During halftime of Savannah State's game against Johnson C. Smith last Saturday, SSU coach Theo Lemon reminded his Tigers that the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats were coming to Memorial Stadium at 1 p.m. this Saturday.
"Coach (Lemon) stressed that we make sure we get a win so we can have more confidence going into the Bethune game," SSU quarterback JaCorey Kilcrease said.
The Tigers listened and produced a 24-10 victory over the NCAA Division II Golden Bulls.
SSU rushed for 328 yards and three touchdowns on 53 carries, the most yards rushing since the Tigers ran for 330 yards at Division II Fort Valley State in 1999.
SSU (1-1) hopes it can be as productive running the ball against Bethune-Cookman (1-1), but playing the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) Wildcats should be more challenging than playing a Division II team.
Bethune-Cookman beat SSU 55-6 last season. The Wildcats are 29-8 in the series, and have not lost to SSU since 1992, when the late Bill Davis coached the Tigers to a 31-21 victory.
But Bethune-Cookman (1-1) is beatable.
Last Saturday, the Wildcats lost 23-14 to South Carolina State in Daytona Beach, Fla.
Last season, the Wildcats finished 5-6 overall and 3-5 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
If SSU has any shot at beating Bethune-Cookman, the Tigers must produce a running game like they did against JCSU. SSU can not afford to run the ball like it did in the season opener at Morgan State, when the Tigers gained 29 yards on 32 carries in a 47-7 loss.
As SSU's running game blossoms so, too, will the passing game.
"Our running game opens the passing game," Lemon said. "I think our offensive staff did a good job preparing our players (for JCSU). JaCorey was on target. He did really well."
Kilcrease was 7-for-11 passing for 47 yards against the Golden Bulls. He did not throw a touchdown, but he did not make any turnovers and he was not sacked.
"We were pretty effective when we did pass," Kilcrease said. "We were just nickel-and-diming, not trying to go for the home run all the time. Just take what they give you."
Defensive standoutsOvershadowed by SSU's dominant running game against JCSU was the stellar play of the Tigers' defense.
SSU sacked JCSU quarterback Carlton Richardson three times and intercepted him twice. SSU strong safety Antwan Allen registered a sack and picked off a pass. Allen fumbled after the interception, but only after returning the ball 65 yards to the Golden Bulls' 15-yard line.
SSU free safety Javorris Jackson made seven tackles. He also intercepted a pass for the second consecutive game. Weak-side linebacker Chris Herans made a game-high 10 tackles and recovered a fumble.
Middle linebacker Calvin Leonard forced a fumble and made six tackles, including a sack. Defensive end Dominique Clark registered a sack, and cornerback Marcus Darrisaw made seven tackles.
This and that
SSU must reduce its penalties. The Tigers were penalized 10 times for 115 yards against Morgan State, and they were flagged 10 times for 96 yards against JCSU. ...SSU did not have any red-zone scoring chances against MSU, but the Tigers were 3-for-3 against JCSU. ...SSU is 6-50 since leaving Division II in 2002, and 1-40 against its Football Championship Subdivision peers. In 2004, the Tigers defeated Norfolk State, 41-34, in double overtime in Norfolk, Va.
Bethune-Cookman (1-1) at Savannah St. (1-1)
When: 1 p.m. Saturday
Where: Memorial Stadium
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