ORANGEBURG, SC---The Howard University football team went toe-to-toe with South Carolina State but in the end, the Bulldogs survived some key penalties and rode the rushing performance of Howell who rushed for a career-high 285 yards and three TDs as the Bulldogs held on for a win over the Bison in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) game at Bulldog Stadium before 22,269.
 
The Bison (4-5, 2-1 MEAC) got on the board early following an interception by Clayton Perrin.  Howard embarked on a 13-play, 77-yard drive that was capped off by a 13-yard pass from graduate quarterback Quinton Williams to senior tight end Brendan Brown.
 
The Bulldogs countered on the ensuing possession, as Howell, burst through the Bison defense and raced 48 yards to tie the score at 7 with 5:44 on the clock.
 
The Bulldogs began to get into a rhythm with its vaunted running game and moved the ball down into Howard territory.  But the Bison defense stiffened and forced a 32-yard field goal by Gary Zimmerman.
 
SC State (4-5, 2-1 MEAC) then added to its advantage with another TD run by Howell, this time for 85 yards that upped the score to 17-7.
 
Howard was finally able to get untracked when they drove 70 yards in seven plays with senior running back Jarret Hunter scoring on a two-yard plunge to get to within 17-14 at the 8:37 mark of the third quarter.
 
Howell struck yet again, this time from 16 yards to cap off an 80-yard drive at the 4:37 mark of the third stanza.
 
Zimmerman tacked on another field goal, this time from 29 yards to increase the deficit to 27-14.
 
But the Bison, who have fought back from adversity all season, came right back, marching 66 on just seven plays.
 
Freshman wide receiver Gavin Harris caught a 16-yard pass from Williams to get to within 27-21 with 12:42 in the fourth quarter.
 
The Howard defense forced a third Bulldog turnover when Clayton Perrin picked off a Corey Fields, Jr. pass to give his team the ball in SC State territory.
 
Howard had to settle for Aaron Bickerton 24-yard field goal to make it 27-24 with 9:59 remaining in the fourth quarter.
 
The Bison had opportunities as the Bulldogs aided and abetted the Howard cause with back-to-back, to-back, to back penalties.
 
But Howard was not able to take advantage of the SC State blunders, as the Bulldog defense sacked Williams on a key fourth down before running out the game clock to secure the win.
 
The Bison were held to a season-low 245 yards of total offense, including only 53 on 26 carries.
 
Hunter led the ground attack with 42 yards and 13 carries and a TD.  Williams was 16 of 29 for 183 and two TDs.
 
A freshman, Howell rushed for 283 yards and three TDs as t SC State amassed 438 yards on the ground.
 
NEXT UP: Howard hosts North Carolina Central at 3:30 pm next Saturday at Greene Stadium.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.