November 9th, 2022 5:00pm
For the first time since 2015, the SIAC Championship Game will feature two teams that were unbeaten in conference play. Two of the hottest teams in, not only HBCU football, but also in Division II football enter the game, looking for conference supremacy. #12 Benedict (10-0, 7-0) enters this contest with the nations longest winning streak at 12 games. Tuskegee (8-2, 7-0) has not lost a game since earning their 700th victory in program history and are the winners of eight consecutive games. Tuskegee is the all-time winningest HBCU and has the second most wins in Division II history. Benedict is currently the top seed in Super Region Two. Tuskegee sits in the ninth spot in the Region. This matchup is the only top ten Super Region Two contest that will be played this week. Benedict is looking to hold on to their #1 seed, a bye, and home field throughout the regional portion of the playoffs. With a region top ten win against the Tigers, Tuskegee will add the victory to their resume and look to enter the playoffs as an at-large team. These two teams have not met on the gridiron since 2010. Tuskegee has won the last 12 meetings between these teams.
Benedict Offense | Statistic | Tuskegee Defense |
36.3 | Points Per Game | 25.2 |
165.2 | Rushing Yards | 177.7 |
212.6 | Passing Yards | 214.8 |
51 | Touchdowns | 35 |
58/139 (41.7%) | 3rd Downs | 57/132 (43.2%) |
9/18 (50.0%) | 4th Downs | 6/17 (35.3%) |
32/43 (74.4%) | Red Zone | 28/35 (80.0%) |
30-42 (69.8%) | Red Zone TD | 23/35 (65.7%) |
18-12 | Fumbles (Lost) | 12-4 |
3 | Interceptions | 9 |
17-109 | Sacks (Yards) | 17-104 |
Tuskegee Offense | Statistic | Benedict Defense |
27.8 | Points Per Game | 11.1 |
171.4 | Rushing Yards | 120.2 |
172.0 | Passing Yards | 116.8 |
36 | Touchdowns | 35 |
56/131 (42.8%) | 3rd Downs | 34/134 (25.4%) |
7/17 (41.2%) | 4th Downs | 3/19 (15.8%) |
33/36 (91.7%) | Red Zone | 10/15 (66.7%) |
25/36 (69.4%) | Red Zone TD | 9/15 (60.0%) |
18-4 | Fumbles (Lost) | 24-12 |
9 | Interceptions | 10 |
30-165 | Sacks (Yards) | 30-192 |
Benedict | Misc. Statistic | Tuskegee |
3/7 (42.9%) | FG | 9/16 (56.3%) |
42/50 (84.0%) | PAT | 33/34 (97.1%) |
38.7 | Punt yards | 42.1 |
54-537 | Penalties (Yards) | 82-613 |
29:06 | Time of Possession | 31:14 |
QB Eric Phoenix is 18th in the nation with a completion percentage of 64.5% and is 39th in passing efficiency at 141.25. WR Reginald Harden leads the nation with 25.2 yards per reception. PR Kendall Norman is averaging 15.4 yards per punt return. Defensively, DL Loobert Denelus ranks in the top ten in the nation in sacks with 10. DL Jayden Broughton is 40th with six sacks. Denelus sits at 11th in tackles for loss with 17. LB Ja’Ron Kilpatrick, and with Denelus have forced three fumbles (rank 19th).
RB Taureen Taylor leads the Golden Tigers in rushing with 790 yards (47th nationally) and averages 125 all-purpose yards (34th). Taylor’s 6.64 yards per carry is 12th in the nation and his 98.8 rushing yards per game is 23rd. QB Bryson Williams has a completion percentage of 59.7% (49th). On defense, Dynte’ Brown has defended 12 passes (17th). KR Mikael King sits 17th with 27.8 yards per kick return. Ryan Duff is 16th in punting yards with an average of 42.08 yards.
Chennis Berry is in his third season at Benedict. At Southern, Berry helped direct one of the most prolific offenses in the country. Berry will be coaching in his first SIAC Championship Game. Reginald Ruffin is in his first season as head coach a Tuskegee, after spending the previous nine seasons at Miles. This will be the fourth consecutive championship game for Ruffin (4-1 in previous SIAC Championship Games).
About A.D. Drew
In addition to covering the SIAC for d2football.com, Drew is a member of the Black College Sports Network, co-host of the BCSN SportsWrap podcast, a producer and frequent guest co-host of Dr. Cavil's Inside the HBCU Sports Lab with Michael Washington and Charles Bishop, and a producer of Thee Pregame Show with Bishop and Neely. Drew is also an executive board member of the HBCU-Pro Sports Media Association and the Black College World Series.