ORANGEBURG,SC— The  South Carolina State Bulldogs (5-5, 4-2 MEAC) will host the visiting Eagles of North Carolina Central (4-6, 2-4 MEAC) in the regular season finale at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium /Willie Jeffries Field Saturday (Nov.24^th ) in a 1:30 p.m. kickoff.
 
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LAST TIMEOUT: Coach Buddy Pough's continued its late season run, which includes a four-game win streak entering today's contest, with a Senior Day/Hall of Fame Day victory last Saturday.
 
The Bulldogs remained one of the hottest teams in the league with a come-from-behind 21-17 win over visiting Savannah State last week. The SC State offense, which had played well in it three previous outings, struggled against Savannah State but got a great effort from its defense in coming from 10 points down in the second half to earn the win. The defense set up one score and scored directly on a fumble return for the winning TD. Senior defensive end Damu Ford was the catalyst on defense for SC State, forcing two fumbles that led to scores, while recording two sacks and three tackles for loss. Pough's team, which started the year 1-5, can record a winning campaign with a win today over NC Central.
 
The Eagles, meanwhile, who have had an up-and-down year, suffered their worst defeat of the season, losing 45-0 at home to archrival North Carolina A&T. The loss was the third in a row for first-year interim head coach Granville Eastman and his team. The Aggie win, coupled with Florida A&M's 33-19 loss to Bethune-Cookman, lifted NC A&T to the MEAC title and a berth in the Dec. 15 Celebration Bowl in Atlanta, GA.
 
Despite two teams headed in opposite directions, Pough, his staff and team are wary of NC Central, one of only two teams in the MEAC that have a winning record against Pough, who is 2-3 against the Eagles, including a 33-28 loss last season at Durham.
 
Notes
Today's contest was originally scheduled to be played on Sept. 15, but was postponed due to Hurricane Florence. Bulldog sophomore quarterback Tyrece Nick needs 136 yards rushing to become the second SC State signal caller to pass and rush for over 1,000 yards in a single season.
 
Players to Watch
SC State Offense:
#3 So., QB Tyrece Nick (74-160-4, 46.2 pct. for 1016 yds 3TDs; 194 rushes, 864 yds., 12TDs); #18 r-So. RB Datron James (83 rushes, 343 yds.); #24 r-Fr. RB Omar Cummings (53 rushes, 286 yds., 1 TD; #1 Jr. WR De'Montrez Burroughs (12 recpts, 271 yds., 2TDs); #16 r-Fr. WR Will Vereen (14 rcpts., 163 yds.);  #73 r-Jr. RT Alex Taylor; #56 Sr. LG Robbie Stephenson; #78 r-So OG Pat McNeil; #17 r-Sr. P Jerome Pettiway (64-2590 yds, 40.5 avg).
 
SC State Defense:
#11 r-So. LB Chad Gilchrist (44T, 12A, 5TFL); #45 Jr. LB (31T, 15A, 1TFL, 1INT); #14 r-So. CB Decobie Durant (31T, 6A, 5PBUs, 2INT); #30 r-Sr. CB Alex Brown (32T, 6A, 2TFL, 7PBUs, 4INTs) #98 Sr. DE Bruce Johnson (31T, 6A, 7TFL, 2Sack); #35 Sr. LB/DL Damu Ford (24T, 8A, 12TFL, 3Sacks)
 
North Carolina Central Offense:
#2 So. QB Chauncey Caldwell (73-138-1, 52.9 pct. for 916 yds., 8TDs; 67 rushes, 324 yds., 3TDs);  #16 r-Jr. QB Naiil (69-149-2, 46.3 pct. For 645 yds., 5TDs); #25 r-So.Isaiah Totten (132 rushes, 755 yds., 7TDs); #13 So. WR Nique Martin (32 rcpts., 365 yds., 2TDs); #80 So. WR EJ Hicks (27 rcpts., 229 yds., 2TDs); #51 r-Jr. LT Nick Leverett
 
North Carolina Central Defense
#22 r-Sr. DB Davant Reynolds (41T, 37A, 9TFL, 1Sack, 2INTs); #49 r-Sr. LB King Kiaku (26T, 33A, 5TFL, 2Sacks); #33 So. LB Brenden Bailey (24T, 27A, 7TFL, 1Sack); #43 Sr. DE Darius Royster (31T, 19A, 12TFL, 4Sacks, 4FF)
 
The Series
The Bulldogs and Eagles are meeting for the 24th time in a rivalry that began in 1926. SC State has a 12-11 edge in the series; however, the Eagles handed Coach Pough's team a 33-28 loss last year at Durham. In its last visit to Orangeburg in 20-14, NC Central left with a 48-35 victory. The Bulldogs' last win in the series was a 44-3 triumph at Durham in 20-13.
 
The Coaches
SC State's Buddy Pough (SC State '75) is in his 17th season as head coach at his alma mater and owns a 125-69 overall mark (98-35 MEAC). He is 2-3 against NC Central.
 
 NC Central's Granville Eastman (Saint Mary's '92) is in his first season as interim Eagle head coach. He is 4-6 at NC Central (2-4 MEAC) and owns a 0-0 mark against SC State.
 
2018 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Standings (thru 11-17-18)