Benedict Shuts Out Savannah State, 23-0
Benedict's defense and two touchdowns carried the Tigers past Savannah State in Columbia on October 31, 2026.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Football
Benedict defeated Savannah State 23-0 in Columbia, South Carolina, on October 31, 2026. Benedict led 6-0 at halftime and 9-0 after three quarters before an interception return for a touchdown and a late score sealed the win.
Why it matters
The shutout drops Savannah State to 1-8 overall and 1-7 in the SIAC, with its season finale against Virginia University of Lynchburg still ahead. For Columbia-area football fans, the result underscores how tightly contested Benedict's conference games have been this season.
Savannah State was held scoreless through four quarters, managing 59 rushing yards from Kendarius Brown and 47 from Fabian Walker. Joshua Woodley's 40-yard field goal attempt in the first quarter was missed, and the Tigers' defense recorded ten tackles from Reggie Troutman and two sacks from Trevor Strowbridge.
The players
Savannah State
Savannah State is a historically Black public university in Savannah, Georgia, competing in the NCAA Division II SIAC conference.
Benedict
Benedict College is a private historically Black college in Columbia, South Carolina, that fields a football program in the SIAC.
The details
Benedict drove to the Savannah State two-yard line in both the first and second quarters but settled for field goals each time. A Benedict interception of a RaShawn Truell pass was returned for a touchdown, making the score 16-0, and a later touchdown with just over a minute left set the final margin at 23-0.
Timeline
October 31, 2026: Benedict defeats Savannah State 23-0 in Columbia, South Carolina.
November 7, 2026: Savannah State hosts Virginia University of Lynchburg at Ted Wright Stadium in its season finale, with kickoff at 3:00 p.m.
Season Trajectory
Savannah State's 1-7 SIAC mark leaves it with little room to alter its conference standing before the season finale. Benedict's shutout gives it a late-season result that matters for its own conference position in the SIAC.
Fantasy managers rostering Benedict's rushers or Savannah State's defensive leaders should note the shutout's effect on each team's offensive production. Benedict's win also decides the Columbia-area football picture for anyone following the SIAC standings through the final weeks.
The takeaway
A shutout on the road to a conference finish shows how a single turnover can decide a game, and Benedict's interception return did exactly that. Readers following the SIAC should watch Savannah State's final game against Virginia University of Lynchburg to see how the season closes.
What happens next
Savannah State hosts Virginia University of Lynchburg at Ted Wright Stadium on November 7, 2026, with kickoff at 3:00 p.m. to close its season.
Further reading
For more on the local teams, see our Football coverage of Columbia.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Savannah Tribune.
