THE GAME
Savannah State will play their final game of the regular season by hosting Benedict in a battle of the Tigers. SSU lost a 21-18 battle to nationally ranked Albany State a week ago while Benedict handled Virginia University of Lynchburg 42-10 to win their homecoming game. The contest will pit two of the top defensive units in the SIAC. Savannah State is ranked number one in total defense and rush defense and is second in pass defense. Benedict is ranked second in scoring defense. Savannah State and Benedict first met in 1932 and BC owns a 14-4 edge in the series.

GAME INFORMATION
Benedict (8-1, 6-1 SIAC) vs. Savannah State (4-5, 3-4 SIAC) 
Date: Saturday, November 8th
Time: 3:00pm
Location: Theodore A. "Ted" Wright Stadium | Savannah, Georgia

BROADCAST INFORMATION
Channel: Savannah State Sports Network
Broadcasters: Terry Hines (Play-By-Play), Curtis Foster (Color Commentary)
Broadcast Link: https://siacnetwork.tv/ssutigers/
FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE:
Savannah State will be featured five times on ESPN Platforms.
SSU's season opener against rival Edward Waters opened conference's broadcast slate on August 30th, followed by the Tigers' first road contest of the season at defending SIAC Champion, Miles on September 20th, The Tigers' next ESPN+ broadcast will be on Saturday, September 27th in a home match-up against Kentucky State, then the inaugural Good Trouble Heritage Classic vs. Fort Valley State on October 18th in Augusta, Ga. Savannah State's final regular season ESPN+ broadcast will be on November 1st as the Tigers will travel to face Albany State.

SAVANNAH STATE SPORTS NETWORK:
Savannah State will have three of their home games live-streamed on the Savannah State Sports Network with veteran broadcasters Curtis Foster and Terry Hines. Hines will be doing doing play-by-play and Foster will provide color analysis of the action. The three dates that will be live-streamed are September 6 (vs. Shorter), October 25 (vs. Morehouse) and November 8 (vs. Benedict).

HOME GROWN TALENT:
SSU has 12 players in its roster from eight different of the local Savannah area high schools (Islands, Beach, New Hampstead, Calvary Day, Johnson, Life of Christ Academy, St. Andrews and Jenkins

TRANSFER U:
Savannah State has a roster that has players that have transferred into the program from the FBS, FCS, Division II, Division III, NAIA and the junior college level.  Ten come from the FBS/FCS level (South Carolina State, Bethune Cookman, Yale, Middle Tennessee, St. Francis (Pa), East Tennessee State, Tennessee Chattanooga, Nebraska, Georgia Southern, Louisville and Valparaiso).

GAME PROGRAM:
Get all of the extra information on the contest with our official gameday program which you can find HERE

STADIUM INFORMATION:
Theodore A. "Ted" Wright Stadium is a smoke-free facility. Additionally, Umbrellas are not permitted inside of the stadium. 

CLEAR BAG POLICY:
In An Effort To Create And Maintain A Safe And Enjoyable Gameday Environment, Savannah State University Athletics Is Adhering To A Clear Bag Policy Inside Theodore A. "Ted" Wright Stadium.

TICKET INFORMATION:
Tickets And Tailgating Spots Must Be Purchased Online At SSUAthletics.com/Tickets

COACHES
Savannah State: Aaron Kelton, 4th Season (Record At SSU: 16-23)
Benedict: Ron Dickerson, Jr.,2nd Season (Record At BC: 12-5)

WEATHER
There is a chance of rain in the forecast for the Greater Savannah Area on Saturday morning, but it should clear our by kickoff of the contest. It will be a high of 80°, and a low of 64° on Saturday, with a 40% chance of early morning showers. Winds will be blowing South Southwest at 4 mph.

KELTON'S QUOTE
"Benedict is a really good team but so are we. I am excited for our seniors who are finishing up their careers here at SSU they have had a great time establishing a legacy and I know we will play hard for them on Senior Day"

GAME CAPTAINS
Captains for the game with Benedict are wide receiver Braylon Fowler, defensive lineman William Jones, linebacker Gary Davis, Jr.

LAST YEAR
Savannah State ended their 2024 season with a 35-27 setback to Benedict on November 9, 2024 at Charlie Johnson Stadium. SSU took a 21-12 lead into the half but were outscored 23-6 in the second half. Gary Davis, Jr. and John "Wesley" Bentley both had six tackles apiece and Ahlik Booker was in on five stops. All three had one sack each. Booker also had  a interception and Tony Rountree Jr. forced a fumble. Christian Burks completed five of eight passes for 78 yards and a touchdown, Joseph Hampton had three carries for 48 yards and Braylon Fowler had one reception for 12 yards.

LAST WEEK
The Tigers fell behind 14-0 before mounting a comeback but fell to Albany State 21-18. The Golden Rams were ranked 23rd in the AFCA Coaches poll. A 35-yard field goal by Jimmy Tran sent SSU into the half down 14-3 but a three-yard touchdown run by Joseph Hampton with 9:33 left in the third quarter drew Savannah State within 14-10. A touchdown by ASU increased their lead to 21-10 but the Tigers answered with just over eight minutes remaining as David Gardner, Jr. scored on a five-yard run and RaShawn Truell's two-point conversion pass to TaDarius Vaughn was successful and Savannah State found themselves down by just three points. After stopping the Albany State offense, SSU had chances to go ahead but could not produce any more points, losing the ball on downs and throwing a interception. Lucas Edenfield had five puns for an average of 41 yards and Tran made his only extra point attempt while going one for two on field goal attempts. Tony Rountree Jr. had seven tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks for the defense. Gary Davis, Jr. and Jayden Turner had six tackles apiece and Kevin Stokes, Jr. added five tackles and two tackles for loss. Ameer Phillips chipped in 2.5 tackles for loss and Xavier Esquillen had two tackles for loss.

