Miles spoils another homecoming, defeats Benedict 26-14

^{image via Nathan Salley}

Courtesy of Miles College Athletics

26

Winner MC

14

BC

Miles has a knack for winning Homecoming games this season. For the third time in four weeks, the Golden Bears were particularly festive during the celebratory campus outings and for the second straight week, they pulled it off on the road.

Kamren Ivory returned after a three-week layoff to rack up more than 300 yards of total offense and two touchdown passes to Franck Pierre, the defense held Benedict to 210 yards and recorded five sacks, and the Golden Bears overcame an early special teams miscue to win their sixth straight game, 26-14, over defending SIAC champion Benedict at Charles W. Johnson Stadium on Saturday. It’s the first time Miles (6-2, 6-0 SIAC) has started conference play with six consecutive wins since 2012, when the team won its first six league contests before falling in the finale. The win streak matches one from 2015, when Miles won the conference championship and trails an eight-game streak that occurred in 2012.

Benedict (3-5, 3-3) got off to a roaring start during their Homecoming when Jaxon Williams returned the opening kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown. But the Golden Bears were not swayed. They responded with a six-play, 66-yard drive that finished with Edward Osley breaking free for a 22-yard scoring run – his third touchdown of the season – to tie the score. Miles’ next score would come at the end of a methodical drive, covering 80 yards and using 10 plays, that was capped with Javonta Leatherwood’s eight touchdown run of the season – a 12-yard jaunt – for a 13-7 advantage.

Miles had its own special teams fun on Benedict’s next drive, with Donshae Gaither blocking a Tigers’ field goal attempt after the defense turned back an first-and-goal from the 3-yard line situation. Ivory connected on big passes to Pierre (15 yards) and Keidarris Griffin (20 yards) before Pierre caught an 4-yard scoring toss to close out another 80-yard drive with just less than two minutes left in the half. Miles led 20-7 going into the break and was poised to make this contest a blowout.

The Tigers, though, had other ideas. Charles Simmons connected with Troy Hillman on a 15-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter that closed the deficit to 20-14 with less than four minutes left in the period. A penalty on the kickoff return had the Golden Bears pinned inside the 20 and the Homecoming crowd was back into the game at full throttle. 

But Ivory had a quick answer to quiet the crowd and flip the field. Escaping pressure, the Miles signal caller weaved and raced through the Benedict defense. By the time he was corralled, he had broken off a 55-yard run the set the Golden Bears up at the Benedict 34. Another big completion to Griffin – who had three catches for 58 yards one week after scoring on an interception return – had Miles on the door of the end zone. A couple of minus plays forced Miles into a third-and-goal situation, but Pierre (four catches, 54 yards) beat his man and Ivory (17-of-25, 243 yards passing) hit him for a 22-yard touchdown that gave Miles a two-score advantage with 48 second left in the third
.
The defense handled the rest. On Benedict’s next two drives, it netted minus-13 yards. Its final drive ended in the hands of Lashon Young, who picked off his league-leading sixth pass of the season as the Tigers were looking to score late. From there, Miles ran out the clock.

Offensively, the Golden Bears finished with 449 yards, 206 of them on the ground, with Ivory (62), Leatherwood  (59) and Roderick Thomas (43) leading a balanced effort. The 210 yards allowed was the second-fewest this season and the yardage margin (239 yards) was the widest this season. William Hardy had a team-high eight tackles (five solo), Keith Green had seven tackles, 3.5 for loss, and 1.5 sacks with Roc Dowdell (1.5), Khamoni Merill and Jamichael Rogers also joining on the sack party for Miles, which hosts Morehouse for Senior Day on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.

Next Game:
Morehouse
11/2/2024 | 2 p.m.

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Team Statistics

1ST QUARTER
14:45 – BC – Jaxon Williams 96 yd kickoff return (Lucas Wynn kick)	0	7
10:50 – MC – Edward Osley 22 yd run (Miles Tory kick), 6 plays, 66 yards, TOP 3:50	7	7
2ND QUARTER
11:58 – MC – Ja. Leatherwood 12 yd run (Miles Tory kick failed), 10 plays, 80 yards, TOP 4:03	13	7
01:55 – MC – Franck Pierre 4 yd pass from Kamren Ivory (Roderick Smith kick) 8 plays, 80 yards, TOP 3:59	20	7
3RD QUARTER
03:27 – BC – Troy Hillman 15 yd pass from Charles Simmons (Lucas Wynn kick) 15 plays, 84 yards, TOP 7:36	20	14
00:48 – MC – Franck Pierre 22 yd pass from Kamren Ivory (Roderick Smith kick blocked) 5 plays, 74 yards, TOP 2:32	26	14