vs. Hampton Game Notes
ORANGEBURG, SC—The South Carolina State University football team will open conference play Saturday, against the visiting Pirates of Hampton University in a pivotal Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) showdown at Dawson Stadium. Kick-off is 2 p.m.
The game will be streamed live on ESPN3.com, and then showed via tape delay on ESPNU on Sunday at 8 a.m.
The Bulldogs (2-2), in their 12th season under head coach Buddy Pough, got a huge 59-6 win over Benedict College in the Palmetto Capital City Classic last week, while the Pirates under fifth year head coach Donovan Rose fell to No. 15 Coastal Carolina 50-17 on the road.
Senior quarterback Richard Cue leads the air attack throwing 37-of-73 for 522 yards and 5 TD's, while red-shirt sophomore and Kentucky transfer Justin Taylor who will be out this week leads the Bulldogs rushing on the ground with 78 carries for 263 yards and 5 TD's.
Senior wide receiver Tyler McDonald is on track to break three SC State records with 12 catches and 428 yards and 4 TD's on the season. Teammate Caleb Davis has 14 catches for 142 yards and 2 TD's and was named the MEAC Offensive Player of the Week in the big win over BC on last Saturday.
Senior linebacker Joe Thomas spearheads the Bulldog defense with 43 tackles (32 solo), 6 TFL, and 3 sacks, while defense back Kimario McFadden is second with 29 tackles (23 solo), 2 TFL, and junior linebacker Justin Hughes rounds out the top three with 27 tackles , 2.5 TFL, and 1 sack.
The Pirates are 11-6 all-time against South Carolina State, though the two teams haven't met since 2010, when the Bulldogs beat Hampton 10-7 in Orangeburg, S.C. Overall, South Carolina State has won the last five meetings between the two teams. The two teams first met in 1937, with Hampton winning 7-6 – kicking off a string of eight straight wins in the series for the Pirates.
South Carolina State will be celebrating ROTC/YOUTH Day with a special concert by R&B sensation Jacob Latimore. The Bulldogs will return to action on next week when they hit the road to take on the Aggies of N.C. A&T State in a pivotal MEAC clashing in the Atlanta Classic. The game will be televised live on ESPNU.
For more information on South Carolina State football, please call the Office of Sports Information (803) 536-7060, or visit the official Bulldog website at www.scsuathletics.com.
