SC State Uses Howard Turnovers into an Easy Win
Orangeburg, SC—November 6---South Carolina State rode the rushing of Chris Merrill, the passing of Malcolm Long and an opportunistic defense into a 54-14 win over Howard University in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game at Oliver Dawson Bulldog Stadium.
The 14th ranked Bulldogs set the tone early when Marshall McFadden returned a Randy Liggins, Jr pass 40 yards for the game's first TD. SC State (7-2 overall, 5-1 in the MEAC) missed the PAT but led, 6-0 with less than four minutes into the first quarter.
After the Bison (1-8 overall, 0-6 in the MEAC) failed to move the ball on the next possession, SC State put together a 7-play, 60-yard drive with Chris Merrill capping it off with a 4-yard run to make it, 13-0 at the 7:41 mark.
The Bulldogs added another score a little over two minutes later when Thomas Williams (6 receptions, 96 yards) hauled in a 31-yard pass from Long to end the first quarter in control at 20-0.
SC State tacked on a 40-yard Blake Erickson field goal to start the second quarter before the Bison finally got on the board when Willie Carter (5 receptions, 53 yards, 1 TD) hooked up with Terry Bradden from 30 yards to get within, 23-7.
But the Bulldogs came right back with scores. Long connected with Devin Wherry on a 4-yard TD pass and Merrill added his second TD of the day, this time from 9 yards out as SC State took a 37-7 lead to the locker room.
Neither team was able to score in the third period. Howard's Cameron Alston returned a blocked field goal attempt 37 yards but the Bullodogs closed out the scoring on Merrill's third TD of the day, a Joe Thomas 11-yard fumble return for a TD and a 24-yard field goal by Erickson.
Terry Bradden, a red-shirt freshman QB, came off the bench to complete 17 of 32 for 173 yards and his first TD pass.
Long completed 20 of 29 for 275 yards and 2 TDs to set the school record for total yards passing in a career.