ORANGEBURG, SC – Today, South Carolina State (3-0, 1-0 MEAC) will try to win one for the “little guys” when the FCS No. 14-ranked Bulldogs take on FBS power South Carolina (3-1, 1-1 SEC) in a nationally televised contest at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia. The 7 p.m. contest will be only the second meeting of the two state rivals.

            At the throttles for Coach Buddy Pough's Bulldogs will be junior quarterback Malcolm Long, a Gaffney High product. The 6-3, 255 Long is 13-3 as a starter for SC State and 3-0 in games he started at Williams-Brice, including Gaffney's back-to-back state titles in 2005 and 2006.

            In SC State's historical meeting with USC in 2007, he played some as a backup to starter Cleveland McCoy. The Bulldogs lost that contest 38-3.

            Despite his success at SC State and at Williams-Brice, Long knows the task ahead for his team is monumental, but not insurmountable.

            “It's a typical 'David versus Goliath,'” Long said following a Bulldog practice earlier in the week. “No one gives us a chance (against South Carolina) and I know the odds are against us, but you have to play the game.”

Long, who has SC State off to a 3-0 start, is having a solid year for the Bulldogs. He has completed 49 of 77 pass attempts (63.6 %) for 523 yards and four scores and only one interception.

When not throwing to a receiving corps that includes the MEAC's top pass catcher in senior Tre' Young, Long will be handing off to All-MEAC running back Will Ford, who has rushed for 251 yards and two touchdowns this season. Ford is approaching the 4,000 rushing plateau at SC State and should end the season as the MEAC's all-time rushing leader. He entered 2009 needing just over 1,000 yards to accomplish the feat.

But, despite the success SC State has enjoyed thus far this season, Long, Young Ford and their Bulldog teammates will have to contend with one of the nation's best defenses in USC. Senior LB Eric Norwood and junior DL Cliff Matthews lead the charge.

Today's game will mark the fifth time SC State has played an FBS team. The Bulldogs have yet to score a touchdown. Long and his offense hope to change that.

The game will be carried live by ESPN Classic and ESPN360.com.

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