FAMU GAME NOTES                SC STATE GAME NOTES
ORANGEBURG, SC-- South Carolina State (3-1 overall, 1-0 MEAC) look to move ahead in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) race in heated showdown with the visiting Rattlers of Florida A&M (4-1, 2-0 MEAC) at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium/Willie Jeffries Field Saturday (Oct. 12th).  Kickoff is 2:03 p.m. and will be televised live on ESPN3 and ESPNU with a 10:30 p.m. tape-delay.

Both teams are off to impressive starts this season and were victorious in their last outing Oct. 5. The visiting Rattlers and former head coach Willie Simmons, who played at Clemson, are 4-1 -- with their only loss coming to FBS opponent UCF 62-0 -- and 2-0 in the MEAC. FAMU defeated conference foe NC Central 28-21 at home last week. The Bulldogs and Coach Buddy Pough – whose only setback was a turnover-prong 55-16 loss to FBS opponent South Florida – are 3-1 and 1-0 in the league. Pough's team won 38-24 at Delaware State last Saturday.
 
Pough's Quest
Today's contest has special significance for Coach Buddy Pough and his Bulldog legacy. With his team's win at Delaware State last week, Pough tied retired Bulldog head football coach emeritus Willie Jeffries with 128 victories and would stand along with the most football wins in SC State history with a victory today over FAMU. Despite a dominant 15-1 record against the Rattlers during his Bulldog tenure, including a 44-21 win at Tallahassee last season, Pough is approaching the game with caution. "I'm sure FAMU wants to return the favor by beating us at our place," Pough said at his weekly news conference. "And, I don't think they (the Rattlers) want to be on the books as the team you set a record against." Also, Saturday is Coach Simmons' birthday and I'm sure his players and staff would like to get him a win as a birthday gift.
 
The Attraction
SC State will be celebrating Youth/ROTC/Military Appreciation Day. Youth groups, Junior ROTC brigades and members of the Armed Forces have been invited to the contest and will be recognized.
 
The Polls
Both SC State and FAMU are ranked in the 2019 Box-to-Row Coaches and Media Polls for HBCUs. In the Coaches Poll, the Rattlers are fourth, followed by the Bulldogs, who are fifth. The Media Poll is just the opposite, with SC State fourth and FAMU fifth. North Carolina A&T is number one in both polls.
 
The Series
The Bulldogs and Rattlers are meeting for the 55^th time in a series that began in 1930. The visiting Rattlers lead the rivalry 31-23, however, the Bulldogs have won 15 of the last 16 meetings, including a 44-21 triumph at Tallahassee last year. FAMU's last win in the series was a 27-24 come-from-behind win at Orangeburg in in 2011.
 
Players to Watch
SC State Offense:
#3 QB Tyrece Nick, 6-0, 170 r-Jr. (37-78-3, 47.4 Pct., 592 yds., 6 TD; 40 rushes, 177 yds., 1TD; MEAC Offensive Player of the week, Oct. 5, STATS FCS Honorable Mention Offensive POTW, Oct. 5); #2 QB Corey Fields, 6-0, 188 r-Fr. (19-40-2, 47.5 Pct., 317 yds., 1TD; #18 RB Datron James, 5-10, 201 r-Jr. (28 rushes, 136 yds., 3TD); #5 RB Labron Morris, 5-10, 185 r-Jr. (41 rushes, 168 yds., 2TD); #12 WR Shaq Davis, 6-5, 180 r-Fr. (11 rcpts., 239 yds., 1TD); #1 WR De'Montrez Burroughs, 6-2, 200 Sr. (17 rcpts., 340 yds., 4 TD); #73 RT Alex Taylor (6-9, 310 r-Sr., Two-time MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Week, Preseason All-MEAC first team); #50 C Michael Terry (6-0, 255 r-Sr., Preseason All-MEAC second team)
 
SC State Defense:
#15 LB BJ Davis, 6-2, 190 r-Fr. (18T, 5A, 8TFL, 1 Int.); #46 LB Cornelius Walker, 6-1, 212 Sr., (14T, 7A, 1TFL); #97 DT Tyrell Goodwin, 6-0, 265 Sr. (9T, 4A, 6TFL); #91 DL Rod Perry 6-1, 290 r-Sr. (9T, 2A, 4TFL, 1Sack), #14 CB Decobie Durant, 5-11, 175 r-So. (9T, 1TFL, 1Int.)
 
Florida A&M Offense:
#14 QB Ryan Stanley, 6-3, 210 r-Sr., (100-163-2, 61.3 Pct., 1281 yds, 10TDs, Box-to-Row National Player of the Week); #13 RB Bishop Bonnett, 5-7, 165, r-Jr. (49 rushes, 184 yds.); #19 Xavier Smith, 5-10, 165 r-So. (36 rcpts., 458 yds., 3TDs); #85 WR David Manigo, 6-3, 185 r-Fr. (22 rcpts., 333 yds., 3TDs); #54 RT Andre Regis, 6-5, 275 r-Jr.; #56 C Bryan Crawford, 6-2, 300 r-So.
 
Florida A&M Defense:
#1 DB Terry Jefferson, 5-9, 180 Gr.(31T,2.5 TFL, 1 Sack); #41 LB Doyle Grimes, 6-1, 225 r-Sr. (22 T, 2TFL; DB Mack Green, 6-2, 215 r-Jr. (21T).
 
The Coaches
SC State's Buddy Pough (SC State '75) is in his 18^th season as head coach at his alma mater and owns a 128-72 overall mark (98-35 MEAC). He is 15-1 against
 
Willie Simmons (Clemson '02) is in his second season as head coach at Florida A&M. He is 10-6 as Rattler head coach and is 0-1 against SC State.