Box Score COLUMBIA, SC.-- The offense, defense, and special teams all played a part in a 35-20 win over NCAA Division II Benedict College.
Southeastern (8-2) struck first after
Jarrell Reynolds scored his 12th touchdown of the year from seven yards out.
Reynolds finished with 116 yards rushing on 17 carries and recorded a touchdown.
After a stalled Tigers (0-10) drive followed by a SEU three-and-out, Benedict went on a six-play drive that ended with an odd play. On second and goal at the SEU one-yard line, Tiger runnning back Macathy Briere fumbled and Tyler Gibson recovered and then jogged into the end zone. After the PAT, the game was tied at seven.
?On the ensuing drive, the Fire were driving down the field and made it to the Tigers 13 yard line before
Railond Garrett was picked off in the end zone. The defense held strong, forcing the Tigers to a three-and-out.
Two plays later, Garrett redeemed himself by connecting with
Michael Wheary on a 54-yard touchdown pass to give SEU a 14-7 lead.
The Fire defense forced another three-and-out on the next Tigers drive; the defense had another solid outing, led by linebacker
Will Tillo.
Tillo finished with 12 total tackles, two sacks, and two tackles for loss.
"Will played an outstanding game," commented coach
Keith Barefield. "I watched him execute a few of our blitzes to perfection. He was definitely an impact player for us on defense."
After starting on their own 38-yard line, the Fire offense only needed six plays to get to the Tigers 30-yard line before Garrett threw his second touchdown pass, this time to
Jordan Phillips to make it a 21-7 SEU lead.
Garrett finished with 205 passing yards on 12-23 passing. He threw three touchdown passes and a pair of interceptions.
The Tigers scored a touchdown with 17 seconds left in the first half to give themselves a seven-point deficit going into the locker room for halftime.
Benedict received the second half kickoff. After the Fire defense forced fourth down, the ensuing punt was tipped and picked up at the Tigers 34-yard line by
Blade Denmark who then took it to the house to give the Fire a 28-14 lead.
The defense was firing on all cylinders. The next Benedict drive ended with an interception by Elijah McClendon, Jr. who then took it 44 yard to give the Fire offense excellent field position at the Tigers 16 yard line.
The offense only needed three plays to get a touchdown. Garrett connected with
Dakota Duron on an eight-yard touchdown pass to extend the Fire lead to 35-14.
It seemed like the Tigers offense would be stalled for the rest of the game, but they weren't done fighting. After taking the ensuing kickoff to the 50-yard line, quarterback Mason Duckett connected with George Myers, Jr. on a four-yard touchdown pass. The PAT bounced off the upright to make it a 35-20 game.
The Fire offense finished with 240 rush yards and 205 passing yards to end with 445 total yards on the night. The defense was able to force a turnover while holding the Tigers offense to 324 total yards.
"It was a very satisfying victory going on the road and playing a NCAA D-II team. I think our guys learned from our mistakes in the past and played an outstanding ballgame," said Barefield. "On top of that, they came into this game focused and wanting to win and redeem ourselves."
