Benedict, Albany State to Battle For SIAC East Crown in Augusta

COLUMBIA, S.C. (Benedict) – The Benedict College Tigers are one game away from completing an amazing worst to first turnaround.

Benedict will take on Albany State on Saturday in Augusta, Ga., in the annual Augusta City Classic at 2 p.m. at Lucy Laney High School. The winner will claim the SIAC East Division title and advance to the SIAC Championship game in Montgomery, Ala., on Nov. 12.

“I just think it’s a great opportunity for us,” said Benedict head coach Mike White. “This is what we hope as we move along with the program, that you’re playing games that mean something at this time of the year. For us, after the tough season we had last year, to come back and be in this game is just a good opportunity. I’m looking forward to seeing how we react Saturday and how we respond.”

The Tigers went winless in 2015, and even early this season White wasn’t convinced this year’s team was ready to challenge for a championship. But the Tigers have steadily improved throughout the season with a dominating defense and a strong running game.

“We have grown through the season. To be in this situation at this time, it came a lot faster than I thought,” White said. “I didn’t think early in the year that we would be in this situation, but it’s great to be here, so let’s learn and let’s make the best of it.”

Benedict is 4-4 overall and 3-2 in SIAC play. The Tigers are 2-1 against SIAC East Division opponents, with the one loss coming against Clark Atlanta. Albany State comes into the contest with a 4-3 overall record, 3-1 in the SIAC and 2-0 in the SIAC East, with another Eastern game next week against Fort Valley State.

The Golden Rams have played in four of the last five SIAC championship games since the league moved to an East/West format, winning the title in 2013. Overall, Albany State has won 14 SIAC championships since 1984. Benedict has never won an SIAC football championship, nor advanced to the SIAC title game.

“I know how they’re coached, I know how they work down there and I know they’re hungry for another championship,” White said about Albany State, where he coached for 30 years as an assistant and head coach. “I hope this team gets to that one day. To be the beast of the East, you’ve got to whup Albany.”

Albany State has won three games in a row after starting the season 1-3. The Golden Rams rank third in the SIAC in total offense, averaging 335.6 yards per game. Traditionally, the Golden Rams have been a strong defensive team with a power running game, the blueprint of Mike White‘s six SIAC championships while with Albany State which he has brought to Benedict. The Golden Rams average 118.9 yards rushing, but have added a potent passing game to their offense under second-year coach Dan Land. The Golden Rams average 216.7 yards passing. Quarterback Caleb Edwards is second in the SIAC in passing, and is also the team’s leading rusher, averaging 41 yards per game on the ground. Running back Jarvis Small was the SIAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2015, but is averaging just 35 yards per game rushing this year.

“He is having an incredible year,” White said of Edwards. “I’ve been impressed with Caleb. He’s got great pocket presence, the way he makes plays running and throwing has been very impressive. I always knew Small and the running game was good, but to see him in the passing game makes them a very tough opponent.”

And as good as Benedict is at stopping the run on defense, allowing just 98 yards per game to rank 18^th nationally, the Golden Rams are even better. Albany State leads the SIAC and is ranked third nationally allowing just 79 yards per game. That will be a key factor for the Tigers and running back and Augusta native George Myers Jr., who is averaging 105 yards per game.

“They are a very good defensive team,” White said. “We have our work cut out for us. We’re going to have to run the ball. We’re going to have to complete some passes, but the running game is where we’ve had some success offensively, and they’re a very tough team to run on.”

And Albany State has had Benedict’s number over the years. Since Benedict resumed football in 1995, Albany State has a 13-1 lead in the series, with the two teams playing every year since 2002. Benedict’s only win in the series came in 2008, a 13-10 victory. Albany State has won the last five meetings by an average of 22 points.

“Albany was, and still is, a good football team. That’s what we’re trying to build to, to be that type of team,” White said. “The main word you talk about is being consistent, being there year in and year out. That’s what we’re hoping to build here.”