The Benedict University Tigers are undefeated on the season, sitting at 6-0 after beating Miles College in the closest game of their season.
This game against Miles was their toughest test yet. The Tigers were able to fight off the fierce comeback of Miles, winning 27-24 after once leading 21-3.
Before the game against Miles, they averaged almost 40 points per game, scoring half a hundred twice on the season. They opened their season with a 52-point shutout against Shaw, and then just two weeks later, they beat Lane College 54-7.
The quarterback leading this high-powered offense is Shorter University transfer quarterback Aeneas Dennis. The 6 foot one, 200 pound pro-style quarterback has been slinging it for the Tigers. Dennis played four years at Shorter, a D-2 private university in Rome, Georgia before transferring to Benedict.
The atmosphere of a private D-2 university in Rome, Georgia, vastly differs from that of an HBCU in Colombia, South Carolina. From life on campus to game days, everything is different on an HBCU campus.
“Game atmosphere is drastically different in all aspects. The band brings a totally different energy; the fans show up every Saturday and cheer us on.” Dennis said when speaking about the atmosphere. “I enjoy not feeling like the minority. Coming from a PWI where a lot of events on campus weren’t catered to us, it’s hard to fully be yourself and enjoy the college experience.”
Dennis didn’t fully get it going at Shorter and showcase all his talents, but since transferring to Benedict, he’s been lighting it up.
In six games with Benedict, the graduate transfer has passed for 1,468 yards and, tossed ten touchdowns, and only thrown two interceptions. When asked how he’s gotten off to such a fast start and operating like a well-oiled machine, he credited the coaches’ game plan and their stout defense.
“We have been buying into the game plan and understanding what our coaches are trying to do,” Dennis said. “We also have a great defense who tends to give us momentum to start off games, making it easier on the offense and giving us opportunities to score.”
His best game of the season against Edward Waters in week two earned him SIAC Offensive and Newcomer of the Week. He completed 70% of his passes for 310 yards and one touchdown. Leading the Tigers to a dominant 34-0 win.
Dennis has undoubtedly been comfortable in the Tigers offense, but in his recent game against Miles, he struggled throwing his first two interceptions of the season.
During his four years at Shorter, they never finished with a winning season, but now, with six wins on the season, Dennis will be a part of his first winning season in college. He has fully bought into what the coaches’ culture and expectations are.
“It’s a great feeling winning each week, and my time at Shorter was hard because we weren’t winning as much. I love coming out victorious day in and day out,” said Dennis. “Our thing at Benedict is going 1-0 each day, not just on game day. The expectations and standards are different here; Coach Berry doesn’t allow certain things on his team.”
Aeneas Dennis looks to continue to have a stellar year and lead the Benedict Tigers to an undefeated season. They will put their undefeated record on the line next week against the Fort Valley State Wildcats. The Wildcats will be their best opponent so far this season as they come in with a 5-1 record, only losing their season opener.
