Sunday, November 22, 2009

South Carolina State 28, North Carolina A&T 10

Ford Breaks MEAC Rushing Record In 28-10 Win Over NC A&T

ORANGEBURG,SC — Senior running back Will Ford had a record-breaking game on "Senior Day" as he rushed for 156 yards 23 carries to lead the South Carolina State Bulldogs to their 19th straight MEAC win and a 28-10 victory over rival N.C. A&T Saturday at Oliver C. Dawson. SC State (10-1, 8-0 MEAC), which secured its second consecutive Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title and back-to-back berths in the FCS playoffs last Saturday in a 37-13 win over Morgan State. Coach Buddy Pough's team finished its second season with a perfect league record. The defense came up big limiting N.C.A&T to just 176 total offensive yards, SC State finished with 458 on the day.



Aggies look to future after 5-6 finish

ORANGEBURG, S.C. -- For 30 minutes, N.C. A&T went toe-to-toe with MEAC football champion South Carolina State on Saturday at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium. It was no contest in the second half. The Aggies played the Bulldogs to a 7-7 draw in the first half, but the FCS playoff-bound hosts pulled away after intermission to close the regular season with a 28-10 win and a 10-1 record. A&T finished with a 5-6 overall record and a 3-5 MEAC mark in Alonzo Lee's first season in charge. Not bad, considering the Aggies won only nine of 56 games from 2004 through 2008.

"I'm proud to be part of the senior class that had a part in turning things around this season," said defensive end Tyre Glasper. "It was a bittersweet way to end the season. "We wanted to challenge for a championship and finish with a winning record. That didn't work out, but we did win five games this year after winning three games last year and none the year before. Now it's up to the guys coming back to keep this going." Lee said the overwhelming youth in the program was something of a curse and a blessing.

Bulldogs want house in order

ORANGEBURG - With a second consecutive MEAC championship in hand, South Carolina State was strictly concerned with style points in Saturday's final regular season game against North Carolina A&T at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium. The idea was to make a final, favorable impression on the FCS seeding committee in the quest to land a first-round home game in the national playoffs for the first time since 1981.

The Bulldogs, ranked No. 7 in all three major FCS polls, downed the improved Aggies 28-10 to close the regular season with a 10-1 record - matching the school record for wins in a season. It was also S.C. State's 19th consecutive conference win - a MEAC record - and ties a school mark for consecutive conference games without a loss. S.C. State now will sweat it out until the pairings are announced at 3 p.m. today. "Getting a home game is what it's all about now," Bulldogs coach Buddy Pough said.

The Bulldog Bite: No. 7 SCSU closes 2009 campaign undefeated in FCS, awaits ...

Inside the locker room of a 7-7 game at halftime with North Carolina A&T, the foreboding words of his mother were on South Carolina State head coach Oliver “Buddy” Pough’s mind. Earlier in the week, M.T. Pough cautioned her son about letting history repeat itself. It was six years ago when the Bulldogs routed North Carolina A&T 49-9 to hand the Aggies a devastating loss prior to opening play in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.

Even with the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship trophy already at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium awaiting presentation from conference president Dennis Thomas, the thought of deja vu in reverse occurring inspired a sense of urgency in Pough as he addressed his team. There was no talk about running back Will Ford closing in on the conference career rushing record or playing host to a first-round home playoff game.

READ MORE, CLICK EACH BLOG TITLE.

READ RELATED ARTICLES:
SC State makes a bid to host FCS playoff game
SC State hopes to hit home run with selection committee
SC State deserves a home game
SC State Bulldogs need your help
South Carolina State holds off Allen 88-81
SC State won't rest even with league title in hand
SC State looking to fulfill multiple goals
SC State team's winning ways offer opportunity
Hometown Pough key to South Carolina State success
Erickson brings stability to the kicking game
Bulldogs clinch MEAC crown
South Carolina moves up FCS

No comments: