ORANGEBURG, SC— SC State (4-5, 2-1 MEAC) will host the visiting Bears of Morgan State (3-5, 2-1 MEAC) Saturday (Nov. 11^th) inside Oliver C. Dawson Stadium on Willie Jeffries Field.
The game marks an pivotal Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) matchup with the final home appearance for retiring coach Buddy Pough as well as thirteen Bulldog seniors.

Both teams need a win to remain in the hunt for a share of the 2023 MEAC title and a berth in the Dec. 16 Celebration Bowl in Atlanta. North Carolina Central (8-1, 3-0 MEAC) sits atop the league standings while SC State (4-5, 2-1 MEAC), Howard (4-5, 2-1 MEAC) and the Bears (3-5, 2-1 MEAC) share the second spot in the league standings. A Bulldog victory today would also keep alive SC State's chance for a winning campaign. A win today, coupled with a victory in the team's season finale at Norfolk State next week, would give SCSU a 6-5 worksheet, sending Pough out with a winning campaign.

Pough and his staff, however, does not expect an easy game against Coach Damon Wilson's team. The Bears (3-5, 2-1 MEAC) have the stingiest defense in the league, allowing just 16.8 ppg. The unit, which also ranks among the top defenses in all of FCS, limited high-scoring league leader NCCU to 16 points in a 16-10 loss to the Eagles earlier.
ATTRACTION;
SC State has declared today as "Buddy Pough Day, recognizing the retiring Pough for his 22-year tenure at the university. This year marks his final season as head coach and his impact on his alma mater.
"Establishing Buddy Pough Day was a way for us to show our appreciation for our legendary Coach Buddy Pough," SC State President Alexander Conyers said. "Coach Pough is more than just a legend on our campus and the world of college sports, he is a living example to our students who epitomizes a loyal alumnus. So, we are delighted to honor him in this way."

Pough is a long-time Bulldog who graduated from the university, and in addition to his 22 years as head coach, also worked seven years as an assistant football coach (1979 – 1985) under the late William "Bill" Davis. This makes a total of 29 years on the Bulldog sidelines as a coach. He also played four seasons at SC State.

Also, SC State will be celebrating Senior and Military Appreciation Day. The SC State seniors will be saluted in a special pre-game ceremony.

In addition, the 1973 football team, the inaugural team of legendary head coach emeritus Willie Jeffries -- which held its 50-year Reunion last night (Nov. 10) with a banquet -- will be recognized at halftime. Jeffries inherited a 1-9 team when he took the reins at his alma mater in 1973. The Bulldog alumnus directed an immediate turnaround as SC State compiled a 7-3-1 record, finished as runner-up in the MEAC and earned a berth in the Orange Blossom Classic opposite Florida A&M. The field here at Oliver C. Dawson is named in Jeffries' honor. Pro football Hall of Famers Harry Carson and Donnie Shell were among the approximately 40 players from the 1973 team returning the reunion.
 
THE SERIES
The Bulldogs and Bears are meeting for the 43rd time in a series that began in 1971 when both became charter members of the MEAC. SC State enjoys a 34-7-1 edge in the rivalry, however, the Bears prevailed 41-14 at Baltimore last season. SC State's last win in the series was a 37-14 triumph at Orangeburg in 2021. The Bear's last win in Orangeburg came during the 2002 season when the Bears won 23-12.
 
BULLDOG NOTES:
True freshman Jawarn Howard was named MEAC Player of the Week and FCS National Freshman of Week last week after rushing for 283 yards and three scores on 27 carries in the Bulldogs' 27-24 win over Howard. He was also named national Offensive Player of the Week by BoxtoRow and FedEx Ground. The Mooresville, NC true freshman had earned MEAC Rookie of the Week honors the previous three weeks. Howell has gone over the 100-yard rushing mark four consecutive weeks. The Bulldogs' Nick Taiste was named MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Week for his outstanding blocking that led to SC State's powerful rushing attack in the victory.

