SCSU versus FAMU

Times and Democrat

FLORIDA A&M (2-3, 1-1) at SOUTH CAROLINA STATE (2-3, 1-1) 2 p.m.

AT STAKE: It's a "must-win" game for both teams as another defeat would drop the loser out of contention for the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship. SCSU head football coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough is looking to remain perfect against the Rattlers (4-0) during his tenure and remain undefeated (12-0) in nationally-televised games.

LAST OUTING: SCSU def. by Norfolk State 20-13 (double overtime); FAMU def. by Winston-Salem State 27-23

LAST YEAR'S RECORDS: SCSU (7-4, 6-2 in the MEAC); FAMU (7-4, 5-3 in the MEAC)

THE LAST TIME THEY MET: (Oct. 7, 2006) won by SCSU 28-21. "Thunder and Lighting" carried the day for the Bulldogs as DeShawn Baker and Will Ford combined for 285 of the team's 315 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Travance Jackson accounted for SCSU's opening score by recovering a punt blocked by Phillip Adams and returning it 4 yards for a touchdown. The Bulldogs led by as many as 21 points before FAMU closed the gap with two, fourth-quarter touchdowns. SCSU would hold on to extend its longest winning streak in the series.

SERIES RECORD: FAMU leads 30-14-2

FIRST MEETING: 1930

ALL-TIME RECORDS: SCSU (372-242-28); FAMU (531-263-23)

FIRST SEASONS OF FOOTBALL: SCSU (1907); FAMU (1906)

Photo: SCSU Head Football Coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough

HEAD COACHES & RECORDS: SCSU's Oliver "Buddy" Pough (42-20 overall, 30-11 MEAC) 6th season; FAMU's Rubin Carter (15-12 overall, 11-8 in the MEAC) 3rd season

DID YOU KNOW: SCSU head football coach Oliver "Buddy" Pough led Fairfield-Central to a Class 3-A title in 1996...FAMU head football coach Rubin Carter played 12 seasons with the NFL's Denver Broncos, where he was an "Orange Crush" teammate of former Bulldog Barney Chavous...SCSU has three former players (Deacon Jones, Marion Motley and Harry Carson) inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, more than all the Palmetto State's Football Bowl Subdivision, Football Championship Division and Division II programs combined. FAMU does have four entries in the College Football Pro Football Hall of Fame, with former head coach Billy Joe receiving induction this year, joining fellow former Rattlers' coach Jake Gaither, and former players guard Tyrone McGriff and halfback Willie "Galloping Gal" Galimore....FAMU is the only historically black college to win the Division I-AA (now the Football Championship Subdivision) national championship, taking it in 1978..Both SCSU and FAMU had four players make the preseason All-MEAC first-team. The Rattlers' First-team selection at quarterback Albert Chester, however, quit the team last week...FAMU is playing its third straight game away from Tallahassee, while SCSU is playing just its second home game...SCSU has won seven straight games at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium dating back to the 2005 season...Pough is 4-0 against Florida A&M...Under Pough, the Bulldogs are 38-5 when leading or tied at halftime and 4-15 when trailing.