Box Score COLUMBIA, S.C. -- The Allen University Yellow Jackets opened its 2021 football season on Saturday with a 45-12 loss to Benedict in the Carolinas Classic.

It was the first time the city rivals met on the field since 1966 with a rilvary that began in 1924 and has stem for nearly half a century.

AU (0-1) collected 346 total yards with a balanced attack with 150 yards rushing and 196 yards passing.

David Wright III passed for a game high 196 yards, completing 12-of-23 passes attempted, while throwing two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Jayden Horace led all receivers with six receptions for 100 yards to complement one touchdown and Beau Harrington rushed for a team high 66 yards on eight carries avaeraging 7.9 yards per attempt.

Trailing 14-0, the Yellow Jackets recorded their first points of the season when Wright connected with Horace for a 15-yard touchdown pass to cut the deficit to 14-6 with three minutes remaining in the first half.

In the third quarter with the AU trailing 35-6, Wright connected with Jamal Jones for a 13-yard touchdown pass to cap the Yellow Jackets scoring on the day.

Defensively, Dahlil Wilkins led all players with five solo tackles and Diquan Brown tallied an interception while adding four total tackles to the defensive efforts. 

BC (1-0) was led by quarterback Eric Phoenix's four touchdowns for 183 yards from 16-of-21 passing with one interception. Jayden McCloud recorded a game high 116 rushing yards on 13 carries (8.9 avg.) and one touchdown. Four receivers accounted for one touchdown apiece for BC with Jayden Thomas posting a team high four receptions for 73 yards. BC amassed 428 total yards including 221 yards rushing and 207 yards passing.  

On defense, the Tigers were led by Dontavius Hunt and Fern Romero. Both recorded an interception while BC's defensive forced four turnovers including a pair of forced fumbles.

Next up, Allen will head to Charlotte to face Johnson C. Smith next Saturday at 6 p.m.