Benedict makes history, completes undefeated regular season by going ’1-0’ against Allen
Benedict football head coach Chennis Berry never stopped smiling, shaking hands or taking pictures on his way to the small concessions building at Westwood High School that masqueraded as the team’s visiting locker room.
The Tigers were facing the Allen Yellow Jackets, who compete at Westwood for home games. Because the stadium isn’t theirs, Allen use the visitors locker room as its own.
So Berry gathered his team outside and congratulated his players on their accomplishment — going 10-0 for the first undefeated regular season in program history.
“You can always say to your kids, your grandkids and your grandkids’ kids that we are a part of history,” Berry told his team. “Let’s give God all the glory.”
Purple and gold permeated throughout Westwood’s stadium in Blythewood as the program’s fans prepared to watch the Benedict Tigers make history.
And with a 54-21 win against Allen, Berry’s squad did just that.
The players made their way to the locker room after singing their alma mater with the band and cheerleaders.
“Benedict, we sing to you,” they sang. “Faithful we forever.”
Inside the hot, cramped locker room were purple-and-gold bags with the phrase “#digdeep” on them. Some players took their pads off outside before loading up the bus.
The Tigers danced around after the game in celebration. Many found their families either in the stands or on the outskirts of the field to hug them and take pictures.
They did the same thing once they got to the locker room, capturing the memories of a win that clinched the 10-0 season.
But that perfect record, Berry said, came as a result of the team’s mentality.
“We fell in love with the journey,” Berry said. “Those early mornings, late nights, study hall, going in the weight room. All those things you got to be able to do in order to put this all together.”
It took time for Benedict to achieve the level of dominance it reached this season. The program went 1-9 in 2019, and the current starting quarterback, Eric Phoenix, was a member of that team.
“We were a good team, we just couldn’t get it together,” Phoenix said. “Now that we got it together, it feels great.”
Berry was hired in February 2020, a month before COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic. The Tigers were unable to play any games during his first year as a result.
The squad went 5-5 last season, winning its final two games of the year.
Its closest game this year was a 24-20 victory against Albany State, which holds the second-best record in the SIAC.
Allen University also resides in Columbia, which made Benedict’s 10th game a hometown rivalry matchup. The Yellow Jackets led the all-time series 13-8 coming in, but had lost the last two meetings.
Allen restarted its football program in 2018 and is in the second year of a four-year process to reach Division II status. The team will be eligible for the postseason in 2024.
The Tigers led the conference in points per game and total defense coming into the game, and put on a clinic on both sides of the ball.
Benedict came up just four points shy of its season-high point total and forced three turnovers against Allen.
Phoenix led the way on offense with 240 passing yards and three touchdown passes. He came out of the game in the third quarter and enjoyed the remainder from the sideline.
“I love seeing those boys play,” Phoenix said. “Any time I get to sit down and watch them make plays, it’s a good feeling.”
Berry has stressed the theme of going “1-0 each week” throughout the season. He continues to do so as Benedict plays in the SIAC Championship game next week against Tuskegee.
“Job’s not done yet,” Berry said. “There’s unfinished business.”
This story was originally published November 5, 2022 at 6:37 PM.
