The second round of the Division II playoffs features two teams very familiar with one another: Albany State Golden Rams and the Benedict College Tigers. The Golden Rams defeated the Benedict College Tigers in their Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Championship game 22-16.
The Benedict College Tigers football team had their sights set on playing spoiler to Albany State’s successful season, as it did last week against Wingate University, when a last-minute lateral pass led to the winning touchdown. Albany State quarterback Isaiah Knowles threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to Jamill Williams in the first quarter, giving the Golden Rams the 7-0 lead.
Tigers quarterback Jackson Jensen led the team down the field to kick a 43-yard field goal to score their first points of the game. Benedict College had an opportunity midway through the second quarter to take the lead, but came up short after quarterback Darius Ocean’s incomplete pass to Malaqhi Jones. The Tigers settled for a field goal by Zane Spires to cut the Golden Rams’ lead to one point, making the score 7-6 midway through the second quarter.
Both teams’ defenses played intricate roles in preventing the other team’s offense from scoring points in the third quarter. Midway through the fourth quarter, Albany State’s Isaiah Knowles led his team down the field on a rushing attempt by Jamill Williams and a completed pass. Isaiah Knowles scored a rushing touchdown, and the Golden Rams’ extra point was successful, making the score 14-6. Isaiah Knowles completed 19 out of 29 passes for 244 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 rushing touchdown. The Tigers refused to be denied, drove down the field, scoring on a rushing touchdown by David Smith. Smith had 12 rushes for 74 yards and 1 touchdown. The Tigers went for a two-point conversion to tie the game fell short on a Jackson Jensen incomplete pass to the Tigers receiver.
Read More: Benedict College Tigers Make History in HBCU Playoffs
The Tigers had a little under four minutes left to go to try and show there late game magic they had against Wingate needed to stop Albany State offense, to force them to punt the ball. The Golden Rams quarterback Isaiah Knowles completed a pass to a Albany State receiver giving them a first down with 2 minutes left in the game. Coach Gray put the ball in his running backs hands trusting them to run the clock out preventing the Tigers from having a chance to win the game.
Albany State was able to kneel on the ball running out the clock, moving on to the next round of the playoffs, winning the game 14-12.