A WIN WOULD....
A Savannah State win over Benedict would give the Tigers a 5-5 overall and 4-4 SIAC record for the second year in a row. A win would also give SSU a 3-2 record at home this season. 

SACK MASTER
Xavier Esquillen has 11 sacks on the season and needs three sacks to break the program single season sack record set by former Tiger Fred Hull (13) during the 1997 season.

SAVANNAH STATE/BENEDICT CONNECTION
Savannah State defensive back Trevor Strowbridge and Benedict offensive lineman Moses Echols are Savannah natives who helped Calvary Day School to a 13-1 season in 2023 and a trip to the state semifinals in GHSA Class AAA.

POLL WATCHING
Savannah State received 9 votes in the latest BOXTOROW HBCU D2 Football Coaches Poll

COMMON OPPONENTS
Savannah State and Benedict have four common opponents: Allen, Fort Valley State, Edward Waters and Albany State

LAST GAME
Today's game will be the final game in a Savannah State uniform for 31 players. The SSU roster has 22 seniors, 8 graduate students and 1 red-shirt senior.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
In the latest, NCAA Division II statistics, Savannah State is ranked #1 in fumble recoveries (13), #5 in rush defense (71.2), and team sacks (3.6), #6 in total defense (254.3), #7 in turnovers gained (22), #11 in defensive third down conversion percentage (.29), #12 in blocked punts (2), #16 in first downs defense (138) and time of possession (33:02) and #17 in blocked kicks (4) and team tackles for loss (7.4). Individually, John "Wesley" Bentley is #2 in fumble recoveries (3), Kevin Stokes, Jr. is #3 in punt returns for touchdowns (1), Xavier Esquillen is #4 in sacks (1.22), Darrian Bell is #6 in solo tackles (6.0), James Shellman, IV is #7 in blocked kicks (2), Jimmy Tran is #9 in field goals per game (1.33), Tony Rountree Jr. is #15 in tackles for loss (1.5), Darrian Bell is #17 in fumble recoveries (2), Tony Rountree Jr. is #19 in sacks (0.81) and Xavier Esquillen is #24 in tackles for loss (1.44).

TIGER LEADERS
Christian Burks is the SSU leading passer with 634 yards, 2 touchdowns and 4 interceptions while Fabian Walker has 543 yards, 3 touchdowns and 5 interceptions and RaShawn Truell has 388 yards, 1 touchdown and 6 interceptions. Joseph Hampton is the top ground gainer with 326 yards and 5 touchdowns and David Gardner, Jr. has 278 yards and 4 scores. Cinsere Clark is the number one receiver with 566 yards and 4 touchdowns followed by Arik Gilbert (258 yards, 1 TD) and Braylon Fowler (193, 1 TD). Jadon Adams and TaDarius Vaughn are also threats. Darrian Bell anchors the defense with 74 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries. Tavare Brewton has 37 tackles and 2 tackles for loss, Gary Davis, Jr. has 32 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss, John "Wesley" Bentley has 30 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries and 2 forced fumbles, Tony Rountree Jr. has 30 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, 1 fumble recovery and 1 forced fumble, Xavier Esquillen has 28 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery, Ameer Phillips has 23 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 5 sacks and 1 forced fumble while Ahlik Booker has 2 interceptions and Christopher Murray has added 3 interceptions and 7 pass breakups. Lucas Edenfield has averaged 40.5 yards on his 49 punts and Jimmy Tran has made 12 of 18 field goal attempts and all 15 of his point after touchdown attempts.

SCOUTING BENEDICT
Benedict averages 28 points and 311.7 yards per game. Triston Morgan is the leading rusher with 582 yards and 5 touchdowns. Darius Ocean has passed for 1,324 yards with 11 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. Malaghi Jones has caught 22 passes for 331 yards and 3 touchdowns, Jaxon Williams has 17 receptions for 297 yards and 3 touchdowns, Tre Simmons has caught 14 passes for 192 yards and 3 scores and Troy Hillman has 5 touchdowns to go with his 164 receiving yards. The BC defense yields 16.8 points and 319.8 yards a night. Isaiah Stephens has 68 tackles along with 5.5 tackles for loss, 3 fumble recoveries and 2 interceptions, Isreal Nwokocha has 55 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss and 8 sacks, Omari Terry has chipped in 43 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss while Ty'Metris Patterson has 33 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 7 sacks and 4 forced fumbles and Cam Williams has 8 pass breakups, 2 interceptions and 14 tackles.

Stay Connected
For complete coverage of Savannah State University Athletics, follow the Tigers on social media @SavStateTigers on Facebook, Instagram, and X (Formerly Known As Twitter), or visit the official online home of SSU Athletics at http://ssuathletics.com.