Box Score

The final score indicated another blowout in Miles' 45-19 loss to Savannah State in the team's home opener Saturday during the Prince Hall Americanism Football Classic at Sloan-Alumni Stadium. But the Golden Bears showed that this team can compete, taking an early lead against the Tigers (2-2, 1-1) and being within seven points at halftime before watching things unravel in the second half.

The offense compiled the most yards it has all season (276), with Brinley Vandiver throwing for 217 yards and receiver Glenn Williams having a big day with seven catches for 136 yards and a touchdown. The defense held the Tigers to 309 yards, Tre' Jones recorded a safety, there were 11 tackles for loss and Abraham Daniels and Carson Pritchett each recorded sacks.

The young Golden Bears (0-4, 0-2) continue to show the week-to-week growth that is necessary to rebuild the foundation that has made the program one of the best in the SIAC over the last 15 years.

It started early when Miles sloshed through a 50-yard drive which included two third-down and one fourth-down conversion that ultimately led to a 2-yard scoring run by Roderick Thomas - his third consecutive game with a score - and a 7-0 lead with 5:51 left in the first quarter. It was the Golden Bears first lead of the season and the first time the team had scored in the opening quarter in 2025.

The Tigers would score 10 straight points in the second quarter to take the lead but Reid Grek evened the ledger with a 30-yard field with 5:04 remaining before halftime. The two combatants would then light up the scoreboard to close out the half, with the scoring explosion commencing after Miles turned the ball over - one of three on the game for the Golden Bears.

Fabian Walker threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Arik Gilbert tp put SSU on top 17-10 with 3:15 left before halftime. Miles answered by covering 70 yards in less than a minute, the last 44 coming on a touchdown strike from Vandiver to Williams that knotted the score with 2:08 to go. Unfortunately, two big third-down conversions extended the Tigers' final drive, which ended on a 16-yard touchdown from Walker to Cinsere Clark to give Savannah State a 24-17 edge with 27 ticks remaining before the break.

Miles would trail for the remainder of the contest. SSU would score on a blocked punt recovered in the end zone in the third quarter, a fumble return for a score to start the fourth quarter, then scored a garbage-time touchdown after another Golden Bears turnover. 

The Golden Bears are back in action on Saturday when they travel to Indianapolis to face Morgan State in the Circle City Classic at Lucas Oil Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.