Image via Albany State Athletics
In the first matchup between Albany State and Benedict, played on October 25, the Golden Rams laid a 31-3 donkey kicking on the Tigers in their own house. Their next meeting, which took place in the SIAC Championship Game, seemed to be on the same path, as the Golden Rams jumped out to a 17-1 lead and appeared to be on the verge of seizing control. However, Benedict battled back, stymied the Albany State offense in the second half, coming within a single play of victory but Darius Ocean’s pass fell incomplete, preserving ASU’s 22-16 win.
The second-round NCAA Division II playoff matchup between Albany State and Benedict featured the second and sixth-best scoring offenses in the Conference, respectively.
However, it was the defences that came to the forefront holding down their opposing offensive unit for large portions of the contest, with both teams scoring less than half of their season averages. The Golden Rams offense made just enough plays to score a critical touchdown and was able to pick up necessary first downs to run the clock down to gut out a 14-12 win. The ASU defense held the Tigers to just 186 yards of total offense, including just 46 through the air.
After their opening drive was snuffed out when Isaiah Knowles was sacked and fumbled, the Golden Rams made up for it on their next drive, when Knowles connected with Jamil Williams on a 41-yard pass to take an early 7-0 lead. After that score, the Benedict defense seemed to find its footing, as outside of that 4-play 67-yard scoring drive, the Rams’ offense was limited to 0 points and just 88 yards the rest of the half.
While their defense was busy making life difficult for the Albany State offense, largely utilising field position, they were able to eke out a pair of Zane Spires field goals (43 and 30) to trim the lead to 7-6 at the half.
Neither team scored in the third quarter. It wasn’t until halfway through the fourth quarter that Albany State capped an 89-yard, 7-play drive with a 1-yard run from Knowles that pushed the score to 14-6 at the 7:41 mark. The Benedict offense answered back with their best stretch of football on the day- an 11-play, 70-yard drive that ended with David Smith’s 9-yard run in the endzone. Smith had multiple key runs on the possession. The Tigers went for the 2-point conversion but were unsuccessful, leaving the score at 14-12.
Albany State was able to run out the final 3:45 of the game to secure the win. Isaiah Knowles completed 19 of 29 passes for 244 yards and a touchdown, while adding another 60 yards and a score on 16 attempts. Jamil Williams caught 6 passes for 112 yards and a touchdown. Aydin Henningham led the Dirty Blue defense with 8 total tackles.
Omari Terry led a Benedict defense that had 6 sacks on the afternoon, recorded 12 total tackles ( 5 solo, 7 assisted) including 5 tackles for loss. Isaiah Stephens added 10 total tackles (4 solo, 6 assisted) with 4 tackles for loss.
Darius Ocean completed just 2 of 15 passes for 7 yards. Jackson Jensen completed 6 of 12 passes for 39 yards. David Smith rushed for 74 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.
The loss ends a season for Benedict (10-3, 7-1) in which the only team to defeat them was Albany State.
Up next for Albany State, winner of 10 straight, is a home matchup with Newberry in the next round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 pm EST.
