Courtesy of Benedict College athletics
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COLUMBIA, S.C. – Malaqhi Jones scored the game-winning touchdown on an eight-yard pass from Charles “Tre” Simmons with no time left on the clock as the Benedict College Tigers won their first HBCU football game of the season with a 31-28 victory over Edward Waters on Thursday night in an ESPN 2 nationally televised game.
After an Edward Waters punt, the Tigers took over from their own 20-yard line with just 35 seconds left in the game. Simmons threw a 19-yard pass to Shantarius Williams, then a 14-yard pass to Jalen Leary, before connecting with Jones for a 39-yard pass to the 8-yard line. Benedict had to spike the ball to stop the clock with four seconds left.
Rather than attempt a field goal and tie the game, head coach Ron Dickerson Jr. made the decision to go for a touchdown and try to win the ESPN 2 primetime HBCU football matchup.
“I looked at those kids and they told me, ‘Coach, you can count on me. We know you believe in us, and we believe in you.’ So I just went with it, and it worked out. That’s a group of young men that believed in each other, and great things happened.”
Jones beat his defender to the left corner of the end zone and caught the game-winning pass. Benedict improves to 1-2 on the season, and 1-1 in the SIAC. Edward Waters falls to 1-3 overall and 1-1 in the SIAC. Jones finished the game with four receptions for 88 yards and caught three touchdowns.
The Benedict College Tigers built a 23-7 first half lead, but then saw Edward Waters rally to take a 28-25 lead in the third quarter on ESPN.
Benedict took an early 14-0 lead on a pair of quick scores. Jaxon Williams returned the game’s opening kickoff 75 yards, then on the next play, Simmons completed a 16-yard pass to Troy Hillman for a touchdown, giving the Tigers a 7-0 lead just six seconds into the contest. Edward Waters fumbled on the first play after the ensuing kickoff, and Omari Terry recovered the ball. On the next play, Simmons completed a 21-yard touchdown pass to Jones for a 21-yard touchdown pass, putting Benedict up 14-0 with less than a minute into ESPN showdown.
After Israel Nwokocha tackled EWU’s Greg Marsh in the end zone for a safety to give Benedict a 16-7 lead, Benedict took the ensuing free kick and drove for another touchdown, with Simmons and Jones connecting again for a 20-yard touchdown. That gave Benedict a 23-7 lead with six minutes still left in the first quarter.
Edward Waters drove the field and scored on a 22-yard pass. On the extra point try, Nwokocha blocked the kick, and James “Trey” Caver returned it 90 yards for a two-point score, making it 25-13.
Edward Waters cut the lead to 25-20 before the half. Edward Waters then took the opening kickoff of the second half and drove 69 yards on 13 yards that ate up more than seven minutes off the clock. Edward Waters capped off the drive with an eight-yard touchdown run, and followed with a successful two-point conversion pass to take a 28-25 lead. Edward Waters converted on three third-down plays on the drive, including a 12-yard pass on third-and-eight.
Markell Davis had eight tackles to lead the Benedict defense, and had a forced fumble. Nwokocha had seven tackles, one tackle for loss and the blocked kick.
The Benedict College Tigers are on the road next week, traveling to Atlanta for another HBCU football to take on Morehouse College at 1 p.m.