COLUMBIA, S.C. --- The Allen University football team sustained an overtime loss to Benedict College in a back-and-forth rivalry battle Saturday night, falling 34-27. 

After both teams were forced to punt on each of their first two drives, the Yellow Jackets were able to finally find their offensive rhythm with 4:03 left in the first quarter as quarterback Jamir Dismukes connected with Nanders Lawrence for a 76-yard touchdown to give Allen an early lead, 7-0. 

Lawrence finished the night as Allen's leading receiver with three catches for a career-high of 96 yards. 

However, Allen wasn't the only team that began to click offensively as Benedict responded on their ensuing possession with a six play, 54-yard drive that was capped off by a rushing touchdown to tie the game, 7-7, with 53 seconds left in the opening quarter.

The Yellow Jackets continued the string of offensive success as on their next drive, Dismukes found Kaleb Commings through the air for a 32-yard touchdown to push Allen back in front with 11:48 to go in the first half, 14-7. 

Dismukes completed seven-of-19 pass attempts for 181 yards and two touchdowns with one interception in the loss. 

Later in the second quarter, Benedict answered with a 12-yard touchdown run by A'chean Durant to send both teams into the halftime break tied at 14. 

To begin the third quarter, the two rivals who are across the street from each other, each scored touchdowns on their first possessions of the second half. Benedict's Charles Simmons threw an 18-yard pass with 11:40 to go in the third to initially give the Tigers their first lead of the night. But, Benedict missed the extra-point attempt and that allowed Allen the opportunity to orchestrate a 12 play, 77-yard scoring drive that ended with Lawrence utilizing his speed on a six-yard rushing touchdown to put Allen back on top, 21-20, with 4:29 to go in the third. 

It marked the first time this season that a Yellow Jacket has scored both a rushing touchdown and receiving score in the same game. Lawrence finished the night as Allen's leading receiver with three catches for a career-high of 96 yards, and added two carries for 24 yards. 

Allen extended their lead twice in the fourth quarter as kicker Sam Herman made two field goals, a 37-yard attempt and 39-yard attempt, to give the Yellow Jackets a 27-20 advantage with 5:39 to play. 

The Tigers did not go away quietly though as Simmons threw his second touchdown pass of the game with 2:26 left to tie the game. Neither team was able to score again before time expired and both teams headed to overtime for the first time in each of their respective seasons. 

In college football, both teams get a possession in overtime from their opponent's 25-yard line. There is no game clock, only a play clock during this period. 

The Yellow Jackets won the overtime coin toss and elected to play defense first. On Benedict's second play of the drive, Simmons threw a 17-yard pass to give the Tigers a 34-27 lead. 

Now needing a touchdown to force a second overtime, Allen got the start they were looking for as running back Fabian Duncan picked up 20 yards on four carries to take the Yellow Jackets down to Benedict's five yard line with one play remaining. On their last effort of the night, Dismukes found Commings in the back of the endzone, but the receiver's foot landed out of bounds and therefore the touchdown did not count and the game came to an end. 

Allen continues SIAC play next Saturday, October 26, at 1:00 p.m. at Kentucky State.