S.C. State football's midseason report card

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina  -- As cliché as it sounds, “What a difference a year makes” is really apropos for South Carolina State.

At this point last season, the Bulldogs were involved in a futile effort to avoid their first losing season in 12 years. After an off-season to regroup and reorganize, the coaching staff, lead by head coach Buddy Pough, has S.C. State back in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title hunt.

A win on Saturday over defending champion Bethune-Cookman would put the Bulldogs (5-2, 3-0) back in the driver’s seat for the title and the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. As fans look forward to the “Battle at the Beach,” here’s a mid-season report card on the 2013 S.C. State football team.

Quarterback — B

The head-shaking, fan-frustrating moments are exhibited fewer these days by starter Richard Cue. Under the tutelage of quarterbacks coach Danny Lewis and offensive coordinator Joseph Blackwell, the Florence native has become an efficient, effective leader on the field. This is reflected in an offense which ranks first in the MEAC in scoring (32.4 points per game) and total offense (372 yards per game). Currently the third-highest rated quarterback in the MEAC, Cue has reversed the touchdown/interception ratio in his favor from a year ago and is starting to exhibit those traits which made him a state championship quarterback at Wilson High School. A victory over Bethune-Cookman could very much redefine his legacy in a positive way.

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