By THOMAS GRANT JR., T&D Senior Sports Writer
COLUMBIA - For the 73,095 fans in attendance Saturday night, the first-ever matchup between the University of South Carolina and South Carolina State was a festive experience.
Although the 38-3 outcome clearly went in favor of the host team and 12th-ranked Gamecocks, even Bulldog fans had to take pride in how the team and the Marching 101 looked in front of the largest audience either has ever performed before in school history.
The closer to the gridiron, however, the more it became obvious the inaugural meeting was a painful experience for the Bulldogs. As SCSU huddled with USC players at midfield for a post-game prayer, both defensive backs Markee Hamlin and Travance Jackson were staying upright on crutches.
The same was true for linebacker David Erby, who along with wide receiver Tron Jackson, suffered a season-ending knee injury during practice. Add BANDIT Marshall McFadden’s right elbow injury and the fact running back William Ford, who had his first 100-yard game this season, tight end Octavius Darby and wide receiver Tre’ Young were dealing with ankle and leg injuries and it would have been easy for SCSU head football coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough to second-guess his decision to play two Football Bowl Subdivision teams in the first three weeks of the season.
Instead, Pough would not change a thing save for the outcome and the rash of injuries. If anything, he believes even stronger that the Bulldogs will reap benefits from arguably the toughest opening three-game stretch any SCSU team has faced in its 100 years of existence.
"I’m encouraged," he said. "I think we’ll be okay. We’ve got some big, big football games left and we go back home next week, finally. This has been a long stretch. That three games on the road. One week, we’re in the Rocky Mountains and the next week, we’re on the Atlantic Ocean (in Daytona Beach, Fla. at Bethune-Cookman) and now, heck, we’re in the earthquake, doggone Williams-Brice (Stadium). It’s been a tough three weeks, but I’m glad to be getting back home and hopefully, we can go back home and play good the next week (against Winston-Salem State) and have a week up and heal up from our injuries."
The key for SCSU is getting most of the injured players healed up in time for the resumption of Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play. With Saturday’s home game against Winston-Salem State not counting in the standings, the Bulldogs could conceivably use the game the same way USC had hoped to do - give the starters enough time to stay sharp then pull them for the rest of the game.
Getting back four players (wide receivers Terrance Smith and Phillip Morris, defensive lineman Patrick Brooks and place-kicker Stephen Grantham) suspended for Saturday’s game for team rule violations should help in the depth department.
Even with Smith’s return, the Bulldogs will need to find a way to help an anemic passing game. Through three games, the Bulldogs rank last in the MEAC in passing offense, passing efficiency and next to last in Red Zone Offense.
Although backup Malcolm Long appeared in two series for the Bulldogs, Pough is not ready to rush the former ‘Mr. Football’ into the limelight.
"Cleve (McCoy) is our guy," he said. "He’s going to be our guy and Malcolm will be our guy down the road. All we’re trying to do with him right now is give him a little taste from time to time."
Bruised Gamecocks
Even in victory, USC took its lumps as two key starters in defensive back Brandon Isaac and defensive tackle Nathan Pepper left the game with injuries.
For Isaac, it was his oft-troubled right shoulder which once again betrayed the former T&D Region Player of the Year out of Blackville-Hilda. It was listed as a sprain, although USC head football coach Steve Spurrier gave no indication as to when Isaac will return.
In Pepper’s case, the pain came as made one of the biggest defensive plays of his career. With SCSU up 3-0 early, Pepper stepped in front of a Cleveland McCoy pass and returned it 19 yards for the school’s first interception return for a touchdown in two years.
As Peppers galloped untouched into the endzone, he quickly went down with was later diagnosed as a sprained left knee. He’s scheduled for an MRI to determine the severity of the injury.
"An injury is something you can’t predict," USC defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix said. "If you’re going to get hurt, get hurt scoring."
Instant replay works for SCSU
Playing at Williams-Brice Stadium afforded SCSU the rare opportunity of challenge questionable plays through instant replay. In two instances during the first half, the protested calls went in the Bulldogs’ favor.
SCSU challenged the spotting of a fourth-and-one quarterback sneak by USC backup quarterback Tommy Beecher. After a five-minute review, the review overturned the original call and gave possession back to the Bulldogs.
Minutes later, USC challenged a fumble recovered by SCSU defensive lineman Keyon Brooks which was caused by a hard hit by a blitzing Ryan Botts. The ruling on the field stood and SCSU won its second challenge.
Record game crowd for SCSU
The 73,095 fans at Williams-Brice Stadium was the largest crowd an SCSU football team had play before, breaking the mark of 68,000 set in 2004 when the Bulldogs played Tennessee State at the Circle City Classic held in Indianapolis, Ind.
Lesson learned
SCSU’s inability to deal with the crowd noise at Williams-Brice Stadium resulted in four false start penalties in the first half. In the long run, however, Pough believes those difficulties will help the Bulldogs in future FBS matchups, including a 2011 rematch with USC.
"It’s a learning experience," he said. "Now that we’ve done it one time under these circumstances, the next time we’ll do better."
Playing from behind
SCSU dropped to 4-14 overall in games in which it trailed at halftime under Pough. The 3-0 deficit was also the first time USC had trailed in a game all season. The lead lasted exactly 80 seconds for SCSU.
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