COLUMBIA, SC—The # 17 SC State University Bulldogs (1-1) will travel to Columbia to face the Tigers of Benedict College (0-3) in an intrastate battle in the South Carolina HBCU Classic Saturday. Kickoff begins at 2 p.m.

SC State is 4-0 against Benedict during Coach Oliver “Buddy” Pough's tenure as head coach. The Bulldogs lead the overall series 25-8 over the Tigers.

The Bulldogs are coming off an impressive 44-0 trouncing of Mississippi Valley State of the SWAC. The defense played an almost perfect game holding the Delta Devils to just nine yards rushing and 48 yards total offense. Meanwhile, Benedict drops its third-straight contest in a heartbreaker to Kentucky State 26-21 in the Augusta Classic on last Saturday.

Leading the ground attack is sophomore running back Asheton Jordon averaging 103.3 yards per game, while senior quarterback Malcolm Long headlines the air attack completing over 60.4% of passes averaging 163.0 yards on 32-53 passing. Red-shirt sophomore Lennel Elmore had a career receiving day on last week breaking former Bulldog standout Taverus Morgan single game reception record with 12 catches for 150 yards.

The defense is spearheaded by one the talented line backing corps in Black College Football with senior's Julius Wilkerson (11 tackles, 2.5 TFL), David Erby (9.0 tackles), and junior Donovan Richard (10.5 tackles).

South Carolina State will be idle next week before opening up conference play against Florida A&M in a pivotal MEAC clashing in Tallahassee, Fla. Kickoff tips off at 6 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPNU with a tape delay.

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