From the SIAC:
SAVANNAH STATE 41, BENEDICT 34
GAME STATS
SVANNAH, Ga. — Savannah State University handed Benedict College its first loss of the season with a 41-34 win on Saturday night at Theodore A. Wright Stadium.
SSU (2-1, 1-0 SIAC) quarterback D’Vonn Gibbons scored on a 31-yard run with 1:25 left and transfer defensive back Le’Vonte Larry came up with an interception in the final minute to help SSU pick up the win in its first conference match-up of the season.
Gibbons rushed for a game high 138 yards on 20 attempts (6.9 avg.) for two touchdowns and connected 2-of-7 pass attempts for 45 yards.
SSU tallied 361 yards of total offense including 284 yards on the ground for a 5.9 avg. and rushed for five touchdowns.
Running back D’Angelo Durham rushed for 62 yards on 19 carries for a pair of first-quarter touchdowns (3.3 avg.) and Einaj Carter chipped in 99 all-purpose yards while rushing for 54 yards on two attempts (27.0 avg.) and hauled in one catch for a team-high 45 yards.
DeMarion Colbert and kicker Kenneth Lockhart added to SSU’s tally. Colbert scored on an 11-yard run with his only rushing attempt for the game and Lockhart connected field goals of 44 and 30 yards respectively in the first half.
Defensively, SSU forced three turnovers and recorded four sacks. Marvin Grunshie led the unit with a game high eight tackles (4 solo) and an interception. Ny’em Bozeman added seven tackles (5 solo) with Christon Johnson, Jamaal McKinney, Makenly Newbill, Bernard Brown each chipping in a sack apiece.
SSU led 27-13 at the break following Lockhart’s 30-yard field goal with four seconds left on the clock.
Trailing 34-13, BC (2-1, 0-1 SIAC) began its comeback effort. Steven Campbell’s touchdown run, a 30-yard fumble return for a touchdown by Joshua Heyward and Eric Phoenix’s 5-yard score tied the game.
BC amassed 447 total yards (6.4 avg.) including 373 passing yards.
Phoenix passed for 306 yards on 21-of-36 pass attempts with two interceptions but rushed for two touchdowns on the day including a 1-yard run in the first quarter to close in on SSU’s lead 14-7.
Darius Philon led all receivers with eight receptions for 89 yards. Tayven Grice finished with 87 yards from three catches and Jayden Thomas had four receptions for 85 yards.
Roberto Tinoco connected 2-of-3 field goals including 40 and 32-yard attempts in the first half.
The Tigers defense was led by Fern Romero’s six solo tackles and one sack. CJ Swan finished with a team high seven tackles (4 solo).
