ORANGEBURG, SC—South Carolina State closed out their 2025 homestand in style with a commanding 42-12 win over visiting Howard Saturday (Nov.8) inside Oliver C. Stadium on Willie E. Jeffries Field.
The Bulldogs are undefeated at home winning straight during the
Chennis Berry era. SC State improves to 7-3 overall, 3-0 in the MEAC, while Howard Falls to 4-6 overall, 1-2 in the league.
SC State came out striking early. Running back
Josh Shaw powered the Bulldogs into rhythm with a
one-yard touchdown run to close the first drive, capping a
six play, 60-yard series that set the tone for the afternoon. Moments later, defensive back
Jarod Washington jumped a route, secured the football, and returned it
27 yards for a touchdown at the 9:23 mark in the first quarter.
That play put the Bulldogs ahead 14 to 0 less than six minutes into the game and instantly shifted the emotional balance of competition.
Howard found momentum in the kicking game connecting on a 38-yard field goal early in the second quarter. But the Bulldogs were not done making statements. As the half expired, SC State blocked a field goal attempt and Washington again found the ball in his hands, taking it back across the goal line on the return for a touchdown to give the Bulldogs a 28-3 lead heading into the half.
Quarterback William Atkins IV led the Bulldogs offense with poise, completing 15 of 23 passes for 213 yards and one touchdown, distributing the ball to multiple receivers. His biggest connection came in the third quarter when he hit Jalen Johnson on a 34-yard touchdown strike that stretched the lead and ignited a long sideline celebration. Johnson finished as SC State's top target, recording six receptions for 87 yards.
The ground game complemented the air attack. Shaw ran with conviction and finished with 64 yards on 9 carries, including his first quarter score. Jordan Smith added another touchdown on a six-yard run during a third quarter drive that showcased SC State's offensive balance and physicality up front. The Bulldogs closed the day with 116 rushing yards on 31 attempts.
Defensively, SC State played with discipline and pressure registering four sacks and eleven tackles for loss as team forcing Howard's offense into long yardage situations and keeping the Bison at 1.7 yards per carry on 37 rushing attempts. Washington led the secondary with an interception and five pass breakups, and the defensive front swarmed consistently Josh Barker leading the way with four tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss for 12-yards.
Howard found late scoring with a 48-yard touchdown pass from Terrell Russell to Eric Slater in the fourth quarter, but the outcome had long been secured by then. The Bison totaled 146 passing yards and 63 rushing yards, finishing with 209 yards of offense compared to SC State's 337.
NEXT UP: South Carolina State will hit the national stage with a pivotal Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) showdown with NC Central Friday (Nov. 14) on ESPN2 in Durham, NC. Kickoff is 5:30 p.m.
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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