Benedict edges Lane, 30-21
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COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Benedict College Tigers needed a big win against Lane College, so the Tigers used their big back offense to rally past the Dragons for a 30-21 victory Saturday night in Charlie W. Johnson Stadium.
Benedict trailed 21-20 heading into the fourth quarter, but went to their power running game with 270-pound sophomore running back Jeremy Johnson leading the charge. He gained 69 yards on four carries in the fourth quarter and finished the game with a season-high 77 yards on six carries and a touchdown that gave Benedict a 30-21 lead with 6:19 left in the game. Johnson’s backfield twin, 225-pound freshman Deville McClendon, had a season-high 59 yards on 10 carries and a touchdown. Benedict finished the game with 205 yards rushing on 35 attempts.
“It just kind of worked out that the bigger guys were running the ball more,” Benedict head coach Mike White said. “We thought we could run the ball on them. Hats off to the O-line and the running backs did a great job today.”
The Benedict defense held the Dragons to 56 net yards on 35 carries. Marcus Reynolds, the leading rushing in the SIAC last year, was held to 71 yards on eight carries.
“It was a great win for us. We were sweating it out there. Lane played us extremely tough. I thought we had a good first half offensively. I thought the defense played better in the second half. What a total game by our offense. It was probably the best I’ve seen them in a while being able to run and throw the ball.”
Benedict quarterback Dominique Harris completed 10-of-17 passes for 96 yards with no interceptions. Harris also scored two rushing touchdowns.
Benedict improved to 2-1 on the season. Lane fell to 1-2. Although Lane is a member of the SIAC, this game was not a countable contest towards the SIAC championship.
The Dragons scored on their first possession, with Thurston Rubin completing an 18-yard pass to Aaron Thomas for the score. The Tigers took the ensuing kickoff and drove 69 yards on eight plays to score on an 18-yard run by Harris.
After Benedict blocked a field goal attempt by the Dragons, the Tigers drove 78 yards on 12 plays to pull ahead. Harris scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak, but the extra point failed and Benedict took a 13-7 lead with 12:22 left in the first half.
A 34-yard punt return by Johnny Willis later in the second quarter set up another score for the Tigers. McClendon capped off the 38-yard drive with a four-yard power run. Tory Mimbs added the extra point for a 20-7 lead the Tigers would take into the halftime locker room.
Lane scored two touchdowns in the third quarter to take a 21-20 lead. Benedict regained the lead on a 37-yard field goal by Mimbs with 10:21 left in the game.
The Benedict defense held the Dragons to a three-and-out on the next series, and the Tigers took over and drove 72 yards on six plays. Johnson had a back-breaking 45-yard run to give the Tigers a first-and-goal. Three plays later, Johnson plowed in from seven yards out for the final score.
“It’s kind of overdue. I’ve been waiting on him to do something,” White said of Johnson’s performance. “We’ve got to get him to run the ball, catch the ball and just be a devastating blocker. That’s the advantage he gives our offense, he can do all three.”
Reubyn Walker led the Benedict defense with eight tackles. Xavier George added six tackles, including a pair of sacks for 39 yards.
Benedict travels to Fort Valley, Georgia next week to take on the Fort Valley State Wildcats at 2 p.m.
Benedict Athletics contributed to the writing of this article.
