Box Score BATON ROUGE, LA—The South Carolina State Bulldogs (0-1)dropped a tough 14-8 decision to host Southern University (1-0) in the annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge Sunday (Sept.3) at A.W. Mumford Stadium.

All-American redshirt senior linebacker Darius Leonard made history breaking the record becoming the school's All-Time Leading Tackler, previously held by Donovan Richard (284). Leonard finished with game-high 12 tackles (9 solo) and a sack and was named the Most Valuable Player for SC State in the loss.

"I have to take my hats off to Southern they played a great football game," said head coach Buddy Pough. "We were in positions to win the game but costly turnovers hurt us down the stretch."

It was a defensive battle throughout with Southern jumping on the board first with a 27-yard scamper by Devon Benn at the 6:52 mark in the first quarter. The Bulldogs responded on a 37-yard field goal by Tyler Scandrett to close out the quarter.

All-SWAC quarterback Austin Howard scored the Jaguars second touchdown of the day on 6-yard punch at the 10:49 mark early in the second quarter. Scandrett connected again on a 35-yarder to close out the first-half to cut the lead to 14-6.

The Bulldogs defense delivered once again midway through the third quarter on a block punt by freshman linebacker  Chad Gilchrist to pull within a score 14-8.  Missed opportunities late in game put Southern in a position to hold on to the victory.

Pough noted, "It's a tough loss but the good thing out this loss is that we think we have some players in a position to help us moving forward. Our defense played great we just got off to a slow start offensively and wasn't able to put more points on the scoreboard."

Redshirt sophomore quarterback DeWann Ford finished 18-of-31 for 187 yards, while Tra'Quan Dubose led the way receiving with four (4) catches for 70 yards.

South Carolina State returns to action in their home-opener Saturday (Sept. 9) against Charleston Southern at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium. Kickoff is 6 p.m.