ORANGEBURG, SC (November 5, 2021) — SC State Bulldogs (4-4, 3-0 MEAC) look to remain unbeaten in league play when they host the visiting Bison of Howard (2-6, 1-2 MEAC) Saturday (Nov. 6th) at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium/Willie Jeffries Field.
Coach Buddy Pough’s SC State team is coming off a 27-24 road win over MEAC rival North Carolina Central last week. The victory was the third straight for the Bulldogs who evened their overall record at 4-4 and remained perfect in the MEAC at 3-0, keeping pace with Norfolk State (6-2, 2-0 MEAC). The win over the Eagles kept alive SC State’s hope for the MEAC title and a berth in the Dec. 18 Celebration Bowl at Atlanta.
The Bison would love to play spoiler today. And to that end, Pough has warned his team to be at its best and not look past Howard, which lost 30-23 to Delaware State last Saturday. “Our last two wins have been by one score (13-7 over Del-State and 27-24 over NCCU) so we have been able to squeak by,” Pough noted. “I expect a tough game against Howard as well. I don’t know much about Howard, except what we saw on film, and they look pretty good to me. They have made amazing progress since last spring.” Howard head coach Larry Scott calls SC State a talented team and said today’s game will be a challenge for his squad. “SC State is very talented, so the game will be a measuring stick for our offense and defense,” said Scott.
The Attraction
SC State will be celebrating Youth/ROTC/Military Appreciation/Business & Industry Day. Youth groups, ROTC brigades have been invited to the campus for a special program and the game. And, active and retired military personnel, along with members of the business and industry community have also been extended a special invitation.
The Series
The Bulldogs and Bison are meeting for the 48th time in a series that began in 1971. The host Bulldogs lead the rivalry 36-11, including a 62-21 triumph in the last meeting, which was in Orangeburg in 2019. The Bulldogs have won five of the last six matchups. Howard’s last win in the series was in 2017 by a 28-20 score at Orangeburg.
SC State Offense:
#2 QB Corey Fields, 6-0, 188 r-So. (129-249-11, 51.8 Pct., 1698 yds., 11TDs); #26 RB Kendrell Flowers, 5-11, 214 r-Fr. (88 rushes, 421 yds., 7 TDs; 17 rcpts., 117 yds., 2 TDs); #6 RB Jacory Benson, 5-9, 190 r-Jr. (31 rushes, 163 yds., 3 TDs); #9 WR Will Vereen, 5-11, 200 r-Jr. (32 rcpts., 461 yds., 3TDs); #1 WR Shaquan Davis, 6-5, 180 r-So. (22 rcpts., 507 yds., 2 TDs); #72 RG Tison Gray, 6-4, 300 r-Jr.; C Eric Brown, 6-3, 336 Fr.; #78 LG Nick Taiste, 6-2, 295 Fr.)
SC State Defense:
#11 LB Chad Gilchrist, 6-2, 220 r-Sr. (25T, 22A, 6TFL, 1 Sack); #5 LB BJ Davis, 6-2, 190 r-So. (35T, 9A, 8TFL, 1 Sack 5PBUs); #8 S Jalen Barr, 5-11, 190 r-So. (19t, 13A, 3 TFL, 5 PBUs, 5 PDs); #14 CB Decobie Durant, 5-11, 175 r-Jr. (22T, 6A, 9 PBUs, 12PDs); #43 DL Patrick Godbolt, 6-3, 235 So. (9T, 17A, 6TFL, 1Sack)
Howard Offense:
#6 QB Quinton Williams, 6-4, 200 Jr. (140-247-7, 1826 yds., 12TDs; #22 RB Jarett Hunter, 5-10, 205 So. (109 rushes, 510 yds., 1TD: #3 WR Kasey Hawthorne, 5-11, 195 So. (31 rcpts., 363 yds., 3TDs); #8 WR Antoine Murray, 6-0, 185 Sr. (24 rcpts., 483 yds., 3TDs); #56 RG Jamal Hines, 6-3, 305 Fr.; C Braden Johnson, 6-2, 301 Sr.); 72 RT Jack Forsyth, 6-4, 300 So.
Howard Defense:
#15 SS Kenny Gallop, 5-11, 210 So. (40T, 27A, 4 PBU); #27 LB Aaron Walker, 5-11, 200 Sr. (36T, 13A,); #7 Star Ray Williams, 5-11, 200 Jr. (30T, 16A
The Coaches
SC State’s Buddy Pough (SC State ’75) is in his 20th season as head coach at his alma mater and owns a 140-7 overall mark and is 107-38 in the MEAC). He is 14-2 against Howard and 0-0 against Bison head coach Larry Scott.
Larry Scott (Florida ’00) is in his first season as head coach at Howard. He is 02-6 overall and 0-0 against SC State and Buddy Pough
2021 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Standings (thru 10-01-21)
MEAC Overall
SC State 4-4 3-0
Norfolk St. 6-2 2-0
Delaware St. 4-4 1-1
NC Central 3-5 1-1
Howard 2-6 1-2
Morgan State 0-8 0-4
Last Week’s Results (Oct. 30, 2021)
SC State 27. NC Central 24
Del-State 30, Howard 23
Norfolk State 31, Morgan State 20
This Week’s Contests
Thursday Nov. 4
Del-State @ Morgan State, 7:30
Saturday Nov. 6
Howard @ SC State, 2
Norfolk State @ NC Central, 2
Morgan State at Albany (NY), 1