A lot has changed from last season, when Miles and Clark Atlanta sat atop the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings. But one thing that hasn't changed is the outcome, as the Golden Bears - again - found a way to dispatch the Panthers.

The defense recovered two fumbles in the second half that turned into 10 points and Edward Osley had 95 total yards and two touchdowns as the Golden Bears (2-6, 2-3 SIAC) earned a 27-20 Homecoming victory over Clark Atlanta (2-5, 1-4) at Sloan-Alumni Stadium in a rematch of the 2024 SIAC Championship game. It was the 10th straight time that Miles has beat CAU and the second consecutive year the Panthers have lost to Miles on Homecoming, this time in Alabama.

The contest went back-and-forth, with neither team holding a lead that was larger that a single possession for the entire game. While the Golden Bears trailed 20-14 at halftime, they kept their poise as the defense delivered the big plays that allowed the offense to erase the deficit.

Clark Atlanta lined up in punt formation on its first drive of the second half on fourth-and-1 but attempted to run for the first down. But the Miles defense knew it was coming and Khalil Golden and Marcus Delain stuffed the run to force a turnover on downs. The Golden Bears would drive deep into Panthers territory on the ensuing drive before settling for a 23-yard field goal by Reid Grek to cut the deficit to three points.

On CAU's next drive, running back Donte McCall broke off a big run but Javonte Cooper popped the ball loose and Justin Jackson recovered for Miles at the CAU 22. The offense then made a couple of big third down conversions - one on a 14-yard reception by Marquez Mobley on third-and-10, the other on a 6-yard catch by Osley on third-and-6. The drive moved into the fourth quarter, where Osley capped an 11-play, 78-yard jaunt with a 9-yard run for his second score of the game to put Miles ahead 24-20 with 13:38 left to play.

Clark Atlanta - again - had trouble holding on to the ball on the next possession. Jeremiah Gibbs was stripped by Artrelle Cox - his second forced fumble of the game - and Hayden McDonald (who also had a sack) scooped the loose pigskin and took off downfield. He would lose the ball but Abraham Daniels recovered and Miles was in prime scoring position again. 

Even with a short field, Miles was unable to get into the end zone but Grek came through again with a 24-yard field goal the pushed the Golden Bears advantage to seven points with 6:17 to go. Clark Atlanta had a chance to tie the game late and was able to drive to the Miles 12. But on fourth-and-2, Daniels was bale to deflect the pass from CAU quarterback Xzavier Jackson and the Golden Bears got their third turnover on downs of the game. Miles would run out the clock from there and leave with its eight consecutive win on someone's Homecoming with three of those victories happening at home.

Miles is back in action next week when it travels to Ohio to battle Central State. Kickoff is scheduled for noon.