Box Score ORANGEBURG, SC—The South Carolina State Bulldogs dropped a heartbreaking, 48-35, defeat Saturday at O.C. Dawson Stadium against the visiting Eagles of NC Central in front a crowd of 15,481 on ROTC/YOUTH DAY.

The Bulldogs snapped a three-game winning streak with the loss giving SC State their worst home loss in the series since 1972.

 "I can't say I didn't see this coming, but it doesn't surprise me a bunch," Pough said. "I knew we'd been dealing with a group of young folks who had been playing up and down and that team that you saw at Clemson and at Coastal (Carolina) somehow showed up on both sides to be perfectly honest with you and we didn't do anything at a high enough rate of effectiveness to be successful."

The Eagles (3-3, 2-0) scored 24 unanswered points in rallying from a 21-17 halftime deficit. They amassed more total yards (517) than the combined efforts of Furman and North Carolina A&T, led by running back Andre Clarke with 144 yards and three touchdowns and quarterback Malcolm Bell added 281 total yards and two touchdowns, one rushing and one passing.

Adrian Wilkins also presented the Bulldogs problems with 12 carries for 144 yards and a touchdown. Many of his receptions came off screen passes in which Bell avoided the blitz to continually frustrate the SC State defense.

SC State (4-3, 2-1) lost more than just a game and a share of the MEAC lead. Quarterback Adrian Kollock,Jr. left the game at halftime with a right shoulder joint sprain after completing 5-9 passes for 49 yards and two touchdowns.

Freshman quarterback Calvin Giles-McClary finished the game throwing 12-of-17 for 136 yards and two touchdowns. Brandon King spearheaded the receiving corps with eight catches for 89 yards and a touchdown. Teammate junior Taquan West had a career best three catches for 64 yards and three touchdowns.

Redshirt sophomore defensive back Phillip Henry led the charge on defense with a game-high 11 tackles, while linebacker Darius Leonard added nine before being sideline with an injury.

South Carolina State will now have the next two weeks to regroup before returning to action Oct. 25 at home against Bethune-Cookman.