ORANGEBURG, SC—South Carolina State Bulldogs (3-2, 1-1 MEAC) host the visiting Bears of Morgan State (1-5, 1-2 MEAC) in an pivotal Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference showdown Saturday (Oct.19^th ) at  Oliver. C. Dawson Stadium/Willie Jeffries Field. Kickoff is 10:30 a.m. due to the inclement of bad weather.
 
Both teams are seeking a win to remain in the MEAC title race. Coach Buddy Pough's SC State team is coming off a heartbreaking, last-minute home loss to MEAC foe Florida A&M last week. The Bears, meanwhile, got their first win of the season, 34-3 over Delaware State at home. The loss to the Rattlers was a disappointing setback for SC State and Coach Pough, who is bidding to become the school's all-time winningest football coach in school history. He and retired football head coach emeritus Willie Jeffries are tied with 128 wins each. Pough would stand alone as the all-time leader in victories with a triumph today, however, he and his staff know the task will not be easy. Despite the Bears' 1-5 record, Pough is expecting a tough game from Morgan State and first-year head coach Tyrone Wheatley, the former Michigan running back and NFL player and coach.
 
The Attraction
SC State will be celebrating Homecoming 2019. Alumni from all across the nation will return to the campus to share success stories and reminisce with former classmates and friends.
 
The Polls
SC State is ranked in the 2019 Box-to-Row Coaches and Media Polls for HBCUs. With last week's loss, the Bulldogs dropped one place to sixth in the Coaches Poll. Pough's team also fell one spot to fifth in the Media Poll. Morgan is unranked.
 
The Series
The Bulldogs and Bears are meeting for the 40^th time in a series that began in 1971 when both became charter members of the MEAC. The host Bulldogs lead the rivalry 32-6-1, including 21-18 come-from-behind win at Baltimore last year. Morgan's last win in the series was a 24-21 triumph at Baltimore during the 2014 campaign.
 
Players to Watch
SC State Offense:
#3 QB Tyrece Nick, 6-0, 170 r-Jr. (43-95-4, 45.1 Pct., 699 yds., 6 TDs; 55 rushes, 239 yds., 1TD; #2 QB Corey Fields, 6-0, 188 r-Fr. (28-53-3, 472 yds., 2TDs); #18 RB Datron James, 5-10, 201 r-Jr. (28 rushes, 136 yds., 3TDs); #5 RB Labron Morris, 5-10, 185 r-Jr. (48 rushes, 176 yds., 2TDs); #1 WR De'Montrez Burroughs, 6-2, 200 Sr. (21 rcpts., 406 yds., 5 TDs); #12 WR Shaq Davis, 6-5, 180 r-Fr. (14 rcpts., 306 yds., 2TD); #9 Will Vereen, 5-11, 200 r-So. (15 rcpts., 256 yds., 1 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. (19T, 6A, 8TFL, 2 Int.); #46 LB Cornelius Walker, 6-1, 212 Sr., (21T, 9A, 2TFL); #97 DT Tyrell Goodwin, 6-0, 265 Sr. (12T, 4A, 8TFL); #28 LB Johnell Brown, 6-3, 195 r-Sr. (24T, 3TFL, 1 Int.); #14 CB Decobie Durant, 5-11, 175 r-So. (13T, 1TFL, 1Int.)
 
Morgan State Offense:
#6 QB DeAndre Harris, 6-4, 210 r-Sr., (56-101-6, 815 yds., 5TDs), #9 QB Dion "DJ" Golatt Jr., 6-3, 225 So. (18-37-3, 157 Yds., 1TD); #24 RB Josh Chase, 5-11, 210 Sr. (64 rushes, 337 yds., 2TDs); #13 WR Manasseh Bailey, 6-1, 195 Sr. (25 rcpts., 485 yds., 5TDs); #80 WR Xavier Gravette, 6-4, 225 So. (13 rcpts., 181 yds.)
 
Morgan State Defense:
#28 LB Rico Kennedy, 6-3, 235 Sr. (27T, 29A, 11TL, 3 Sacks); #5 LB Ian McBorrough, 6-2, 230 Sr. (23T, 27A, 2TFL); #4 SS Simeon Gatling, 6-0, 195 r-Sr.,  (25T, 14A, 3PU, 3PD, 3PD).
 
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 128-73 overall mark (98-36 MEAC). He is 11-2 against Morgan and 0-0 against Coach Wheatley
 
Tyrone Wheatley (Michigan '08) is in his first season as head coach at Morgan State. He is 1-5 as Rattler head coach and is 0-0 against SC State.