Saturday the Benedict Tigers (3-3, 0-2) and the Golden Rams of Albany State (5-1, 2-0) meet up in conference play. Albany State is coming off 30-0 homecoming shellacking of Edward Waters last week, while Benedict shocked Miles 24-21 in their last game but is still looking for their first SIAC win of the season.
In that win against Miles , freshman quarterback Zavien Foster made his collegiate debut, going 13/27 for 157, with a touchdown and in interception ;he also added another 90 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Foster lead the offense on the game’s deciding drive, a 12 play, 71-yard march that secured the go-ahead score on a 1-yard touchdown run from Omarion Coleman with just 19 seconds left in the contest.
Foster will have his hands full as he will face a Golden Rams defense has allowed just three points points in their last three games, including two shutouts and a mere 11.00 ppg overall this season. The ASU is allowing a mere 3.2 yards per carry on the ground and just 109.7 yards per game. ASU junior linebacker Stephan Pierre had 13 tackles, including one for a loss against Edward Waters and was named conference n nsive Player of the Week.
Throughout the season the Golden Rams have used their running game to bludgeon teams on their way to victory but last week it was the passing attack that lead the way, as quarterback Dionte Bonneau had his best game of the season, throwing for 283 yards and three touchdowns in completing 14 of his 23 pass attempts. However the Tigers have stood up fairly well to the pass, only surrendering 121.67 yards per game, including holding Savannah State to just 77 yards and 0 yards to Kentucky State ( albeit they only attempted 1 pass but gave up 450 rushing yards to the Thoroughbreds).
Although Benedict has defended the pass well, the formidable Albany State ground game will have a field day against the Tigers defense. The Golden Rams defense will pose too tough of a challenge for young Zavien Foster and he will play like a freshman and make several mistakes on which ASU will capitalise. Benedict’s search for their first SIAC win of the season will have to wait at least another week because it’s not happening Saturday.
