ORANGEBURG, SC—The South Carolina State Bulldogs will face their toughest challenge of the season Saturday (Sept. 30^th) when they battle the visiting Aggies North Carolina A&T (4-0, 1-0 MEAC) in a pivotal Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference showdown at O.C. Dawson Stadium/Willie Jeffries Field. Kickoff is 6 p.m.
 
The game can be watch live on http://bit.ly/2wi7FOj
 
Coach Buddy Pough and his Bulldogs risk falling out of contention in the MEAC race with a loss against the undefeated and nationally-ranked North Carolina A&T.
 
LAST TIMEOUT: The Bulldogs are coming off a 33-28 setback at defending MEAC champion North Carolina Central last Thursday night before an ESPNU nationally televised audience, dropping to 1-2 on the season and 0-1 in the MEAC. The Aggies, meanwhile, rolled pass Morgan State 49-17 to remain perfect at 4-0, while improving to 1-0 in the league. NC A&T is ranked 17^th in the STATS FCS poll and is No. 1 in both HBCU polls (SBN and Box-to-Row).
 
"We desperately need a win so we have to find a way to win this ball game," Pough said during his weekly news conference. But Pough knows the task will not be easy against perhaps the most-talented team in the MEAC this year.
 
"We have our work cut out for us," he continued. "I think this team (NC A&T) is the best team we have faced in our league in a long time. But, I have confidence in my team. We have been up-and-down, made some mistakes and just didn't get it done when we needed to. But, if we find a way to win against NC A&T, we will be right back in the MEAC race."
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THE ATTRACTION
South Carolina State will be celebrating "Former Student-Athlete Appreciation/Greek Day." Former student-athletes and coaches, along with Greek organizations, have been invited to the contest. The former student-athletes will be treated to a pre-game tailgate and recognized during the game.
 
PLAYERS TO WATCH
SC State Offense:
#9 r-So., QB Dewann Ford (44-76-1; 37 rushes, 111 yds., 2TDs); #15 r-Sr. RB Trey Samuel (22 rushes, 92 yds., 1TD); #18 r-Fr. RB Datron James (20 rushes, 79 yds., 1TD); #1  So. WR De'Montrez Burroughs (9 recpts, 155 yds); #4 r-So. WR Tra'Quan Dubose (10 rcpts., 173  yds.) ; r-Jr. WR Quan Caldwell (13 recpts, 172 yds., 1TD); #51 r-Sr. OT Justin Evans); #56 Sr., OG Robbie Stephenson; # 14 Sr. PK Tyler Scandrett (6-7 FGs; 7-8 PATs)
 
SC STATE DEFENSE:
#10 r-Sr. LB Darius Leonard (19T, 11A, 2TFL, 2Sacks; became SC State's all-time leader in tackles with 12 against Southern, giving him a then-career total of 293); #34 r-Jr. DayShawn Taylor (6T, 15A, 1TFL);  #26 Gr. Jason Baxter (4T, 6A, 2TFL, 1Sack); #35 r-Jr. Damu Ford (6T, 3A, 3TFL); #92 r-Sr. DE Tyberius Cravens (2T, 3A, 1TFL).
 
North Carolina A&T Offense
#7 r-Jr. QB Lamar Raynard (67-94-0, 421 yds., 5TDs); #22 r-Jr. RB Marquell Cartwright (71 rushes, 421 yds., 5TDs); #20 r-Sr. RB Jamari Smith (29 rushes, 181 yds., 1TD; 12 rcpts., 114 yds., 1TD); #13 So. WR Elijah Bell (18 rcpts., 285 yds., 7TDs).
 
North Carolina A&T Defense
#48 r-Sr. LB Jeremy Taylor (16T, 13A, 1TFL, 1Int); #29 r-Fr. DB Franklin "Mac "McCain (17T, 10A, 5Ints., 8PBUs); #34 r-Jr. LB Deion Jones (6T, 9A, 1TFL).
 
THE SERIES
The Bulldogs and Aggies are meeting for the 58^th time in a rivalry that began in 1924. SC State holds a 32-23-2 lead in the series, however, NC A&T has won three of the last five, including the last two. Coach Rod Broadway's team won 30-20 at Greensboro, NC last year and edged the Bulldogs 9-6 in its last visit to Orangeburg in 2015.
 
THE COACHES
SC State's Buddy Pough (SC State '75) is in his 16th season as head coach at his alma mater and owns a 118-57 overall mark (91-48 MEAC). He is 12-3 against NC A&T.
 
 (North Carolina A&T's Rod Broadway (North Carolina '77) is in his seventh season as Aggie head coach. He 51-22 at NC A&T and owns a 3-4 mark against SC State. Broadway is in his 18^th overall year as a head coach.
 
2017 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Standings (thru 09-23-17)
                         MEAC   Overall
1.NC A&T     
2.NC Central 
3.Howard       
4.Hampton     
5.Florida A&M
6.Norfolk State     
7.SC State           
8.B-Cookman        
9.Norfolk State     
10.Del-State            
11.Savannah St.    
12.Morgan State     
 
Previous Results
September 21
N.C. Central 33, SC State 28
 
September 23
Howard 26, Bethune-Cookman 24
Norfolk State 17, Del-State 7
Florida A&M 20, Sav. State 14