| Year: | 2012 |
| Team: | Savannah State Tigers |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference |
| Short Conf: | MEAC |
| Record: | 1–10 |
| Conf Record: | 0–8 |
| Head Coach: | Steve Davenport |
| Hc Year: | 2nd |
| Off Coach: | Terance Mathis |
| Oc Year: | 2nd |
| Stadium: | Ted A. Wright Stadium |
The 2012 Savannah State Tigers football team represented Savannah State University in the 2012 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Tigers were members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). This was the second season under the guidance of head coach Steve Davenport. The Tigers played their home games at Ted Wright Stadium and they finished the 2012 season with a 1–10 record (0–8 in the MEAC) to finish last in the conference.
| Name[1] [2] | Type | College | Graduating year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Davenport | Head coach | Georgia Tech | 1990 | |
| Greg Lester | Assistant head coach/Outside Receivers coach | Georgia Tech | ||
| Terance Mathis | Offensive coordinator/Inside Receivers coach | New Mexico | 1990 | |
| Thomas Balkcom | Defensive backs coach | Georgia Tech | ||
| William Bell | Running backs coach | Georgia Tech | ||
| Mitch Doolittle | Linebackers coach | Presbyterian College | 2006 | |
| Saeed Khalif | Defensive coordinator/defensive line coach | Georgia Tech | 1988 | |
| Tony Haynes | Quarterbacks coach | Webber International | 2005 | |
| Broderick Jones | Offensive line coach | Ole Miss | 2005 |
Radio flagship: WHCJ
Broadcasters: Toby Hyde (play-by-play), Curtis Foster (analyst)
For their second game of the season, the Tigers traveled to Tallahassee, Florida to face the #6 ranked Seminoles of Florida State. This was the first meeting between these teams. Prior to the game, the Seminoles were installed as 70 1/2 point favorites, reportedly making Savannah State the biggest underdogs in any college football game ever.[3] [4]
The Seminoles held the Tigers scoreless, winning 55–0. Florida State scored 35 points in the first quarter, with a 61-yd touchdown pass from EJ Manuel to Rodney Smith, a 6-yard touchdown run from Chris Thompson, an 8-yd touchdown pass from E.J. Manuel to Greg Dent, a 9-yd touchdown pass from E.J. Manuel to Kelvin Benjamin, and a 5-yd touchdown run from Devonta Freeman. Florida State added another thirteen points in the second quarter as the result of a 19-yard touchdown run from James Wilder, Jr. and another 1-yd touchdown run from James Wilder, Jr. with a subsequent failed point-after-attempt from kicker Dustin Hopkins, ending his streak of 145 consecutive extra point attempts. Florida State scored another seven points in the third quarter as the result of a 19-yd touchdown pass from Jacob Coker to Kelvin Benjamin.
The Seminoles totaled 413 yards of offense in the game, with 167 rushing yards and 246 passing yards while holding Savannah State to just 28 total yards of offense. The victory improved Florida State's all-time record against the Tigers to 1-0.
The game was delayed by lightning in the area in the second quarter and later called with 8:59 left in the third quarter, again due to weather.[5]
Antonio Bostick threw for four touchdowns and ran for two as the Tigers defeated NAIA Edward Waters College for the first win of the season. Bostick finished the game with 319 yards passing.[6]
South Carolina State defeated the Tigers 27-13 in the season finale for both teams. The Bulldogs led 13-7 at halftime and pushed the lead to 20-7 with 6:21 left in the third quarter.[7] The Tigers scored on a 10-yard pass from Victorian Hardison to Dylan Cook with 1:39 left in the third to pull the Tigers within a score, 20-13, but missed the extra point. The Bulldogs blocked an SSU punt which put them in scoring position from the Tigers 20-yard line to seal the victory for the bulldogs. The Tigers defense was led by Wayne Burden who had 11 tackles (10 solo) and 3 tackles for loss.