ORANGEBURG, SC – The ninth-ranked SC State Bulldogs (8-1, 6-0 MEAC) go after a record 18th straight Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference victory Saturday (Nov. 14) when they host Morgan State (5-4, 3-3 MEAC) in a 1:30 p.m. contest at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium.
Coach Buddy Pough’s team is coming off a 43-13 road win at Howard last Saturday. The victory was the 17th straight league win for SC State, tying a mark set earlier by Hampton. A victory over the Bears would give the Bulldogs the longest league winning streak ever of 18 straight.
The Bulldogs, the defending MEAC Champions and the pick to win this year’s title, sit alone at the top of the league standings at 6-0, one game ahead of Florida A&M (5-1), whose only league loss was a 35-20 setback to Pough’s team in Orangeburg Oct. 17. A win today or a victory in the regular season finale against North Carolina A&T next week would guarantee the Bulldogs a share of the MEAC crown and a second straight trip to the FCS playoffs. Morgan State, which three weeks ago, was tied with SC State for the league lead, has stumbled lately, losing three in a row to fall out of contention for this year’s title. The Bears’ latest setback was a 31-23 loss to Norfolk State at Baltimore last Saturday. The Bulldogs hold down the No. 1 spot in all four HBCU polls and are ranked ninth in all three major FCS polls.
The Attraction
South Carolina State is celebrating “High School Band Day” and ‘Education Appreciation Day.” Several high school bands have been invited to attend and perform, and students and staff in education at all levels – middle school through college – will be admitted for $10 with a valid ID. The tickets have to be purchased in advance, and the campus Ticket Office will stay open until 7 p.m. Friday (Nov. 13) to accommodate persons wishing to get the reduced-priced tickets. SC State is looking to continue its march to a record-breaking attendance for the year. The Bulldogs have averaged over 20,500 fans for their first three home games, putting them fourth nationally in average attendance among FCS schools.
Scouting Report
Three weeks ago, this game was being eyed as a possible showdown for the MEAC championship as SC State and Morgan were tied for the league lead at 3-0 after the Bulldogs’ 35-20 win over Florida A&M and the Bears’ 14-7 triumph over Howard. Since that time, however, Coach Don Hill-Eley’s squad has dropped three straight MEAC outings to slip to 3-3 in the standings and out of contention for this year’s crown. The Bulldogs, though, have continued their march toward a second straight title, a feat not achieved by SC State since 1983 when the Bulldogs captured the last of four straight championships. But no one on the SC State coaching staff or the players expects an easy game today. Morgan, though out of the title chase, can still play the role of spoiler. Two years ago, SC State needed overtime and a sensational one-handed catch by Terrance Smith to earn a 28-21 triumph over the Bears and Coach Hill-Eley. And, in 2004, the Bulldogs squandered a two-touchdown lead before prevailing 38-35. Directing today’s attack for SC State will be junior signal caller Malcolm Long, the MEAC leader in passing percentage (.66.7) and passing efficiency (149.5). The Gaffney native has completed 150 of 225 attempts for 1763 yards, 14 TDs and four interceptions. He is on target to break the single-season passing yard mark (1,988) he set last year and also to become the school’s first passer to throw for 2,000 yards in a season. When Long goes to the air, his favorite target has been senior WR Tre’ Young, who has 46 catches for the season (116 career) and needs just one more to set a new mark for career receptions. The Charleston product earlier established a new career receiving yards record, erasing the 1,533 yards amassed by Charlie Brown. He now has 1,775 career receiving yards. RB Will Ford, despite opposing team’s stacking the line to stop him, is the top runner for the Bulldogs with 763 yards and seven scores. A Travelers Rest native, Ford, earlier eclipsed the SC State rushing record (4,093 yds.) of former Bulldog tailback Michael Hicks and needs just 262 yards to set the all-time rushing record in the MEAC. Leading the way up front for the Bulldogs is junior tackle Johnny Culbreath, a preseason All-MEAC selection. Spearheading the Bulldog defense are linebackers David Erby and Julius Wilkerson with 61 and 57 tackles, respectively. Safeties Markee Hamlin and Rafael Bush have 37 tackles each, while cornerback Phillip Adams is No. 1 in interceptions with three, two of which he has returned for scores. Also, the Bulldogs have gotten a solid effort from placekicker/punter Blake Erickson, who has made 9-12 field goal attempts, including a career-long 44-yarder against Howard last week, and nailed 36-37 PATs for 63 points to lead the team in scoring. Erickson also handles the punting duties for Pough’s team
Morgan State, perennially among the top defensive units in the MEAC and FCS, will look to slow down an SC State offense, which is number one in pass offense (207.1 ypg) and scoring offense (31.9 ppg) and number two in total offense (361.0). Heading the defensive charge for the Bears will be linebacker George Howard, who has 107 total tackles on the year. He gets plenty of support from fellow linebackers Troy Leftwich and Fred Davis, who have recorded 61 and 57 tackles, respectively. Defensive back Jody Ellis has three interceptions to lead the Bears. Offensively, Morgan State relies on the play of QB Carlton Jackson, who has hit on just over 58 percent of his passes, connecting on 98 of 158 for 1,062 yards and nine TDs, while suffering seven interceptions. The receiving corps is spearheaded by Winfred Diggs, with 24 catches for 178 yards and one touchdown, and Edwin Baptiste, with 22 catches for 269 yards and four scores. Devan James, who finished a close second to SC State’s Will Ford for the 2008 MEAC rushing title, leads the Morgan State ground game with 444 yards and one TD in 111 attempts. Like Ford, his numbers are down this season.
The Series
South Carolina State leads the series 28-7-1 including a 32-0 triumph at Baltimore last season. The Bulldogs have won six in a row in the series. Morgan State’s last triumph came by a score of 23-12 in Orangeburg in 2002, Pough’s first season.
The Coaches
SC State’s Buddy Pough (SC State ’75) is in his eighth season as head coach at his alma mater and owns a 65-25 record through the current campaign. Morgan’s Don Hill-Eley (Virginia Union ’91) is in his ninth year as Bears’ head coach and is 41-47 through the current season.
The MEAC
Games This Week (Nov. 14)
Morgan State at SC State, 1:30
NC Central at Winston-Salem State, 1
Bethune-Cookman at Howard, 1
Florida A&M at Hampton, 1
Norfolk State at Delaware State, 1
Last Week’s Results (Nov. 7)
South Carolina State 43, Howard 13
Delaware State 24, Winston-Salem State 21
Florida A&M 31, North Carolina A&T 27
Norfolk State 31, Morgan State 23
Bethune-Cookman 27, Hampton 24