CHARLESTON, S.C. — No. 21 South Carolina State looks to return to its winning ways Saturday when the Bulldogs visit Charleston Southern for a noon kickoff at Buccaneer Field.

SC State (5-1) opened the season with five straight wins before falling to The Citadel 34-31 on Oct. 3 in Orangeburg. The Bulldogs, who climbed as high as No. 12 in the FCS rankings, enter the weekend ranked No. 21.

Charleston Southern (2-3) has dropped two of three, including a 12-10 loss to Gardner-Webb on Oct. 3 in the third installment of the North/South BBQ Bowl. The Buccaneers defeated The Citadel 26-20 on Sept. 12 and routed Point 65-0 on Sept. 19.

The Bulldogs have been dominant on both sides of the ball through six games. SC State averages 44.33 points per game while allowing just 14.17, and its defense has recorded 21 sacks while holding opponents to 2.7 yards per rushing attempt. The Buccaneers counter with a defense that has limited opponents to 16.6 points per game, though Charleston Southern has struggled to move the ball consistently, averaging 276 yards of total offense per contest.

Both teams lean on veteran quarterbacks. SC State's Keely Watson has completed 64.8 percent of his passes for 1,064 yards and 11 touchdowns against three interceptions, while Charleston Southern's Lek Powell has thrown for 552 yards and three scores with one interception.

KICKOFF: Noon ET, Saturday, Oct. 10 SITE: Buccaneer Field, Charleston, S.C. RECORDS: SC State 5-1; Charleston Southern 2-3 SERIES: The last time the two teams met Charleston Southern knocked SC State 31-24, which led to eight (8^th) straight wins for the Bulldogs who went on to capture the HBCU National Championship in 2025.

SC State Breakdown

• Record: 5-1 overall, 0-0 MEAC
• Ranking: No. 21 (Stats Perform FCS Top 25)
• Points per game: 44.33 (allowed: 14.17)
• Total offense: 459.7 yards per game (248.0 rushing, 211.7 passing)
• Total defense: 231.0 yards per game allowed
• Sacks: 21 for 139 yards lost
• Third-down conversions: 42.47 percent (31 of 73)
• Red-zone scoring: 24 of 25 (21 touchdowns)
• Penalties: 46 for 396 yards (66.0 per game)
• Scoring by quarters: 87 (1st), 68 (2nd), 56 (3rd), 55 (4th)
• Key wins: Savannah State 87-0; Virginia State 66-0; at Furman 20-17
• Last game: Lost to The Citadel 34-31

Top Statistical Leaders
Rushing

• Mason Pickett-Hicks — 82 carries, 703 yards, 8.6 avg., 4 TD (117.2 ypg)
• Josh Shaw — 55 carries, 230 yards, 4.2 avg., 10 TD

Passing

• Keely Watson — 83 of 128, 1,064 yards, 11 TD, 3 INT, 158.34 rating (177.3 ypg)
• Ronnie Robinson — 20 of 31, 206 yards, 2 TD, 141.63 rating

Receiving

• DJ Maultsby — 12 catches, 275 yards, 22.9 avg., 3 TD
• Malaqhi Jones — 15 catches, 185 yards, 1 TD
• Troy Hillman — 11 catches, 160 yards, 1 TD
• Mason Pickett-Hicks — 13 catches, 121 yards, 3 TD

Scoring

• Josh Shaw — 60 points (10 TD)
• Jett Jackson — 50 points (7 FG, 29 PAT)
• Mason Pickett-Hicks — 42 points (7 TD)

Field Goals

• Jett Jackson — 7 of 8, long of 52, including 2 of 2 from 40-49 yards

Tackles

• Marquis Lane-Owens — 26.0 (16 solo, 10 assisted)
• Ka'von Chisolm — 22.0 (10.5 tackles for loss, 7.0 sacks)
• Roderick Kelly Jr. — 22.0 (3.5 TFL, 1.0 sack)
• Jadin Jones — 20.0; Jordan Dollard — 20.0 (7.0 TFL, 3.5 sacks)

Interceptions

• Zanjerry Dunham — 1 for 25 yards, 1 TD; Jabin Ford, Tyler Jones — 1 each

Punting

• Maxceon Cobb — 26 punts, 44.1 avg., long of 58, 9 inside the 20

All-Purpose

• Mason Pickett-Hicks — 824 yards (137.3 per game)

Charleston Southern Breakdown

• Record: 2-3 overall, 0-2 Big South-OVC
• Points per game: 23.60 (allowed: 16.60)
• Total offense: 276.0 yards per game (141.4 rushing, 134.6 passing)
• Total defense: 292.2 yards per game allowed
• Sacks: 5 for 25 yards lost; sacks allowed: 23 for 173 yards
• Third-down conversions: 32.31 percent (21 of 65)
• Red-zone scoring: 8 of 11 (all eight touchdowns)
• Penalties: 24 for 238 yards (47.6 per game)
• Scoring by quarters: 28 (1st), 16 (2nd), 37 (3rd), 24 (4th), 13 (OT)
• Key wins: at The Citadel 26-20; Point 65-0
• Last game: Lost to Gardner-Webb 12-10

Top Statistical Leaders
Rushing

• Hakeem Watters — 41 carries, 297 yards, 7.2 avg., 5 TD (59.4 ypg)
• Dwayne Wright — 40 carries, 181 yards, 4.5 avg., 2 TD
• Sharode Richardson — 4 carries, 84 yards, 21.0 avg., 1 TD

Passing

• Lek Powell — 48 of 93, 552 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT, 109.97 rating (110.4 ypg)
• Jared Echols — 9 of 19, 121 yards, 1 INT, 90.34 rating

Receiving

• Quay Kindell — 11 catches, 141 yards, 0 TD
• Mekhi Campfield — 10 catches, 116 yards, 2 TD
• KD Dorsey — 9 catches, 116 yards, 0 TD
• TJ Smith — 7 catches, 95 yards, 0 TD

Scoring

• Hakeem Watters — 30 points (5 TD)
• Matt Rolader — 22 points (4 FG, 10 PAT)
• Mekhi Campfield, Dwayne Wright — 12 points each

Field Goals

• Matt Rolader — 4 of 4, long of 52, including 4 of 4 from 40 yards and beyond

Tackles

• Steve Zayachkowsky — 41.0 (13 solo, 28 assisted; 3.5 TFL, 2.0 sacks)
• Tristan Lennon — 28.0 (3.0 TFL, 1.0 sack, 4 pass breakups)
• Mylan Bowen — 26.0
• Josiah Wyatt — 23.0; CJ Landrum — 17.0

Interceptions

• Kason Hooks — 2 for 62 yards, 1 TD; Anthony Paulk — 1 for 24 yards

Punting

• Baxter Pearce — 27 punts, 40.6 avg., long of 55, 9 fair catches

All-Purpose

• Hakeem Watters — 313 yards (62.6 per game)
• Quay Kindell — 301 yards (60.2 per game)