ORANGEBURG, S.C. (November 3, 2023) --The Howard University football team will be looking to win its third a straight game when it travels to the Palmetto State to take on the Bulldogs of South Carolina State (SCSU) Saturday at 3:30 p.m. inside Oliver Dawson Bulldog Stadium.
 
ON THE AIRWAVES
 
The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and on the Howard University Sports Network with Trevin Jones handling play by play, Nathaniel Henry the color commentary and Sareyah Rudd with sideline interviews.
 
MATCHUP PREVIEW
 
It should be an emotional game as the iconic coach, Buddy Pough, will be coaching his last homecoming at his alma mater.
 
The Bulldogs (3-5 overall, 1-1 MEAC) are coming off a 62-28 road loss to North Carolina Central this past Saturday while Howard (4-4 overall, 2-0 MEAC) registered a 17-10 road win over Delaware State.
 
LAST TIMEOUT
 
Howard again rebounded from a tough first half and made the necessary adjustments in the second half that proved to be the difference against a Hornets team that played their best game of the season. The script is becoming all too familiar with the upperclassmen taking turns coming up with big plays. There was senior running back Jarret Hunter (Mineral, Va.), who had his best all-around game (20 carries for 82 yards and a TD, 2 receptions for 20 yards) of the season.  There was graduate running back/return specialist Ian Wheeler (Houston) with another inspiring kick return that jump started the offense. Then, there was graduate quarterback Quinton Williams (Upper Marlboro, Md.) engineering a masterful 92-yards drive for the go-ahead TD.  Senior do-everything athlete Kasey Hawthorne (Sebring, Fla.) grabbed a career-high eight catches for 107 yards, including a 44-yard TD from Williams.
 
And there was the defense with yet another big play when it mattered most. The week before in the win over Norfolk State, it was All-American Kenny Gallop, Jr. (Portsmouth, Va.), who made a game-saving interception at the goal line to preserve the 27-23 win. This time, it was senior defensive back Ray Willliams's turn. The senior from Detroit is having an outstanding season. His interception and return for 34 yards stopped a potential game-tying rally.
 
The Bison will need the same kind of collective effort if they are to win their third straight for the first time this season
 
WHAT THE COACHES ARE SAYING
 
SC State is coached by Oliver "Buddy" Pough (SC State,'75), who is in his 22^nd season and has a 149-92 career record to date. His conference slate is an impressive 113-43. Howard is led by Larry Scott (South Florida, '00), who is his fourth season with the Bison.
 
SC STATE COACH OLIVER "BUDDY" POUGH
 
"Howard is really, really good. We have our work cut out for us. Coming into this game, we to be a little more on an even keel. We also must figure out who we are as well as something to play for."
 
HOWARD COACH LARRY SCOTT
 
"Basically, it comes down to playing with consistency and taking care of the football."
 
SERIES RECORD
 
Howard won last year's game, 28-14, at Howard to snap a three-game losing streak to the Bulldogs.  Since 2005, SC State holds a 5-4 advantage. The last time that the Bison won in Orangeburg was in 2017.
 
THE PLAYERS
 
SC STATE
 
The young South Carolina State offense is led by its dynamic group of running backs, freshman Jawann Howell (75 carries, 526 yards, 4 TDs), redshirt freshmen Josh Shaw (49 carries, 249 yards), Tyler Smith (39 carries, 231 yards, 2 TDs) and Tyler J. Smith (36 carries, 226 yards, 2 TDs), graduate quarterback Corey Fields, Jr. (78 of 143, 1,077 yards, 10 TDs), J. Smith Brown (17 receptions, 308 yards, 3 TDs) and graduate tight end Keshawn Toney (17 catches, 209 yards, 4 TDs).
 
Defensively, the always tough Bulldogs are led by red-shirt junior linebacker Aaron Smith (33 solos, 15 assists, 9.0 tackles for losses, 4.0 sacks), sophomore linebacker Jadin Jones (18 solos, 8 assists, 4.5 tackles for losses), graduate defensive lineman Partick Godbolt (21 solos, 7 assists, 2.0 tackles for losses), and red-shirt junior defensive backs Jarred Kirksey (11 solos, 5 assists, 7.5 tackles for losses) and Jamare Benjamin (19 solos, 6 assists, 2 interceptions, 2 pass breakups).
 
