdown strike to Chry’shawn Sellers. Tigers offense 14, Panthers 10.
A second big stand by the defense gave the Panthers offense another opportunity to cut into the lead. And cut they did. Jackson dropped a beauty into Sellers’ hands for a 70-yard touchdown. Tigers offense 14, Panthers 17
Benedict’s secondary was a point of emphasis at practice this week in Columbia after Tuskegee lit it up for three plays of 25 or more yards. “We had a lot of mistakes,” said Dickerson, Jr. “Had a lot of dumb penalties. I don’t know what’s going on back in South Carolina with Mother Nature, but we are going to take this ride back. We gonna enjoy it, but tomorrow we are right back on it.”
Clark Atlanta added another score to cut the lead to five courtesy of their special teams. The Panthers’ all-hands team recovered the onside of the ensuing kick at the Tigers’ 35-yard line. On first-and-20 from the Tigers’ 29, Jackson hit Ronnie West in stride at the two for a touchdown. The freshman quarterback had a nice stat line: 28 of 47 for 388 yards and three touchdowns.
Tigers offense 14, Panthers offense 24.
Unfortunately for the Panthers, it was their last score of the game. Benedict, on the other hand, was far from finished. They responded to the Panthers’ score in less than 14 seconds. Ocean found former 2024 starting quarterback Charles Simmons on a crossing route at the 31-yard line. Simmons turned on the jets for a 67-yard touchdown.
Tigers offense 24, Panthers offense 24
The Tigers came out of the halftime break on fire. Running back Triston Morgan burst through the left side of the line for a 75-yard touchdown. Morgan finished the day with 112 yards on 8 carries.
Tigers offense 31, Panthers offense 24
Benedict’s defense scored the last two touchdowns. Terence Brown scored the first by jumping the route on the short pass intended for Shemar Nelson. The local product from Langston Hughes had nothing but 18 yards of green red turf between him and the end zone.
Less than three minutes later, Patterson set up the Tigers’ third defensive touchdown. The human wrecking ball was unable to play in the first four games. The redshirt junior made up for it big time, strip-sacking Jackson again. And for the second time, the play allowed a teammate a scoop and score opportunity. Linebacker Isaiah Stephens scooped the ball up and celebrated as an entourage of Tigers escorted him to the end zone. “I had to make up for what I missed,” said Patterson about his play.
Tigers Offense 31 + Defense 21 + Special Teams 7 = 59.
What’s Next
Benedict will face their neighbor, Allen University, in the battle for Columbia, SC. Clark Atlanta has the week off to reset before they travel south to face Albany State.