Fort Valley State Downs Benedict, 33-3

FORT VALLEY, Georgia – Fort Valley State used a pair of interception returns to take control and defeat the Benedict College Tigers 33-3 on Saturday in a SIAC football contest.

The loss drops Benedict to 0-4 on the season, 0-1 in the SIAC, while Fort Valley State improves to 3-1 overall and 3-0 in the SIAC.

With regular starting quarterback Kalu Onumah out with a concussion, backupMason Duckett was injured on the first series. Backups Patrick Hoard and Charles Fosterthrew three interceptions on six pass attempts, resulting in running back/return specialist George Myers Jr. playing quarterback from the wildcat formation for the entire second half. Myers finished the game with 39 net yards on 15 carries.

"We stuck with George trying to run the ball. We got a few first downs, but we're still a long way from having anything that looks like what we want it to look like offensively," Benedict coach Mike White said.

The Tigers were trailing 3-0 in the second quarter when the disaster struck on back-to-back series for the Tigers. With the Tigers pinned back at their own 12-yard line, Hoard had a pass batted at the line of scrimmage and FVSU's George Maxey caught the free ball and ran in from five yards out for the first touchdown of the game.  Juan Serna kicked the extra point for a 10-0 lead with 8:16 left in the first half.

On Benedict's next offensive series, Hoard was again intercepted by Maxey, who returned it 45 yards before being knocked out of bounds at the 2-yard line. FVSU quarterback Malcolm Eady ran the ball on first down for the two yards. Serna again added an extra point and the Wildcats finished off a 14-point outburst in less than two minutes for a 17-0 lead. Serna added a 32-yard field goal with six seconds on the clock for a 20-0 halftime lead.

A booming 46-yard Brian Curry punt early in the third quarter put the Wildcats back at their own 7-yard line. A three-and-out series forced a Fort Valley State punt, and Myers returned Serna's kick 38 yards to the Fort Valley 21-yard line. Three rushes gained five yards, and Tory Mimbs came in to kick a 32-yard field goal, snapping Benedict's 13-quarter scoreless drought.

Any momentum the Tigers received from the score was short lived. On Fort Valley's first play from scrimmage after the kickoff, Eady threw a deep pass to Jevon Bell for a 70-yard scoring play to give the Wildcats a 27-3 lead.

The Wildcats finished the scoring on their next series, when Eady threw an 11-yard pass to Drelon Freeman with 4:03 left in the third quarter. Serna missed the PAT for the final 33-3 score.

"They are getting better, but we're still having that breakdown here and there," White said. "We're still turning the ball over too much, still allowing that big play. We're still doing the same things, just maybe not as much, but it's still hurting us the same and it's not good enough to win."

Stephen Williams led the Benedict defense with 12 tackles, while Charles Powellhad nine tackles, a fumble recovery and an interception.

Benedict is back home next Saturday against Kentucky State University at 2 p.m. The Thorobreds (1-3) defeated Central State 21-17 on Saturday. 

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