August 26, 2009 -- ATLANTA -- In the 2009 Morehouse season opener, the Maroon Tigers will square off against the Benedict College Tigers, of Columbia, SC. The Maroon Tigers will be looking to avenge a 7-3 loss to the Benedict Tigers on opening day last season.

Last season, Morehouse finished second in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, with a record of 6-4 (6-3 SIAC). The Maroon Tigers still have fans buzzing about the end-of-season three-game winning streak that culminated with a 58-55 overtime win over Kentucky State.

Morehouse head coach Rich Freeman begins his third season at the helm of the Morehouse football program. After going 7-3, in 2007, Freeman has amassed a 13-7 record and directed the team to its best two seasons since 2000-2001.

Benedict, coached by Stanley Connor, finished in sixth place; with a 5-6 (4-5 SIAC) record. Connor, entering his third season, has led the Tigers to a 7-15 record.

Morehouse has won the last 7-of-10 games against Benedict and boasts an overall 14-4-3 record, in a series that began in 1924. The Benedict win, in 2008, snapped a four-game Morehouse win streak that stretched back to 2004. Despite the recent Morehouse domination, the margin of victories in the last five games totals 17 points.

SIAC football coaches predicted that Morehouse would finish third in the SIAC, in 2009, and Benedict would finish seventh.

Benedict opened its season Saturday against Tuskegee, losing 27-7, to the 2008 SIAC champions.

The Maroon Tigers will start eight players named to the preseason All-SIAC team; Benedict will start four.