ASU takes care of business against Benedict

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Albany State moved a big step closer to the SIAC championship game with a 40-14 victory over Benedict on a cold and windy Saturday at Charlie W. Johnson Stadium.

Jarvis Small rushed for 234 yards and four touchdowns and the defense of the Rams (6-2, 6-0 SIAC East) rendered the Tigers (4-5, 2-4) ineffective until the second half.

“We’re just happy to get the win,” Albany State head coach Mike White said. “We came out expecting a hard-fought ballgame and we got that. Now, we’ve got to get ready for next week’s game.”

With the win, Albany State looks to next week, when it plays Fort Valley State in the Fountain City Classic. A victory would send the Rams back to the conference championship game.

Small’s numbers, on 37 carries, led all rushers on the afternoon, and came as no surprise to White. It was the junior’s seventh straight game of 100 yards or more.

“It’s been happening all year,” White said. “He’s been solid all year, along with the line and the tight ends.”

The Rams’ defense hurried Benedict quarterback Cameron Stover all afternoon, limiting him to 179 yards. He threw two late touchdown passes but had three interceptions.

“For the last four or five games, we’ve played a good first half,” White said. “We let up in the second half, but I was happy with the win.”

Small carried the ball 20 times for 148 yards and four scores in the first half as Albany State built a 33-0 lead. He opened the scoring with a 9-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, then had second-quarter scoring runs from 3, 4, and 29 yards.

Adrian Alexander had a 9-yard touchdown run midway through the second quarter.

The Rams’ defense held the Tigers to three first downs and 50 total yards in that time frame.

Stover felt the pressure, going 4 for 20 with two interceptions in the first two quarters. Nick Scott came down with both picks, which led to a pair of Small scores.

Albany State sacked Stover three times. Grover Stewart had one, while sharing another with linebacker Tavarius Washington.

Benedict finally got on the scoreboard with Stover’s 48-yard touchdown pass to Kendariss Brown 1:14 into the second half. After a 5-yard Alexander TD run made it 40-7, Stover found Jeremy Glinton in the end zone for a 13-yard touchdown pass.

“We challenged this team at the half,” Benedict head coach James Woody said. “I wanted this team to come out and score at least three quick touchdowns, and we made an effort to do that. That’s one thing I credit these guys, they do not give up.”