Pough looks toward Saturday's showdown with Norfolk State

By THOMAS GRANT JR., T&D Senior Sports Writer

Call it a productive, non-productive week for the South Carolina State football team.

The Bulldogs used the just-completed bye to get several key players healthy as well as fine-tune an offense which has struggled to put up points during the first four games. Now it's time, according to SCSU head coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough, to focus on the stretch run of the season starting this Saturday at Norfolk State.

"We've gotten one season done and now we're going into the next ... with all of the (Mid-Eastern-Athletic Conference) games one game after the next," said Pough at Monday's press conference. "It's going to be pretty important that we play good from this point on. It's going to be tough. The league in general has shown itself to be a good bit stronger and anybody has beaten anybody up to this point."

The idle week allowed Pough to watch the Spartans on television last Thursday when they defeated North Carolina A&T 50-20. Although Pough is 5-0 against Norfolk State during his tenure, he's more than impressed with what the Spartans have done this season under third-year head coach Pete Adrian.

"They're a lot better," he said. "They're 3-1, but their only loss was to Rutgers. All of those other games they pretty much dominated. They really got after (Bethune-Cookman) in the second half (of a 38-31 comeback victory). They really played good against (North Carolina) A&T. They were really impressive on both sides of the football against (North Carolina) A&T. Of course, they opened with a win over Virginia State. So I'm sure they're are about as excited as they've ever been in the time that I've been in the league and they've got the best team they've had. So it will be tough."

Pough is concerned about the duel offensive threat Norfolk State presents in this week's Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week quarterback Casey Hansen and burly running back Daryl Jones. If the Bulldogs are unable to contain either of those players, Pough believes it will be a long day for his team. Defense has been a team strength for SCSU as it has allowed just one touchdown in two Football Championship Subdivision games and is ranked second in the MEAC in both turnover margin and first downs allowed.

On the injury front, it appears both offensive tackle Nygel Pearson (hand) and BANDIT Marshall McFadden (right elbow) will sit out as least another week. Center Raymond Harrison (hand), running backs Will Ford and Jonathan Woods (ankles) and tight end Octavius Darby (knee) are expected to play, which should help SCSU with its quest to obtain its offensive continuity - a big reason for the team's lack of production according to Pough.

"We've been moving around, doing so many things, playing so many people, sometimes it gets hard to get them all on the same page," he said. "I'm hoping that we'll be better there. We've played a lot of different offensive linemen which is a little unusual for us. Most times, we kind of settle from within and allow them to kind of fit together. Hopefully, after the open week and the fact that we've had a chance to really try to work and get those guys on the same page, we'll settle in and start playing better."

Pough is hoping for a breakout game from quarterback Cleveland McCoy. Through four games, the fifth-year senior is ranked 10th in the MEAC in total offense (111.3 total yards per game), but is next-to-last in passing efficiency (81.5).

"Cleve's been kind of on and off," he said. "We've got to really hone it in on the things that he does well. Hopefully, we'll find those things this week and we'll approach it from using those things as a foundation as opposed to those things he's hasn't done quite as well."

A victory would allow SCSU to continue to control its own destiny in its hunt for the MEAC title and maintain pace with Delaware State, which plays a Thursday night game against Bethune-Cookman. It would also put the Bulldogs in a favorable position given four of its remaining six games after Saturday will take place in Orangeburg, where they've won seven straight since 2005, and in Charleston.

"If we do well in those situations where we're on the road here early, we can set ourselves up to be in the best shape of all because we have more home games towards the back end of the schedule," Pough said.

POUGH ON REF SUSPENSIONS, MOVE TO SOCON

It was far from a quiet Thursday around the MEAC. The day started with the conference announcing the suspension of three officials for one game following inaccurate calls made during the Sept. 22 game between Bethune-Cookman and Norfolk State.

In the game, the Wildcats were penalized on three offensive plays for blocking below the waist, as well as two pass interference calls, one on offense and one on defense. An evaluation of the plays was made by the conference office and determined that the calls were incorrectly made against the Wildcats.

While voicing no opposition to the action taken, Pough expressed disappointment by the fact it was played out publicly by the conference and Bethune-Cookman officials, specifically head coach Alvin Wyatt.

"I didn't really realize until after the fact ... I still don't know who those guys are, but I think that's something that ought to be handled internally," he said. "I'm a little bit worried by the fact that we seem to be grandstanding some in the conference by simply announcing the fact that we're disciplining officials."

Pough was more reserved in offering his opinion on SCSU Chairman Maurice Washington's request at the board of trustees meeting to look into the possibility of leaving the MEAC for the Southern Conference. While stating it's a decision for those in top leadership like athletics director Charlene Johnson, Pough had no problem with anyone examining the issue.

"I would think that that might be something down the road that might have some merit," Pough said. "I'm sure that it would be something interesting to take a look at. So we'll see."

BULLDOGS vs. SPARTANS

WHO: South Carolina State (2-2, 1-0) at Norfolk State (3-1, 2-0)

WHERE: Dick Price Stadium in Norfolk, Va.

WHEN: 2 p.m. Saturday

RADIO: WQKI (102.9 FM)