SC STATE OFFENSE:
#2 QB Corey Fields, 6-0, 190 Gr. (81-154-7, 1096 yds., 10TDs); #7 QB Andre Washington, 6-4, 190 r-Fr (9-30-2, 106 yds.); #22 RB Jawarn Howell, 6-1, 204 Fr. (102 rushes, 809 yds., 7TDs); #32  RB Josh Shaw, 5-10, 185 r-Fr. (49 rushes, 249 yds., 1TD); #10 RB Tyler Smith, 5-10, 185 r-Fr. (42 rushes, 260 yds., 2TDs);Justin Smith-Brown, 6-1, 190 r-Jr. (19 rcpts., 322 yds., 3TDs); #5 TE Keshawn Toney, 6-2, 230 Gr. (17 rcpts., 209 yds., 4TDs); #13 WR Jordan Smith, 5-10, 175 r-So. (13 rcpts., 184 yds.,1TD); #78 RG Nick Taiste, 6-3, 295 r-Jr., #76 C Eric Brown Jr., 6-3, 305 r-Jr.

SC State Defense:
#11 LB Aaron Smith, 6-2, 218 r-Jr. (40T, 16A, 9TFL, 4Sacks); #1 S Jaylen Evans, 6-0, 185 Gr. (24T, 7A, 1TFL, 4PBUs); #17 LB Zan Dunham, 6-2, 215 So. (23T, 7A, 1FF); #29 LB Jadin Jones, 6-2, 215 Fr. (21T, 10A, 5TFL, 1FF.); #25 CB Jamare Benjamin, 6-2, 180 r-Jr. (28T, 9A, 3Ints.,2PBUs)., #34 DT Jeblonski Green, 6-2, 285 Gr., #43 DE Patrick Godbolt, 6-3, 235 Gr.
 
Morgan State Offense:
 #6 QB Dominique Anthony, 6-1, 213 So. (55-104-3, 524 yds., 3TDs); #7 QB Tahj Smith, 6-2, 190 Fr. (15-35-1, 196 yds., 2TDs); #0 RB J,J. Davis, 89 rushes, 402 yds., 1 TD); #5 RB Jabriel Johnson, 5-9, 205 Sr.); #12 WR Treveyon Pratt, 6-2, 195 Sr. (23 rcpts., 311 yds., 2TDs); #19 WR Demier Shippley, 6-4, 285 Jr., (13 rcpts., 13 rcpts., 141 yds., 1TD). RG Mosula Tapusoa; C Dexter Carr
 
Morgan State Defense:
#40 LB Erick Hunter, 6-4, 210 Jr. (34, 24A, 7TFL, 3Sacks 1int.); #23 DB Jordon Toles, 6-1, 209 Sr. (25T, 23A, 1TFL, 3Ints.); #0 DE Elijah Williams (27T, 16A, 10 TFL, 6 Sacks, 2FF); #54 LB Lawrence Richardson, 6-1, 215 Sr. (18T, 20A, 2 TFL, 2Sacks).
 
The Coaches
SC State's Buddy Pough (SC State '75) is in his 22nd and final season as head coach at his alma mater. He owns a 150-92 overall mark (114-42 MEAC).
Morgan State's Damon Wilson (Bowie State, '98) is in his second season as Bear head coach and owns a 7-12 record at Morgan State and a 96-57 worksheet a head coach
 
 2023 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Standings (thru 11-4-23)
 Overall   MEAC
NC Central        8-1         3-0
Howard              4-5         2-1
SC State           4-5         2-1
Morgan State    3-5         2-1
Norfolk State     2-7         0-3
Delaware State 1-8         0-3
 
Last Week's Results (Nov. 04, 2023)
SC State 27, Howard 24
Morgan State 24, Delaware State, 17
NC Central 38, Norfolk State 24
 
This Week's Games (Nov. 11, 2023)
 Morgan State @ SC State, 12
Norfolk State @ Delaware State, 12
NC Central @ Howard, 3:30