JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Under the lights at Nathaniel Glover Stadium, the
Edward Waters University Tigers delivered a commanding performance in their 2025 home opener, defeating Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) foe Miles College by a score of 46-14 on Saturday evening. With the victory, the Tigers improve to 2-0 on the season for the first time since 2004, marking a historic milestone for the program under the leadership of interim head coach Brian Jenkins.
OFFENSE FIRES ON ALL CYLINDERS
The Tigers' offense exploded for 46 points, showcasing an efficient and balanced attack through the air and on the ground.
Quarterback Noah Bodden delivered another stellar performance, completing 15 of 25 passes for 201 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. Backup quarterback B.J. Higgins also made an impact, going a perfect 3-for-3 for one touchdown in limited action.
Running back Johntarrious Thomas powered the ground game, finishing with 76 yards on 10 carries and two touchdowns, while the receiving corps spread the wealth across multiple playmakers. Davari Morris tallied four receptions for 97 yards and a touchdown. Fellow wide receiver Makai Lovett added two receiving touchdowns, one each from Bodden and Higgins. Swiss army knife Brady Tillman also scored a touchdown on a reception out of the backfield.
The Tigers' versatility on offense kept the Miles defense off balance from start to finish.
DEFENSIVE DOMINANCE AND TWO SAFETIES
Edward Waters' defense suffocated Miles College, forcing multiple turnovers, recording sacks, and logging two safeties in the contest.
Defensive standout Trevon French led the way with a monster performance, tallying seven total tackles, including, 1.5 sacks, 1.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and one pass breakup.
Linebacker Jaylen Brown contributed six tackles, while defensive linemen Jamari Pierre and Robert Lewis each recorded key sacks to stifle the Miles offensive attack.
HISTORIC START UNDER JENKINS
The win marks Edward Waters' first 2-0 start since 2004 and provides a significant boost of momentum under interim head coach Brian Jenkins, who praised his team's effort on both sides of the ball.
"Our guys played with passion, discipline, and focus tonight," Jenkins said. "To start the season 2-0 for the first time in over two decades is something to be proud of, but we know there's still a lot of work ahead."
LOOKING AHEAD: UNITY CLASSIC NEXT
The Tigers will remain at home next week for one of the most anticipated matchups in program history — the inaugural Unity Classic. Edward Waters will face Virginia Union University on Saturday, September 13, inside Nathaniel Glover Field & Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 4:00 p.m.
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ABOUT THE SOUTHERN INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (SIAC)
The SIAC is a NCAA athletic conference consisting primarily of historically black colleges and universities with headquarters in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. The SIAC includes 15 member institutions (Albany State University, Allen University, Benedict College, Central State University, Clark Atlanta University, Edward Waters University, Fort Valley State University, Kentucky State University, Lane College, LeMoyne-Owen College, Miles College, Morehouse College, Savannah State University, Spring Hill College, and Tuskegee University), which are located within a contiguous seven-state footprint (Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee and Ohio). The SIAC sponsors nine men's and seven women's sports and is a proud member of the NCAA Division II. For more information, visit
www.thesiac.com.