COLUMBIA, S.C. – After playing in four straight Classic games, the Benedict College Tigers finally get to play at home, as the Tigers take on the Miles College Golden Bears Saturday at 2 p.m. at Charlie W. Johnson Stadium.

The Tigers are trying to regroup from back-to-back humbling losses – first a 53-point pounding by South Carolina State, then a five-point loss to Fort Valley State in a game where Benedict mistakes and turnovers accounted for 20 Wildcat points.

Benedict head coach James Woody knows this is a make or break week for the Tigers.

"We've got to stay together. We're one heartbeat, we're one family," Woody said. "This team can handle adversity and they've done very well this week with everything they've gone through. We're bouncing back. They know we gave that football game away. But there are some things we can correct out of that game. We worked on those corrections, and hopefully we can eliminate those this week."

One of the biggest things the Tigers have worked on this week is their punting game. Benedict had two punts blocked, which Fort Valley State recovered for touchdowns. Another punt was nearly blocked, but Benedict punter Brian Curry got it away in time and the Fort Valley State defender ran into Curry for a roughing the kicker penalty. Benedict averaged 22.3 yards per punt on seven punt attempts against Fort Valley State.

"We've really got to shore up that punt team," Woody said. "We've got some different things going right now. We've got to get it off and we've got to block. We worked on those corrections this week and you'll see some improvements."

Another thing the Tigers worked on is their running game. Benedict had minus 16 yards rushing against Fort Valley State, after averaging 234.5 per game in its first two games. Woody said Fort Valley State gambled by focusing their defense on stopping Benedict's running game and the Tigers weren't effective enough in throwing the ball to counteract that strategy.

"It was more the 10-man front that they played against," Woody said. "When there are 10, 11 men in the box, it forces you to throw the football. They were a fast defense and they had a good game plan going in, but our passing wasn't on, and on that day our passing game needed to be on. We'll run the football much better this week."

Miles is giving up an average of 410 yards per game this season, including 243 yards per game on the ground.

Despite a blowout loss to Division I South Carolina State, and last week's high-scoring affair in Augusta, Benedict remains one of the top defensive teams in NCAA Division II. The Tigers rank fourth this week, allowing an average of 248.8 yards per game.

Miles comes into this game with a 1-2 record. After opening the season with back-to-back losses, including a loss to Division II's top-ranked team in Valdosta State, the Golden Bears rebounded with a victory over Albany State, gaining 487 yards of offense in the process.

"They are a very strong football team, well-coached," Woody said. "They are a small team, but they're strong and fast. They're going to play very disciplined. They're going to be consistent, and we've got our hands full."

One of the leaders on the defensive side of the ball for Benedict this season is sophomore cornerback Rodney Hall.

Hall is coming off a week where he returned a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown, and was named the SIAC Co-Special Teams Player of the Week. He also had his first interception of the season and returned it 33 yards. He has 12 tackles this season, and the only reason that number is not higher is because teams do not throw to his side of the field, according to Woody.

"He's really playing exceptionally well," Woody said of Hall. "A lot of teams go away from him. He's a good football player, and he's only a sophomore. He's a next-level player. In three years you could see that guy going to the next level. He's got speed, he's got size, he's got instinct, he's got quickness and he can play special teams as well. He's having a very good season for us."

Hall, a native of Philadelphia, played at Globe Institute of Technology, a junior college in New York City, last year. He was originally planning to attend Wagner, a Division I school in Staten Island, New York, but changed his mind when Wagner wanted him to sit out this season, while Benedict offered him an immediate starting position.

"It was good. I finally got the chance to get the ball in my hands," Hall said about his play last week. "Usually they don't kick the ball or throw the ball to my side, so I had to score on that one."

Hall said the defense is ready to get back into the same form as the first two weeks of the season. "We're trying to get our first shutout of the season and get back to that style – turnovers, defense, what we're used to."