Benedict Faces Gardner-Webb Saturday

COLUMBIA, S.C. (Benedict) – The turnaround for the Benedict College Tigers this season can be attributed to a dramatic improvement on the defensive side of the ball.

A year ago, the Tigers gave up an average of 400 yards of offense to opposing teams, and more than 214 yards rushing per game. Both those numbers ranked near the bottom of all 168 NCAA Division II football playing teams. This year, however, the Tigers have slashed those numbers, and are allowing just 269 yards of offense per game, and a paltry 64 yards rushing per game. That first number ranks 13^th best in Division II, while the yards rushing figure is the fourth best in the country. Benedict also ranks in the top 10 nationally in scoring defense (allowing 10.5 points per game), team sacks (4^th in NCAA Division II) and passes intercepted, where they have already surpassed last year’s 10-game total in just four games. A year ago, Benedict ranked dead last in kickoff return defense, allowing opponents more than 28 yards per return. This season, the Tigers rank third in the nation.

Benedict head football coach Mike White said the difference this year is a combination of things, including a tough offseason conditioning program and the addition of some key players, including linebacker Kendrick Frazier and the two safeties – freshman Robert Cummings and junior Edward Kirkland – as well as a team commitment to stopping opponents from running the ball.

“They help settle us down in the coverage,” White said of the two safeties. “So you don’t see as many big plays. And everybody’s committed to slowing the run down. That’s what I like. That’s what the defense is supposed to be about – stopping them from running the ball and forcing it in the air. And we’ve been pretty successful with that kind of plan. That’s probably where the basis of the success of the defense is, slowing the run down.”

The Tiger defense will be put to the test this Saturday when Benedict travels to Boiling Springs, N.C., to take on the Runnin’ Bulldogs of Gardner-Webb University. Gardner-Webb is a member of the Big South Conference and competes at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision level.

“This is a whole new animal. This is a lot tougher for us,” White said. “With the option game they have, with the receiver, quarterback and back they have, and a really, really good offensive line, it’s going to make it tough for us.”

The Runnin’ Bulldogs definitely live up to their name, averaging 253.3 yards on the ground per game. Khalil Lewis averages 102.5 yards per game and an impressive 5.3 yards per rush. Quarterback Tyrell Maxwell is second on the team in rushing, averaging 80 yards per game on the ground in addition to 119.5 yards passing per game. Tight end Mike Estes leads the team in receptions and is the Big South Conference record-holder for career receptions by a tight end.

“Gardner-Webb is a zone read option team and they’ve got a lot of playmakers,” White said. “That means we’ve got to show what kind of defense we are to slow them down. They’ve got a lot of different little wiggles to what they do and they make you read the option responsibility sound to stop them. That’s our task this week, to see how sound we are as a defense.”

Gardner-Webb has struggled on the defensive side of the ball, giving up an average of 477.3 yards per game and 29.5 points per game. They have also played up a level, and are coming off a 37-21 loss to FBS member Ohio. They gave up 690 yards to Western Carolina, including 427 yards through the air.

“We do know they look fast and they look strong and you know you have to match that to stay with them or it could get ugly fast,” White said. “I think the biggest thing is for us to not get too caught up in what level of ball it is and just play football.”

To pull off the upset, White said the Tigers will have to rely on their defense and play error-free football.

“If we can block them and stay mistake-free and assignment-sound up front (on the offensive line), I think we can hang with them,” White said. “But that has to happen the whole game. We can’t get out of whack and not be where we’re supposed to be or not do what we’re supposed to do.”

DEFENSIVE TURNAROUND