COLUMBIA, S.C. — The math was simple Saturday afternoon at Charlie W. Johnson Stadium: win and you’re in. It was 67 degrees under clear skies, and from where I stood on the sideline, the band was LIFE. Both bands came to play, but the energy on the Benedict side never let up. By the time the clock hit zero, No. 20 Benedict football had a 45-38 win over Central State and a return trip to the SIAC Championship Game.
Benedict linebacker Ty’Metrius Patterson (0) and head coach Ron Dickerson Jr. lead the Tigers out of the tunnel before the game against Central State.
Benedict vs. Central State | Nov. 7, 2026 | Charlie W. Johnson Stadium, Columbia, S.C. | Photo: OK3Sports/Olen Kelley III
Benedict Football Starts Fast
From the start, Benedict didn’t waste any time. Logan Karwacki opened the scoring with a 36-yard field goal on the first drive. Then Ethan Nation picked off Jackson Wasik, and Christopher Johnson punched in a 4-yard run for a 10-0 lead.
Benedict running back Christopher Johnson (35) celebrates after his touchdown against Central State.
Benedict vs. Central State | Nov. 7, 2026 | Charlie W. Johnson Stadium, Columbia, S.C. | Photo: OK3Sports/Olen Kelley III
On Central State’s next series, Ryan Perry sacked Wasik for a 9-yard loss. On the very next play, the punter mishandled the snap, and Joshua Stephens scooped it up and took it 28 yards to the house. 17-0 after one.
Benedict defensive lineman Ryan Perry (7) sacks Central State quarterback Jackson Wasik in the first quarter.
Benedict vs. Central State | Nov. 7, 2026 | Charlie W. Johnson Stadium, Columbia, S.C. | Photo: OK3Sports/Olen Kelley III
Benedict linebacker Joshua Stephens (28) quiets the crowd after his 28-yard fumble return touchdown against Central State.
Benedict vs. Central State | Nov. 7, 2026 | Charlie W. Johnson Stadium, Columbia, S.C. | Photo: OK3Sports/Olen Kelley III
Benedict Football Closes the Half Strong
The Marauders got on the board early in the second quarter with a special teams score, but Benedict kept swinging. First, A’chean Durant broke loose for a 26-yard touchdown run. Next, Jett Peddy led a 13-play, 75-yard drive capped by an 8-yard strike to Demetris McKelvey, and he found McKelvey again from 7 yards out with 45 seconds left in the half.
Benedict running back A’chean Durant (21) breaks into the open field on his 26-yard touchdown run against Central State.
Benedict vs. Central State | Nov. 7, 2026 | Charlie W. Johnson Stadium, Columbia, S.C. | Photo: OK3Sports/Olen Kelley III
38-14 at the break.
Benedict wide receiver Demetris McKelvey (13) celebrates in the end zone after one of his two touchdown catches against Central State.
Benedict vs. Central State | Nov. 7, 2026 | Charlie W. Johnson Stadium, Columbia, S.C. | Photo: OK3Sports/Olen Kelley III
Then Central State Came Back
However, Central State brought a high-powered passing attack, and it showed up after halftime. The Marauders kicked a field goal, threw a 13-yard touchdown pass, and then hit a 69-yard pass play that set up a 2-yard run. Suddenly it was 38-31 in the fourth quarter.
Here’s what I saw on the Benedict football sideline: no panic. The bench rallied. Instead, players were on their feet, locked in, and determined to strike back.
Sure enough, they did. Benedict put together a 70-yard drive that ate more than three minutes off the clock, and Glenn Foreman III found tight end Donnavan Wilmore for a 6-yard touchdown. 45-31 with 4:23 left. At that point, it felt sealed.
Still, Central State wasn’t done. A 15-yard touchdown pass with 2:26 to go made it a one-score game again. Benedict had to punt on fourth down, but an unsportsmanlike penalty on Central State gave the Tigers an automatic first down, and they ran out the clock.
Ethan Nation Had a Day
The biggest moment for me was Nation’s third interception. That’s three picks in one game, all off Wasik, which tied for the most by a Division II player in a single game this season.
Benedict defensive back Ethan Nation (9) lines up before the snap against Central State.
Benedict vs. Central State | Nov. 7, 2026 | Charlie W. Johnson Stadium, Columbia, S.C. | Photo: OK3Sports/Olen Kelley III
At the same time, the whole defense showed up around him:
- Sacks: three, from Ty’Metrius Patterson, Ryan Perry and Issiah Brown.
- Run defense: Central State finished with just 70 rushing yards on 27 carries.
- Joshua Lee led the team with seven tackles.
- Ryan Perry added three tackles for loss.
Benedict defensive lineman Ryan Perry (7) celebrates after a sack against Central State.
Benedict vs. Central State | Nov. 7, 2026 | Charlie W. Johnson Stadium, Columbia, S.C. | Photo: OK3Sports/Olen Kelley III
Peddy Was Dialed In
On the other side of the ball, Peddy also played his best game of the season, completing 24 of 32 passes for 265 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. As a result, Benedict football piled up a season-high 517 yards of total offense and a season-high 290 passing yards. Its 45 points tied the season high.
Benedict quarterback Jett Peddy (8) scrambles upfield against Central State.
Benedict vs. Central State | Nov. 7, 2026 | Charlie W. Johnson Stadium, Columbia, S.C. | Photo: OK3Sports/Olen Kelley III
Meanwhile, David Smith carried the load on the ground with 86 yards on 17 carries. Reece Dobard (6 catches, 73 yards) and Jayson Salkey (6 catches, 72 yards) kept the chains moving.
Pure Excitement for Benedict Football
Finally, when it ended, it was pure joy: jumping, hugging, clapping, even a few tears. I caught the Tigers singing the alma mater, and Coach Ron Dickerson Jr. stopped for an interview with a local news station.
Benedict players celebrate together on the field after the Tigers’ 45-38 win over Central State clinched a spot in the SIAC Championship Game.
Benedict vs. Central State | Nov. 7, 2026 | Charlie W. Johnson Stadium, Columbia, S.C. | Photo: OK3Sports/Olen Kelley III
This is Benedict’s second straight trip to the SIAC title game, after last year’s 22-16 loss to Albany State. Next up is Kentucky State (8-2, 7-1 SIAC) on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 10:30 a.m. at Charlie W. Johnson Stadium, live on ESPNU. Catch more Columbia football coverage in our Keenan vs. Columbia recap.
The band was LIFE all afternoon. However, next Saturday the stakes are even bigger.
Players of the Game
Offense: QB Jett Peddy (#8). 24 of 32, 265 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT in his best game of the season.
Defense: DB Ethan Nation (#9). Three interceptions, tied for the most by a Division II player in a game this season.