The Clark Atlanta University Panthers will be in Columbia, S.C. to take on Benedict Saturday at 2 p.m.   The game will be streamed live at https://boxcast.tv/view/benedict-vs-clark-atlanta-819535.

While both teams are winless, they've been close in many of their games.  Benedict (0-7, 0-4 SIAC) has lost four games by seven points or less, while Clark Atlanta (0-8, 0-4 SIAC) has lost five games by a touchdown or less.

Today's battle will be one of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's second-best passing offense (Clark Atlanta) against the conference third-ranked pass defense (Benedict).

Benedict has only surrendered 154 passing yards per game this season, with Robert Cummings, Dontavious Hunt and Joshua Heyward ranking among the SIAC's leaders in passes defended.  Cummings is third in interceptions two this season.   Benedict is ranked fifth in the conference in total defense

But CAU's Charles Stafford continues to rank second in the SIAC in passing yards per game with nearly 251.  He is one of only two SIAC passers (Fort Valley State's Slade Jarman is the other) to pass for more than 2,000 yards so far this season with 2,006.  Stafford has tossed 17 touchdowns this season.  

His main targets continue to be Kendall Wimberly, who is second in the conference in receptions per game and fourth in receiving yards per game, and Drakar Jerry, who has 29 receptions so far this season.

The CAU defense, led by the SIAC's second-leading tackler in Terrance Harris (80 tackles this season), goes up against a Benedict offense that is ranked last in the conference with just 208 yards of offense per game and an SIAC low of 14 total touchdowns.

PANTHER NOTES: Last season in a CAU homecoming battle of these two teams, Clark Atlanta lost a close, back-and-forth game 27-24, missing a late field goal that would have tied the game with 1:50 remaining. Stafford threw for 397 yards and two touchdowns that day…. Since 2013, the series between Benedict and Clark Atlanta has been one of streaks.  Benedict has won the last two games, but Clark Atlanta won the previous two matchups.  Prior to that, Benedict won two straight….The Panthers will close out the regular season next weekend on the road, sort of.  That Nov. 9^th contest is on the other side of the Atlanta University Center against long-time rival Morehouse at 2 p.m.

CLARK ATLANTA PANTHERS (0-8, 0-4 SIAC)
Head Coach – Tim Bowens
 
LEADERS
 
Offense
Passing – Charles Stafford (174-of-281 for 2006 yards, 17 touchdowns, 11 interceptions)
Rushing – Darius Blackmon (39 rushes, 89 yards, long of 17 yards)
                 Martin Fleming (23 rushes, 67 yards, long of 30 yards)
Receiving – Kendall Wimberly (29 receptions, 416 yards, three touchdowns, long of 64 yards)
        Drakar Jerry (29 receptions, 326 yards, three touchdowns, long of 64 yards)
                    Caleeb Roberson (16 receptions, 219 yards, one touchdown, long of 47 yards)         
Kickoff Returns – Darius Blackmon (12 returns, 232 yards, long of 27 yards
Punt Returns – Drakar Jerry (five returns, 45 yards, long of 15 yards) 
                 
Defense
Tackles –  Terrance Harris (80 tackles, 49 solo, 31 assisted, seven tackles for loss)
                 Kenneth Morgan (51 tackles, 29 solo, 22 assisted, one tackle for loss)
                 Justin Wade (36 tackles, 16 solo, 26 assisted, two tackles for loss)
                  Breante Glover (36tackles, 19 solo, 17 assisted, eight tackles for loss)
Sacks – Breante Glover, Tyler Wimberly, Rodney Lewis, Elexious Perkins (two sacks each)
Interceptions – Johnny Sharp (three interceptions)
                         Kenneth Morgan (two interceptions)

 BENEDICT COLLEGE TIGERS (0-7, 0-4 SIAC)
Head Coach – Mike White
 
LEADERS
 
Offense
Passing – Phillip Brown (49-of-90 for 550 yards, five touchdowns, five interceptions)
                 Eric Phoenix (28-of-55 for 276 yards, four touchdowns, one interception)
Rushing – Raheem Jennings (71 rushes, 375 yards, one touchdown, long of 44 yards)
                 Jayden McCloud (44 rushes, 144 yards, one touchdown, long of 17 yards)
Receiving – Raylen Elzy (18 receptions, 291 yards, four touchdowns, long of 46 yards)
Kickoff Returns – Drelo Freeman (ten returns, 220 yards, long of 50 yards)
                         Myquerris McGrier (nine returns, 281 yards, long of 76 yards)
Punt Returns – Myquerris McGrier (11 returns, 102 yards, long of 26 yards)
                       
Defense
Tackles – Amari Andrews (50 tackles, 25 solo, 25 assisted, three tackles for loss)
                Robert Cummings  (47 tackles, 40 solo, 7 assisted, 2.5 tackles for loss)
Sacks –  Christopher Reed, Micah Levine (two sacks each)
Interceptions – Robert Cummings (two interceptions)
 
For more information about Clark Atlanta football, go to https://clarkatlantasports.com/index.aspx?path=football.