ORANGEBURG, SC—The South Carolina State Bulldogs (5-2 overall, 3-1 MEAC) will face their biggest league challenge of the season when they battle the visiting nationally-ranked #16 North Carolina A&T State Aggies (5-2 overall, 3-1 MEAC) Saturday (Nov. 2nd) at Oliver. C. Dawson Stadium/Willie Jeffries Field. Kickoff is 1:33 p.m. and will televised live on ESPN3 and ESPU with an 1:30 a.m. tape-delay.
WHATS AT STAKE: First place in the race for the 2019 league title and a berth in the December 21st Celebration Bowl are on the line. Bethune-Cookman, whom Coach Buddy Pough's Bulldogs defeated 27-19 on the road last week, is also still in the hunt. The Aggies and Coach Sam Washington were also winners last week, taking a dominating 64-6 Homecoming win over Howard. The winner of today's contest will leave the field with its fate in its own hands.
The visiting Aggies are two-time defending MEAC and HBCU national champion, and were the preseason picks to win this year's league title. The Bulldogs were picked sixth in the MEAC preseason poll. The two teams, however, are closely-matched statistically this year in the MEAC in just about every category.
The Attraction :SC State will be celebrating Greek Day 2019. The university's undergraduate fraternities and sororities will perform during selected timeouts. It's also "Wear Garnet Day." Bulldog alumni and supports have been asked to wear garnet. In addition, the university's RISE donors will be recognized at the half.
The Polls :Both North Carolina A&T and SC State are ranked in the 2019 Box-to-Row Coaches and Media Polls for HBCUs. The Aggies are third in the Coaches Poll, with the Bulldogs right behind in fourth. In the Media Poll, NC A&T is third, while SC State is fifth. In the FCS STATS national poll, the Aggies are 16th, while the Bulldogs are not ranked
The Series: The Bulldogs and Aggies are meeting for the 56th time in a series that began in 1924. The rivalry is among the oldest in HBCU football. The host Bulldogs lead the rivalry 31-22-2, however, the Aggies have won the last four meetings, including a 31-16 come-from-behind triumph last year in Greensboro. SC State's last win in the series was a 13-0 triumph in the 2014 Atlanta Classic.
Players to Watch
SC State Offense: #3 QB Tyrece Nick, 6-0, 170 r-Jr. (50-104-4, 48.1 Pct., 760 yds., 7 TDs; 72 rushes, 327 yds., 2TD; #2 QB Corey Fields, 6-0, 188 r-Fr. (45-86-3, 52.3 Pct., 707 yds., 6TDs); #5 RB Labron Morris, 5-10, 185 r-Jr. (94 rushes, 409 yds., 3TDs); #18 RB Datron James, 5-10, 201 r-Jr. (30 rushes, 149 yds., 3TDs); #1 WR De'Montrez Burroughs, 6-2, 200 Sr. (24 rcpts., 475 yds., 6 TDs); #12 WR Shaq Davis, 6-5, 180 r-Fr. (19 rcpts., 395 yds., 4TDs); #73 RT Alex Taylor (6-9, 310 r-Sr., Three-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. (21T, 9A, 9TFL, 2 Int.); #46 LB Cornelius Walker, 6-1, 212 Sr., (26T, 11A, 3TFL); #97 DT Tyrell Goodwin, 6-0, 265 Sr. (17T, 8A, 13TFL, 5Sacks, Def. Lineman of the Week); #28 LB Johnell Brown, 6-3, 195 r-Sr. (26T, 10A, 7TFL, 3Sacks, 1 Int.); #14 CB Decobie Durant, 5-11, 175 r-So. (21T, 3TFL, 2Int.)
North Carolina A&T State Offense: #10 QB Kylil Carter, 5-10, 229 Gr. (93-163-8, 1249 yds., 8TDs), # 30 RB Jah-Maine Martin, 5-10, 199 r-Jr. (109 rushes, 951 yds., 15TDs); #25 RB Kashon Baker, 5-6, 165 r-Sr. (53 rushes, 317 yds., 2TDs); #13 WR Elijah Bell, 6-2, 221 Sr., 33 rcpts., 482 yds., 3TDs); #19 WR Zachary Leslie, 6-3, 203 r-Jr. (27 rcpts., 455 yds., 3TD); #73 OT Marcus Pettiford, 6-4, 296, r-Sr.); #55 C Daquari Wilson, 6-2, 280 r-So.)
North Carolina A&T State Defense: #54 LB Kylin Howard, 6-0, 243 r-So. (23T, 26A, 6 TFL); #8 LB Jospeh Stuckey, 5-11, 206 So. (27T, 21A, 2TFL); #9 Rover LB Antoine Wilder, 5-10, 199 r-Sr. (29T, 14A, 1TFL, 1Int.)
The Coaches : SC State's Buddy Pough (SC State '75) is in his 18th season as head coach at his alma mater and owns a 130-73 overall mark (100-36 MEAC). He is 12-5 against NC A&T and 0-1 against Coach Sam Washington.
Sam Washington (Mississippi Valley '82) is in his second season as head coach at North Carolina A&T. He is 15-4 as Aggie head coach and is 1-0 against SC State, 1-0 against Coach Pough
