Tigers Look To Keep Running Against Fort Valley State
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Benedict College Tigers will look to get off to their best start since the 2003 season when they take on the Fort Valley State University Wildcats in a key SIAC East Division game on Saturday at 6 p.m. in Charlie W. Johnson Stadium.
The Tigers, 2-1 overall and 1-0 in the SIAC, have not had a 3-1 start since the 2003 season.
Since Mike White’s arrival on the Benedict campus in December of 2014, he has been preaching the importance of having a strong defense and a powerful running game, the two main components of his championship teams while at Albany State. The Tigers have established themselves defensively this season, and last week exploded with a running game that produced a modern-era school record 236-yard performance by George Myers Jr.
Benedict ranks 17th in NCAA Division II in total defense, allowing 270 yards per game. Their rushing defense also ranks in the top 20 nationally, while their scoring defense, allowing teams just 9.3 points per game, ranks first in the SIAC and fourth nationally.
The Tigers are also coming off a 42-6 victory over Central State where they amassed 333 total rushing yards, the seventh-best single-game output in the team’s modern history since resuming football in 1995. The defense also scored two touchdowns on interception returns.
“What I believe in is us being consistent. That’s being able to run the football and playing defense,” White said. “We’ve been able to put a couple of games together where we’ve played pretty good defense. That has to continue for us to be successful. That’s all we talk about, us being a good, sound defensive football team. And the running game is also a part of being a good defensive team, because you’re keeping the other on the bench, you’re ball controlling, your time of possession is up and you’re limiting how many times they touch the ball. So to be able to run the ball like we want to, that means the offensive line is being physical up front and opening up some holes and we’re getting some first downs. I think for a team that’s as young as we are and in our current status as a program, that’s really key for us are those two things.”
Myers has been a jack-of-all-trades during his time at Benedict, serving as a return specialist on kickoffs and punts, playing running back and wide receiver, and even took a turn at quarterback last year. The goal coming into this season was to try and get Myers the ball and let him use his speed and cutting ability to make big plays. Last week against Central State, Myers had three runs of 50 yards or more.
“Last week, we discovered a running game,” White said. “And what a great day by George. We need to see some more of that.”
After last week’s rushing effort alone, Myers already ranks fourth in the SIAC in rushing. And White plans to continue to ride the hot hand and use Myers as the feature running back, while Jeremy Johnson (54 yards on 16 carries last week) continues to provide a change of pace to bulldoze through the defense. Raheem Jennings is also available after missing the last few games with an injury. Jevric Blocker also provided 21 yards on six carries last week.
“Last week, it wasn’t so much how many carries he had, but so many big plays he had,” White said of Myers. “As long as he’s hot, he’s going to carry it. When he needs a little breather, we’ll give him that, but he is the number one runner for us right now. For us to be successful, we need him to continue with those type of games.”
The Wildcats come into Saturday’s contest with a 1-2 overall record and 1-1 in the SIAC. Fort Valley is coming off a 37-31 triple overtime victory over Clark Atlanta last week. Quarterback Domontay Jones averages 175 yards through the air. His favorite target is Otis Brown, who already had five touchdown catches. Defensively, the Wildcats lead the nation with nine interceptions, with Brian Walker leading the team with three picks, including returning two back for touchdowns.
“Fort Valley’s got a lot of playmakers offensively, a lot of athletes on defense, they play very fast,” White said. “We’ve got to play winning football, meaning not turning the ball over, not penalizing ourselves and putting ourselves in bad down and distance. If we do that, I think we’ll be OK Saturday.”