HOWARD
 
The balanced Bison attack is  led by Wheeler (39 carries, 348 yards, 2 TDs), Hawthorne (19 carries, 179 yards, 4 TDs; 22 receptions, 329 yards, 3 TDs), Hunter (86 carries, 339 yards, 4 TDs; 14 receptions, 162 yards, 2 TDs), sophomore running back Eden James (65 carries, 379 yards, a TD), Williams (127 of 214, 1,545 yards, 11 TDs), redshirt freshman wide receiver Breylin Smith (17 receptions, 184 yards, 2 TDs) and junior wide receiver Richie Ilarraza (24 receptions, 258 yards).
 
Defensively, graduate linebacker Christian White (23 solos, 13 assists, 4.5 sacks and 2 pass breakups), Gallop, Jr. (30 solos, 17 assists, 4.0 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, a fumble recovery, 2 forced fumbles, 2 interceptions), senior safety Carson Hinton (28 solos, 12 assists, 3.5 tackles for a loss and 1.5 sacks), junior LB Terrence Hollon (30 solos,14 assists, team-leading 5.5 tackles for losses 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble) and Williams (26 solos, 7 assists,  2 interceptions)  and graduate defensive lineman Darrian Brokenburr (11 solos, 5 assists, 2 tackles for losses and 2 tackles for losses) have combined to become a force.
 
MEAC STATISTICAL TEAM AND INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
 
The Bulldogs lead the MEAC in rushing offense (199.9 yards per game) and least penalized and in Red Zone defense. They are second in interceptions (7), rushing defense (133.0 yards per game) and scoring offense (22.5 points per game) and are 3rd in total offense (341 yards per game).
 
A strong candidate for MEAC Rookie of the Year, Howell is 3rd in rushing, 5th in all-purpose and scoring and 8th in total offense.  Brown Smith leads the conference in receiving and is 4th in scoring.  Aaron Smith leads the MEAC in tackles for losses and is 4th in both total tackles and tackles for losses.  Senior defensive tackle Patrick Godbolt is 2nd in tackles for losses, Jared Kirksey is 4th in TFLs, Jamare Benjamin is 3rd in interceptions and 6th in passes broken up and Michael Brunson is 7th in passes broken up.is 4th in tackles.
 
The Bison rank 1st in total offense (384.0 yards per game), in 3rd down conversions (53 percent) in pass defense (148.1 yards allowed per game) and in kick returns (24.4 yards per return) and is 2nd total defense (324.8 yards per game), in rushing offense (181.8 ypg), in passing offense (202.3 per game) and in kick returns (24.4 ypr)... individually, James ranks 2nd  the conference in rushing, 4th in all-purpose running and 7th in total offense, Wheeler leads the MEAC in kick returns (27.6 per return) and all-purpose yards and is 7th in rushing...Williams leads the MEAC in passing, is 2nd in total offense and 8th in scoring...Hawthorne is 5th in scoring, 2nd in receiving, 5th in scoring and 6th in all-purpose yards, sophomore Aaron Bickerton leads the conference in punting (41.5 yard per punt) and is 3rd in field goals (a perfect 7 for 7), and freshman Jamarr Ebron (Washington) ranks 3rd in punt returns.  All-American Gallop is 2nd in total tackles and 4th in interceptions and 5th in fumbles recovered and in forced fumbles. Hollon is 5th in tackles. Hinton is 8th in tackles. Brokenburr is 9th in sacks and Robert Jones, III is 9th in passes defended.
 
NATIONAL STATISTICAL TEAM AND INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS
 
SC State is tied for 11th in tackles for losses.  Howard ranks 3rd down conversions percentage (53 percent) and 4th in passing yards allowed (141 yards per game).
 
BISON HOOVES
 
The Bison continue to be a strong second half team. They hold a whopping 114-70 advantage in the second half of games this season, including 55-27 in the third quarter.  Bickerton is perhaps the most improved player on the team. The sophomore is having an all-conference season, averaging over 41 yards per punt... what is even more impressive is that seven of his punts are 50 yards or longer and 7 have landed inside the opponents' 20-yard line. while also being a perfect 7 of 7 on field goals. Williams continues to quietly pile up the numbers...For his career, he has completed 60 percent of his passes for over 6,700 yards and 45 TDs with three games remaining.  Hawthorne has proven to be one of the most versatile players in recent history at Howard.  He is considered multi tasked and has thrown a TD, caught TDs and run for TDs and conversions.
 
NEXT UP
 
SC State hosts Morgan State at 1 p.m., while Howard hosts North Carolina Central. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.