GAFFNEY, S.C. – Trailing 14-7 in the fourth quarter, sophomore quarterback
Ivan Corbin, Jr. (Warner Robins, Ga.) connected with redshirt-senior
D'Anta Fleming (Greer, S.C.) for a pair of touchdowns, including the game-winner in overtime, as the Limestone College football team rallied to collect a 20-17 win over Benedict College on Saturday, September 9 at The Reservation at Gaffney High School.
GAME INFORMATION
Score: Limestone 20, Benedict 17
Records: Limestone (1-1), Benedict (1-1)
Location: The Reservation at Gaffney High School
INSIDE THE BOXSCORE
- Corbin went 22-of-34 through the air for 233 yards and three touchdowns
- Fleming finished with 73 yards and three TD catches
- Senior Vyncint Smith (Columbia, S.C.) finished with six catches for 138 yards
- Freshman RB Jerko'ya Patton (Charlotte, N.C.) posted 52 yards on 17 carries
- Redshirt-senior Titus Williams (Greenwood, S.C.) led the team with seven tackles
- Redshirt-senior Joey Felder (Effingham, S.C.) tallied seven tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss
- Redshirt-senior CJ Blackmon (Columbia, S.C.) also chipped in seven tackles
- Redshirt-senior Evan Patrick (Charlotte, N.C.) recorded five tackles and one sack
- Limestone put up 329 yards of offense while holding Benedict to 197 yards
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
Junior linebacker
Dalton Yates (Easley, S.C.) and junior linebacker
Raymond Hall (Columbia, S.C.) both came up with a sack to end a pair of Benedict drives early in the first, but the Saints were unable to capitalize as they were forced to punt twice to keep things scoreless after one quarter.
Second Quarter
The scoreless deadlocked continued into the second quarter until the Limestone defense came up with a turnover in Benedict territory. Junior
Kelvin Atkins (Columbia, S.C.) jumped on a loose ball at the BC 38-yard line before Corbin found Fleming for a 15-yard TD pass a few plays later.
The lead did not hold up long, however, as the Tigers responded with a 50-yard kickoff return to start the ensuing drive at the Limestone 41-yard line. On the very next play, Benedict quarterback Dominique Harris tied the game at 7-7 on a 41-yard touchdown run down the visiting sideline.
Third Quarter
The Saints looked to retake the lead midway through the third quarter following a 10-play, 30-yard drive, highlighted by a nine-yard run on 4
th-and-2 by Corbin, but senior kicker
Nick Smith (Plain City, Ohio) was just short on a 45-yard field goal attempt.
Fourth Quarter
With the score tied a 7-all early in the fourth, Harris capped a 5-play, 40-yard drive after recovering his own fumble in the end zone to put Benedict in front 14-7. On Limestone's next drive, Corbin found Smith for a 42-yard connection on a 3
rd-and-30 before Fleming hauled in a two-yard TD catch to tie the game.
The Saints had a chance to end the game in regulation, marching to the Benedict 4-yard line with less than 30 seconds remaining, but the 12-play, 87-yard drive that was highlighted by a 37-yard reception by Smith would come to a close as Limestone fumbled with 21 ticks on the clock.
Overtime
Benedict grabbed a 17-14 lead on the opening drive in overtime behind a 24-yard field goal by Tory Mimbs, but Limestone responded with a three-play drive for the winning score. Corbin and Fleming connected for 11 yards on the first play from scrimmage before the duo once again hooked up for the game winner, a 5-yard TD catch, just one play later.
TURNING POINT
The Limestone defense probably came up with the biggest play of the night when Patrick brought down Benedict's Harris on a 3
rd-and-3, forcing the Tigers to kick the field goal. The Saints would score the game-winning touchdown three plays later.
NOTABLES
- Limestone improves to 2-0 all-time in overtime games
- The Saints have won both meetings with Benedict
- Fleming posted his third career game with three touchdown catches
- Corbin set a new Limestone record with 22 completions
- He registered his second career game with three touchdown passes
- Corbin's 233 passing yards is the fifth highest single-game total in team history
- The Blue and Gold collected its 10th win in program history
UP NEXT
The Saints will play in the team's first conference game in program history when they host Tusculum College on Saturday, September 16 at 7 p.m. The game will be featured on the Division II National Showcase streamed live on ESPN3.