BY JOHN DEVLIN, Special to The Post and Courier
Air Force 34, S.C. State 3
AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. — South Carolina State finally got its chance to take on a major college football opponent Saturday in the shadow of Pikes Peak against Air Force at Falcon Stadium.
Buddy Pough's Bulldogs didn't exactly distinguish themselves in a 34-3 loss against a team that was unveiling a new offense installed by first-year coach Troy Calhoun and coming off its worst season (4-8) in 26 years.
"We played hard, but we played poorly on both sides of the ball," said Pough. "I have no way to dress it up and make it sound pretty — it was just ugly. We have a lot of work to do before we play Bethune-Cookman (next week)."
A tepid performance by S.C. State's veteran offensive unit was most disappointing. The Bulldogs managed a paltry 160 yards and just 2.6 yards per play, and failed to reach the red zone.
"I thought after the first few series that we were going to be OK, but (Air Force) made an adjustment or two and put some pressure on us and we sort of stumbled around the rest of the day," said Pough.
Quarterback Cleveland McCoy, a three-year starter and the key to the Bulldogs' offensive success, went 10 for 22 passing for 84 yards, and was sacked six times.
"(Cleve) wasn't good, let's just leave it at that," said Pough. "We got beaten up inside and that surprised me a little bit."
The Bulldogs weren't much better on defense, surrendering 455 yards and 27 first downs. Air Force, for one game at least, had the offensive balance Calhoun craves — 279 yards rushing, 176 passing.
"I was impressed by our energy and, by and large, our execution," said Calhoun.
The Falcons' headliners were quarterback Shaun Carney, a four-year starter, and new feature running back Kip McCarthy.
Carney completed 11 of 18 passes to seven different receivers and also ran for 50 yards on 13 carries, and orchestrated four touchdowns and a field goal on the Falcons first six possessions.
"Getting off to a good start with the new offense takes a little pressure off our backs," said Carney, who went over the 6,000-yard career total offense mark in his senior season opener.
McCarthy, a senior who came into the game with 144 yards rushing on 29 carries on his AFA resume, darted for 129 yards and one touchdown on 22 yards vs. the Bulldogs.
S.C. State's lone highlights came in the kicking game.
Florence native Stephen Grantham drilled a 51-yard field goal on the last play of the first half, and Aaron Haire averaged 40.9 yards on seven points, including a booming 61-yarder in the first quarter.
"Kicking at altitude is a lot better than kicking in South Carolina," said Grantham.
Grantham, who missed a 49-yarder late in the first quarter, just missed matching the school record distance of 52 yards set by Cedric Oglesby in 1998.
"I overcompensated for a little cross wind on that first one, but I hit (the 51-yarder) pretty good and knew it was good right away."
Air Force 34, S.C. State 3
AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. — South Carolina State finally got its chance to take on a major college football opponent Saturday in the shadow of Pikes Peak against Air Force at Falcon Stadium.
Buddy Pough's Bulldogs didn't exactly distinguish themselves in a 34-3 loss against a team that was unveiling a new offense installed by first-year coach Troy Calhoun and coming off its worst season (4-8) in 26 years.
"We played hard, but we played poorly on both sides of the ball," said Pough. "I have no way to dress it up and make it sound pretty — it was just ugly. We have a lot of work to do before we play Bethune-Cookman (next week)."
A tepid performance by S.C. State's veteran offensive unit was most disappointing. The Bulldogs managed a paltry 160 yards and just 2.6 yards per play, and failed to reach the red zone.
"I thought after the first few series that we were going to be OK, but (Air Force) made an adjustment or two and put some pressure on us and we sort of stumbled around the rest of the day," said Pough.
Quarterback Cleveland McCoy, a three-year starter and the key to the Bulldogs' offensive success, went 10 for 22 passing for 84 yards, and was sacked six times.
"(Cleve) wasn't good, let's just leave it at that," said Pough. "We got beaten up inside and that surprised me a little bit."
The Bulldogs weren't much better on defense, surrendering 455 yards and 27 first downs. Air Force, for one game at least, had the offensive balance Calhoun craves — 279 yards rushing, 176 passing."I was impressed by our energy and, by and large, our execution," said Calhoun.
The Falcons' headliners were quarterback Shaun Carney, a four-year starter, and new feature running back Kip McCarthy.
Carney completed 11 of 18 passes to seven different receivers and also ran for 50 yards on 13 carries, and orchestrated four touchdowns and a field goal on the Falcons first six possessions.
"Getting off to a good start with the new offense takes a little pressure off our backs," said Carney, who went over the 6,000-yard career total offense mark in his senior season opener.
McCarthy, a senior who came into the game with 144 yards rushing on 29 carries on his AFA resume, darted for 129 yards and one touchdown on 22 yards vs. the Bulldogs.
S.C. State's lone highlights came in the kicking game.
Florence native Stephen Grantham drilled a 51-yard field goal on the last play of the first half, and Aaron Haire averaged 40.9 yards on seven points, including a booming 61-yarder in the first quarter.
"Kicking at altitude is a lot better than kicking in South Carolina," said Grantham.
Grantham, who missed a 49-yarder late in the first quarter, just missed matching the school record distance of 52 yards set by Cedric Oglesby in 1998.
"I overcompensated for a little cross wind on that first one, but I hit (the 51-yarder) pretty good and knew it was good right away."
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