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Savannah State University Athletics

1
6
Savannah State SSU 1-2 , 1-1
24
Winner Benedict BCFB 3-0 , 1-0
Savannah State SSU
1-2 , 1-1
6
Final
24
Benedict BCFB
3-0 , 1-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
SSU Savannah State 0 0 0 6 6
BCFB Benedict 0 0 10 14 24

Game Recap: Football |

Tigers Falter In Columbia, Fall To Benedict 6-24

COLUMBIA, S.C. – A defensive battle of wills in the first half gave way to a defensive falter in the second half for Savannah State, paving the way for Benedict to pick up their third win, 24-6, Thursday.

Savannah State drops to 1-2 on the season and 1-1 in Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) action. Benedict improved to 3-0 and 1-0 in SIAC as both teams head into the thick of the conference schedule.

In the 16th meeting of the teams, the historic SIAC rivalry started slow on both ends. The first half ended with no score following a fierce defensive battle with few mistakes on either side.

The first penalty for Savannah State in the game came with 52 seconds left in the first half. On the very next play, JT Hartage fumbled the ball, turning it over with 44 seconds to play. But Benedict couldn't convert the turnover as the Savannah State defense forced a three and out.

On the punt return, Chaii Bland ran for 68 yards and almost scored but was tripped up with five seconds left at the Benedict 20-yard line. Kelton sent on the field goal team for the Tigers first attempt at three points.

Jorge Gonzalez missed the 37-yard field goal as the five seconds ticked off the clock, ending the first half.
 
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Time of possession was nearly equal in the first half and both teams got into the red zone but couldn't convert. Both teams also missed field goals.
But the battle of attrition shifted favor the third quarter.

Benedict opened the second half with the ball and pushed uphill with a long drive, but Savannah State held them out of the end zone. They finished the five minute, 12-play drive with a 35-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead with 9:46 to play in the third.  

On third down, on Savannah State's first drive of the second half, Hartage was sacked and fumbled on the Savannah State 30 yard line, giving Benedict prime real estate with 8:44 to play.

Near the goal line, after a hard stop on second down behind a big tackle from Nathaniel Chisholm, Zaire Scotland pounded in a 1-yard rush for Benedict pushing the home team to a 10-0 lead with 5:04 to play.



Jadon Adams led Savannah State down the field on the Tigers' next possession, but a sack on third and three ended the drive. Benedict's next possession ended in a three and out, Savannah State's defense keeping the pressure on.

But the Savannah Tigers found some momentum as the clock moved between the third and fourth quarters. Adams opened the drive with a 44-yard dash on the first play to get into Benedict territory. Running backs Shamarcus Poole and Joseph Hampton moved the ball deeper with big runs and first downs.

On third and four, Adams rushed in on the right side with a designed keeper for the Tigers' first touchdown of the game, cutting the home team's lead to only four points, 10-6. The point-after attempt was blocked and nearly returned for a touchdown, taking the wind out of Savannah State's sails.

Benedict responded to the score with a monster 83-yard drive that was riddled with three costly Savannah State penalties that kept breathing life into the drive. The Tigers' mistakes on defense all but handed Benedict another touchdown at the 9:19 mark, making it 17-6.

The Savannah State offense sputtered on their next possession as a three and out drive ended in 1:50. Benedict, with all the momentum, tacked on another touchdown following a four-play, 55-yard text book drive, mostly with Scotland and Deondr Duehart rushing.

Benedict put up 356 offensive yards to Savannah State's 237. Benedict had six penalties for 70 yards while the Tigers had five for 39. Savannah State turned the ball over three times.

Adams rushed for 79 yards on nine carries, leading the team on the ground. Poole had 14 carries for 55 yards. Hartage connected on 7-of-11 passes for 60 yards leading a revolving slot of three Savannah State quarterbacks. DaMarion Colbert led the receiving core with three receptions for 37 yards.

Amiri Johnson led the defense with 10 tackles. Makenly Newbill had eight tackles and split a sack with Johnathan Glover. Uchenna Nwoh and Tony Rountree each had a sack as well.  

Savannah State returns to action next Saturday, Sept. 24, against Morehouse College in Atlanta, Ga. Kick-off is set for 2 p.m.
 
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NOTEBOOK
  • The old-school Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) rival between Savannah State and Benedict began in 1932. Benedict holds an 11-4 series lead, winning every game in the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s and most of the 1960s. Savannah State, however, has won the last two meetings—2019 (21-14) and 2021 (41-34).
  • The 912 was well represented in Columbia. From the Savannah State team, 18 Savannah natives are on the roster this year. Most notably, standouts Jadon Adams (Islands High School) and Makenly Newbill (South Effingham HS). The other Tigers have some standout Savannahians as well. Benedict Head Coach Chennis Berry was an All-SIAC offensive lineman and 1994 graduate from Savannah State. Benedict quarterback Erik Pheonix was a standout player at Windsor Forrest in Savannah.
  • Thursday games are not typically great for Savannah State. The last two—in recorded history—were ugly losses. The last time the Tigers hit the gridiron on a school night, they lost to the University of Alabama Birmingham on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018, 0-52. Prior to that, they lost to Morgan State on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2007, 7-47.
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