ORANGEBURG, SC—The South Carolina State Bulldogs (1-0, 0-0 MEAC) will host the visiting Dragons of Lane College (0-0, 0-0 SIAC) in a non-conference matchup Saturday (Sept. 7^th) at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium/Willie Jeffries Field. Kickoff is 4 p.m.
 
THE SERIES
The Bulldogs and Dragons are renewing a series that began in 1940 when both were members of the SIAC. The series is tied 3-3, however, Lane and SC State last met in 1963. The Bulldogs won that matchup 81-0 according to available records. Lane won the first three games in the series, with its last triumph a 13-3 victory in 1946.
 
THE ATTRACTION
South Carolina State is celebrating Former Student-Athlete Recognition Day. Former Bulldog student-athletes have been invited back to the campus and the game. The attendees will receive free tickets, treated to a tailgate and recognized on the field at the game.
 
BULLDOG BITE:  Two Bulldogs earned MEAC weekly honors with redshirt freshman linebacker BJ Davis garnering Rookie of the Week accolades and redshirt senior tackle Alex Taylor getting Offensive Lineman of the Week recognition. Davis was also named Freshman of the Week by FCS STATS.
 
LAST TIMEOUT: Coach Buddy Pough's Bulldogs opened the 2019 campaign at home last Saturday with a 28-13 upset win over then eighth-ranked Wofford of the Southern Conference. The win was the first for Pough -- in his 18^th season at his alma mater – over a top 10 opponent.
 
The Bulldog defense was dominant in the win, however, the offense played well and had one of its best outings in a season opener in several years. The SC State defense picked off four passes against the Terriers, turning two into scores. SC State's upset win did not go unnoticed by pollsters as Pough's team is fifth in the Box-to-Row rankings after being unranked the week before. The Bulldogs also got some votes in the FCS STATS poll, coming in 30^th in the Top 25 rankings.
 
SCOUTING LANE: Lane, a member of the Division II Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), is coming off a 3-6 (2-4 SIAC) 2018 campaign. Three of the Dragons' six losses were by a touchdown or less and Coach Derrick Burroughs' team won three of its last four outings in 2018. Lane has been picked to finish fourth in the West Division of the SIAC. Despite being a heavy favorite to win today's outing, Pough noted that his Bulldogs can't afford to look past any opponent. "It's important that we be prepared and not take any team for granted," he said during his weekly news conference. "We are coming off a huge win, which we enjoyed for a day or so, but after that, it was back to the drawing board to prepare for a Lane team that has nothing to lose."
 
PLAYERS TO WATCH
SC STATE OFFENSE:
#3 QB Tyrece Nick, 6-0, 170 r-Jr. (12-26-1, 46.1 Pct., 201 yds., 1 TD, 10 rushes, 40 yds., 1TD);  #18 RB Datron James, 5-10, 201 r-Jr. (8 rushes, 13 yds., 1TD); #5 RB Labron Morris, 5-10, 185 r-Jr. (2 rushes, 4 yds., 1TD); #12 WR Shaquan Davis, 6-5, 180 r-Fr. (5 rcpts., 91 yds.,); #1 WR De'Montrez Burroughs, 6-2, 200 Sr. (4 rcpts., 102 yds., 1 TD); #73 RT Alex Taylor (6-9, 310 r-Sr., 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. (7T, 2A, 4TFL, 1 Int.); #46 LB Cornelius Walker, 6-1, 212 Sr., (7T, 3A); #97 DT Tyrell Goodwin, 6-0, 265 Sr. (5T, 1A, 2TFL);  #14 CB Decobie Durant, 5-11, 175 r-So. (3T, 1TFL, 1Int.)
 
LANE OFFENSE:
#4 QB Tarik McKinzie (6-4, 210 So.); #20 RB Kingston Davis (6-0, 230 Jr); #88 WR OJ Bunton (6-3, 195 So.); #81 WR Quantavius Wilson (6-6, 200 Jr); #59 LT Chris Dye (6-4, 280 Sr.).
 
LANE DEFENSE:
#32 LB Brayce McKinzie (6-2, 240 Jr), Preseason All-SIAC first team; in 2018, 42T, 30A, 14TFL, 4Sacks; #40 DL Johnny Russell (6-2, 240 Sr.); #1 PR/KR Anthony Evelyn (5-9, 165 So.)
 
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 126-71 overall mark. He is 0-0 against Lane
 
Derrick Burroughs (Memphis '85) is in his eighth season as head coach at Lane.   He is facing SC State for the first time.
 
 Last Week's Results