ORANGEBURG, SC--South Carolina State (2-4, 0-0 MEAC) will open up league play at home in a pivotal Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) showdown versus visiting North Carolina Central Eagles (5-1, 1-0 MEAC) Saturday (Oct. 22
nd) at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium/Willie Jeffries Field. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. and will be televised live on ESPN3.
This is the first league outing for Coach Buddy Pough's Bulldogs, who snapped a three-game losing streak with a 36-0 triumph over visiting Virginia-Lynchburg before a large Homecoming crowd last week. The Eagles, meanwhile, opened MEAC play last Thursday with a 59-20 home win over Morgan State in nationally televised contest. NCCU quarterback Davius Richard had a career-day, accounting for six TDs, four passing and two rushing. He completed 17-24 attempts for 217 yards. Bulldog QB
Corey Fields, mired in a slump all season, had one of his better performances of the year as he was 17-48 for 237 yards and two scores, but had three interceptions
The Attraction
The contest is the Hall of Fame game for SC State, who will induct nine former student-athletes into its Athletic Hall of Fame. The Bulldogs will also be celebrating Former Athletes/Breast Cancer Awareness and Faculty & Staff Day.
The Polls
Visiting NCCU is ranked second nationally in the Box-to-Row Coaches Poll and fourth in the Media Poll, while SC State is 10
th in the Coaches Poll and unranked in the Media Poll. Jackson State is No. 1 in both polls
The Series
The Bulldogs and Eagles are meeting for the 27
th time in a series that began in 1926. SC State holds a 15-11 edge in the rivalry, which has seen the two teams split the last four contests. The Bulldogs, however, prevailed 27-24 in a come-from-behind win at Durham, NC last season. The Eagles' last win in the series was a 21-17 triumph in 2017 at Orangeburg.
Players to Watch
SC State Offense:
#2 QB
Corey Fields, 6-0, 190 Gr. (75-177-8, 1011 yds., 11 TDs), #3 QB
Tyrece Nick, 6-0, 170 Gr. (8-17-1 for 121 yds., 1TD; 27 rushes, 147 yds. 1 TD); #26 RB
Kendrell Flowers, 6-0, 220 r-So. (64 rushes, 310 yds., 2TDs), #6 RB
Jacory Benson, 5-9, 180 Gr. (33 rushes, 114 yds., 0TDs), #1 WR
Shaquan Davis, 6-5, 180 r-Jr. (24 rcpts., 468 yds., 6TDs); #86 WR
Richard Bailey, 5-10, 150 r-Sr. (10 rcpts., 102 yds., 1TD); #19 WR
Rakim White, 6-4, 181 So.,(9 rcpts., 191yds., 3TDs) #78 LG
Nick Taiste, 6-2 So., 295 So., #76 C
Eric Brown, Jr. 6-3, 336 So.
SC State Defense:
#5 LB
BJ Davis, 6-2, 190 Sr. (29T, 17A, 2TFL, 4Ints., 2-time MEAC Defensive Player of the Week); #8 FS
Jalen Barr, 6-0, 190 Gr. (26T, 7A, 1TFL), #11 LB
Aaron Smith, 6-2, 218 r-So. (25T,13A, 4TFL, 2 Sacks), #34 DE
Jeblonski Green, 6-2, 275 r-Jr., (5T, 8A, 3TFL, 2Sacks
NC Central Offense:
#1 QB Davius Richard, 6-3, 215 Jr. (103-159-5, 1266 yds., 13TDs; 57 rushes, 352 yds., 8TDs); #5 RB Latrell Collier, 5-10, 200 r-Jr. (282 rushes, 264 yds., 3TDs); #36 RB J'Mari Taylor,
6-0, 200 So. (55 rushes, 217 yds., 5TDs);
#22 WR Devin Smith, 5-10, 185 So. (24 rcpts., 296 yds., 5TDs); #88 WR; #Joaquin Davis, 6-4, 190 So. (144 rcpts., 181 yds., 1TD); #76 C Torricelli Simpkins, 6-5, 310 So., two-time MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Week
NC Central Defense:
#20 DB Khalil Baker, 6-0, 185 Jr. (18T, 10A, 1TFL, 4Ints.); #41 DB Isaiah Lawson, 6-1, 200 So. (19T, 9A, 2TFL 1 Sack); #45 LB Jaki Brevard, 6-0, 210 So.)
The Coaches
SC State's Buddy Pough (SC State '75) is in his 21st season as head coach at his alma mater and owns a 145-84 overall mark (108-38 MEAC). He is 4-4 against the Eagles
NC Central's Trei Oliver (NCCU '98) is in his third season as head coach at his alma mater and is 14-14 in Durham, which matches his record as a head coach. He is 0-1 against SC Stat
2022 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Standings (10-10-22)
