ORANGEBURG, SC.— SC State Bulldogs (4-2, 0-0 MEAC) will turn their attention to Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play as the host the visiting Hornets of Delaware State (1-6, 0-0 MEAC) Saturday (Oct.26) inside Oliver. C. Dawson Stadium/Willie Jeffries Field.
INSIDE LOOK THE GAME
SC State has won three straight contests, including a 30-3 home triumph over Fort Valley State last Saturday. Coach Chennis Berry's team, which improved to 4-2 on the season is seeking to get off to a winning start in the league. Today's game is the first of five straight MEAC games for SC State. The visiting Hornets, meanwhile, who have struggled all season, have lost four in a row, including a 23-0 setback at Robert Morris last week. The game provides Coach Lee Hull's squad an opportunity to snap its four-game slide and get off to a winning start in league play. Despite the Hornets' slow start and unimpressive record, the Bulldogs' Berry is not taking Delaware State lightly.
"It's MEAC time," Berry said at his weekly press conference. "It is time to go 1-0 in the MEAC. Delaware State (despite its record) will be a challenge for our team. Coach Lee Hull is a good coach. They (the Hornets) have a dual threat QB (6-1, 190 r-So.) in Marqui Adams, a running back (6-1, 218 Gr. Jaden Sutton) who is averaging 6.3 ypc, and a defense that does an excellent job. It is important that we eliminate all distractions and focus on our main objective – to win a football game."
SC State has been impressive at times during the season; however, Coach Berry is looking for more consistency from his team. "It's important that we play well and focus on our main goal – to go 1-0 every Saturday," Berry said. "We have looked very good at times, playing well at all three phases of the game, offense defense, special teams but we must have all three going well more consistently."
QB
Eric Phoenix, RBs Deontra Duehart and
KZ Adams, and WRs
Caden High and
Justin Smith-Brown power the Bulldog offense. The OL is led by veterans
Cam Johnson,
Nick Taister and
Eric Brown, Jr. The defensive charge is spearheaded by All-MEAC LB
Aaron Smith, DL
Ashaad Hall,
Josh Barker, and John Hannibal; and DBs
Diego Addison and
Daythan Peterson. Punter
Dyson Roberts and placekicker
Kyle Gallegos also play major roles for the Bulldogs.
THE ATTRACTION: South Carolina State will be celebrating Homecoming 2024. Alumni and supporters throughout the country will return to campus to reminisce, share success stories, and offer support. Current students, the community and others will also be on hand to enjoy the festivities. A special group of individuals will be recognized at halftime, including recently retired head football coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough and Mrs. Pough, who served as grand marshals of the Homecoming Parade; Miss Homecoming, Mr. Homecoming (LB
Aaron Smith), and Miss National Alumni Association.
Players to Watch
SC STATE OFFENSE: #7 QB
Eric Phoenix, 6-3, 210 Sr. (101-169-6, 62.0 Pct., 1450 yds., 10TDs; 41 rushes, 97 yds., 0TD; #3 RB
Deondra Duehart, 6-2, 215 Jr. (95 rushes, 392 yds., 5TDs); #17 RB
KZ Adams, 5-8, 185 Jr. (46 rushes, 252 yds., 1TDs); #0 WR
Caden High, 5-10, 160 So. (35 rcpts., 495 yds.2TD; #6 WR
Justin Smith-Brown, 6-1, 190 Sr. (25 rcpts., 365 yds., 2TD); #5 TE
Keshawn Toney , 6-3, 255 Gr. (9 rcpts., 134 yds., 0TD);
#1 RB
Einaj Carter (16 rcpts., 235 yds., 3TDs); #78 OL
Nick Taiste, 6-3, 300 Sr. (Preseason All-MEAC, Preseason All-American; MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Week, twice); #76 OC Eric Brown, Sr., 6-3, 305 (Preseason All-MEAC); #73 OL
Cam Johnson, 6-4, 300 Sr.)
SC STATE DEFENSE: #0 DL
Josh Barker, 5-10, 255 So. (21T/9A, 2 TFL, 1.5 Sacks); #11 LB
Aaron Smith, 6-2, 230 Gr. (16T/9A, 1TFL, 0.5 Sacks.); #4
Daythan Peterson, 5-10, 190 Sr. (22T/1A, 3TFL); #19
Ashaad Hall, 6-4, 235 Jr. (17T/6A, 7.5TFL, 5Sacks.); #41 6-3, 315, 14T/6, 4.5TFL; #12
Jarod Washington, 6-2, 188 Sr. (17T/3, 2PBU); #1
Jayden Broughton, 6-2, 235 DL (12T/2A, 3.5TFL, 3.5Sacks)
DELAWARE STATE OFFENSE: #5 QB Marqui Adams, 6-1, 190 r-So. (92-156-3, 1024 yds., 7TDs; 79 rushes, 264 yds., 2TDs); #1 RB Jaden Sutton, 6-1, 218 Gr. (99 rushes, 622 yds., 5TDs); #20 RB Jayden Jenkins, 5-10, 180 Jr. (26 rushes, 113 yds., 1TD); #3 WR NyGhee, 6-1, 195 r-Jr. (21 rcpts., 280 yds, 1TDs); #81 WR Kristian Tate, 6-2, 175 So. (19 rcpts., 274 yds., 2TD); #88 WR Kyree Benton, 6-1, 175 So. (20 rcpts., 222 yds., 2TDs)
DELAWARE STATE DEFENSE :#27 DB Kahleef Jimmison, 5-10, 186 Jr. (26T/10A, 5TFL, 1 Sack, 1Int., 1PBU).
#0 LB Charles Brown, Jr., 6-2, 235 r-Jr. (18T/13A, 1TFL, 1PBU); #44 LB Aaron Willis, 6-0, 225 r-Sr. (19T/11A, 2PBU),
#42 DB Christian Garrett, 6-3, 200 r-Fr. (14T/12A, 1Int., 2PBU, 1Blk); #11Barry Wagner, 6-2, 200 r-Jr. (17T/9A, 1Int., 4PBU); #45 LB Maurio Goings, 6-0, 175 Gr. (16T/7A)
THE SERIES: The SC State Bulldogs and the visiting Delaware State Hornets are meeting for the 49
th time in a series that began in 1971 when both became Charter members of the MEAC. The Bulldogs lead the rivalry 31-16 and prevailed 35-7 at Dover last season. The Hornets' last win in the rivalry was a 17-14 triumph at Dover in 2017.
THE COACHES : SC State's Chennis Berry (Savannah State '94) is in his first season as Bulldog head coach. He is 4-2 at SCSU and 31-9 as a head coach.
Delaware State's Lee Hull (Holy Cross '88) is in his second season as coach of the Wildcats and owns a 2-16 record at DSU.
ABOUT SC STATE ATHLETICS
South Carolina State University is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level intercollegiate athletic program. The university currently fields teams in 14 sports: women's volleyball, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's indoor track & field, softball, men's and women's outdoor track and field, women's soccer and football with all teams competing in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), except for women's soccer.
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