Tennessee State gladly puts weight on Benson's foot

Photo: #80 SU Gerard Landry and #45 TSU Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie are both All-Americans and faced each other last week in SU vs. TSU game.

By St. Clair Murraine, DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

Tennessee State University receiver Chris Johnson is making a name for himself in the Ohio Valley Conference. Defensive back Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie also is getting noticed for his penchant for blocking kicks.

Then, there is kicker Eric Benson, who might turn out to be the man who makes the biggest difference against Florida A&M on Saturday. He is the reason that the Tigers are coming into Saturday's Atlanta Classic with a 2-2 record.

Field goals by Benson gave TSU back-to-back wins over Jackson State and Austin Peay.

"Right now I feel very confident that if it comes down to a kick at the end that we're going to win," said TSU coach James Webster. "He's won two ballgames for us (and) I think he's got confidence in what he's doing. I've got a lot of confidence in him."

Considering the outcome of the last two games, which FAMU won, accuracy in the kicking game could be pivotal. FAMU took last year's game on Wesley Taylor's leg.

Taylor secured an overtime win for FAMU with a 34-yard field goal last year. A year earlier Taylor's punt to TSU's 1-yard line in the closing minutes put FAMU in position to hold off the Tigers 12-7.

Taylor, who has been in a funk lately, said the magnitude of the game is enough for him to begin a turnaround.

"I like the pressure," said Taylor, who hit his first field goal in three attempts two weeks ago against Howard. "I've been blessed to be able to go out there and win the game for my teammates. A lot of people say they can't take the pressure.

"As a field-goal kicker, that pressure kick is the one you live for. Everybody in the world is depending on you."

Taylor said he used FAMU's bye week to refocus and brush up his technique.

"The past few games, I've been putting too much pressure on myself," he said. "Coach (Rubin) Carter told me I'm a senior and I should go out there and have fun. He was right. I'm going to stop thinking about it and have a good time."

While Webster expressed confidence in Benson, Carter was just as optimistic that Taylor will get the job done if the game is going to be decided by a field goal.

"What we have to do is to make sure we surround (Taylor) with a supporting cast," Carter said. "Wesley has shown competitiveness in his ability to win big games for us."