Games Notes: Howard vs. South Carolina State
The Game
This is a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference match-up between
the Bulldogs of South Carolina State University and the Bison of
Howard University. The Bulldogs (7-1 overall, 5-0 MEAC) are coming
off an impressive 52-10 win over Delaware State this past Saturday
in Orangeburg, SC. Howard University (2-6 overall, 0-5 MEAC) is
looking for its first conference win after dropping a 41-6 decision
to Norfolk State on the road this past Saturday.
Following the Action
Bulldog fans can catch all the action on WOIC Radio, the
Bulldog Network...Bobby Gist will call the play by play and Ernest
Robinson will provide color commentary.
The Coaches
South Carolina State is coached by Oliver "Buddy"
Pough (South Carolina State '75), who is in his eighth
season as head coach and has a 64-25 in eight-plus seasons. Howard
University is coached by Carey Bailey (University
of Tennessee, '92) who is 7-23 in three-plus seasons.
New Additions
Veteran assistant coach Nick Calcutta takes over the
duties of offensive line coach and offensive coordinator...Jafar
Williams, a former standout wide receiver at the University of
Maryland, takes over as wide receivers coach for Alvin
Harper...Reggie Ellis enters his first season as defensive line
coach and William Smith will serve as kicking coach.
Next Up
The Bulldogs will host Morgan State next Saturday while
the Bison will host Bethune-Cookman University at home for a senior
day 1:00 p.m. kick off.
Setting the Scene
Howard
Offense: The offense will be led by red-shirt senior QB FLOYD HAIGLER (105 of 244, 1077 yards, 6 TDs, 7 interceptions) sophomore WR WILLIE CARTER (35 catches, 451yards, 4TDs) senior WR BRANDON SHERMAN (19 receptions 243 yards, 1 TD) sophomore WR BRANDON DRAYTON (11 catches, 57 yards)and freshman RB ANDRA WILLIAMS (92 rushes, 343 yards, 1TD).
Defense: The defense is led by sophomore LB IAN SIMON (26 solos, 29 assists, 3.0 tackles for losses, a fumble recovery), red-shirt freshman OBL KEITH POUGH (33 solos, 22 assists, 12.5 tackles for losses, an interception) red-shirt senior LB ROBERT PARKER (19 solos, 22 assists, 2.0 tackles for losses) senior DE WILL CRONER (17 solos, 21 assists, 7.0 tackles for losses, 2.5 sacks, an interception a forced fumble) senior S ARANDO JAMISON (23 solos, 18 assists, 2.5 tackles for losses, a sack, an interception, 6 pass deflections) and senior DT JAMES ROBINSON (4 solos, 15 assists, 3.0 tackles for losses).
Bison Hooves: Howard has lost 16 straight conference games dating back to 2007...the Bison ranked second in the conference in 4th down conversions...WILLIAMS ranks 7th in the conference in rushing...HAIGLER ranks 4th in passing yards...CARTER is third in the conference in receptions per game and fifth in receiving yards...PATRICK WOLFF leads the conference in most punts per games and ranks fourth in over all punting...POUGH and SIMON are tied for 7th in tackles in the conference...POUGH ranks 2nd in the MEAC in tackles for losses and is the highest rated freshman in that category...JAMISON is tied for 6th in passes defended...Pough is tied for 17th nationally in tackles for losses...Howard has 15 players from the Palmetto state on its roster.
South Carolina State
Offense: The offense will be led by junior QB MALCOLM LONG (129 of 192, 1,583 yards, 11TDs, 4 interceptions) senior RB WILLIAM FORD (130 carries, 655 yards 6TDs) senior RB TRAVIL JAMISON (67 rushes, 242 yards, 5 TDs), senior WR OLIVER YOUNG (39 catches, 573yds, 5TDs), red-shirt senior WR TERRANCE SMITH (24 catches, 341yards, 2TDs) and red-shirt junior WR RICHARD CHRISTIE (18 catches, 225 yards, 1 TD).
Defense: The defense is led by red-shirt junior LB DAVID ERBY (39 solos, 18 assists, 2.0 tackles for losses, 2 force fumbles) junior LB JULIUS WILKERSON (36 solos, 19 assists, 6.5 tackles for losses, 3.5 sacks) senior DB RAFAEL BUSH (26 solos, 10 assists, an interception, a forced fumble) senior DB MARKEE HAMLIN (25 solos, 10 assists) and red-shirt junior DL JASON AYERS (11 solos, 5 assists, 8.0 tackles for losses, 3.0 sacks).
Bulldog Barks: South Carolina State has won 16 straight MEAC games...the Bulldogs lead the conference in scoring offense, in scoring defense, in rushing defense, in pass efficiency, in kick returns, in sacks, in fewest sacks allowed and in turnover margin...WILLIAM FORD ranks 3rd in the conference in rushing...MALCOLM LONG ranks first in pass efficiency and second in passing offense...YOUNG leads the conference in receptions per game and in kick returns...ERBY ranks third in tackles... SC State is 5th in the nation in turnover margin (plus 12), tied for 6th in pass sacks and tied for 15th in scoring defense....the Bulldogs are ranked as high as Number 10 in the national polls and are Number 1 in the Black College polls.