ORANGEBURG, SC – The Bulldogs of South Carolina State, after being granted the morning off and amid cooler temperatures, held a spirited practice in full pads Thursday evening. The session ended with an intense battle between the defense and the offense.

“It was a pretty good workout,” said SC State head coach Buddy Pough. “We gave the players the morning off and it was a cooler this evening, and you put those two elements together, you get a little more 'pop' from your guys.

“We continue to see bright spots here and there,” he continued. “I thought things went really well for the most part. Both sides got after each other pretty good and that's what you like to see.

I'm really excited about the defense. I think we got a chance to be really good on that side of the football. But, usually this time of the year, the defense is ahead of the offense.”

Pough also expressed excitement with the play of some of the Bulldog young players on defense, notably linemen Curtis Hill, J.D. Fulwood and Marquay Parks. He also lauded the play of centers Sam Timothy, the veteran starter, and redshirt freshman Tristan Bellamy, who are locked in a tight battle for the starting duties this season.

The Bulldogs return to their regular schedule Friday with a 3:10 p.m. drill, which will consist mostly of prepping  for Saturday's 10 a.m. scrimmage, the first of the preseason.

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