COLUMBIA, S.C. — Benedict College fell behind Kentucky State by 24 points in the third quarter Saturday, then stormed back for a 52-45 overtime victory in Columbia, South Carolina, to claim the 2026 SIAC football crown.
The Thorobreds were up 38-14 halfway through the third period. Benedict then scored 24 points in a row. An Ethan Nation interception set up a Tigers field goal, Zane Spires took a blocked punt 35 yards to the end zone, and quarterback Glenn Foreman III tied it at 38 on a 13-yard throw to Demetris McKelvey with 6:17 remaining. Benedict used three quarterbacks before Foreman got the offense going.
The Thorobreds needed one snap to go back in front, as Tristan Thomas broke loose for an 82-yard touchdown run. Christopher Johnson answered with a 2-yard run that pulled Benedict even at 45. Kentucky State recovered a Benedict punt that was muffed at the Tigers’ 17 with just over a minute left, but it had no timeouts and could not get its field goal team on the field before regulation ended.
Benedict had the ball first in overtime, and Foreman and McKelvey connected again, this time from 25 yards on the opening play. Kentucky State threw four straight incomplete passes on its turn, and the title belonged to the Tigers.
Foreman finished with 348 passing yards and four touchdowns. Kentucky State outgained Benedict 461 yards to 445. The Tigers improved to 10-1 and locked up the league’s automatic berth in the Division II playoffs, while Kentucky State (8-3), No. 2 in its Division II super region, must wait on the selection show for a possible at-large spot.
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