South Carolina State 13, Hampton 6

October 21, 2006

by Lut Williams

South Carolina State held two-time defending MEAC champion Hampton without a touchdown and rode a dominating rushing and defensive performance to a 13-6 upset win, the Pirates’ first defeat in two years of conference play, Saturday at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium in Orangeburg, S.C.

The Bulldogs (4-3, 3-1) rushed for 269 yards and scored the game’s only touchdown on a 17-yard first quarter scamper by QB Cleveland McCoy. That was all they would need as they held Hampton (7-1, 5-1), the MEAC’s top scoring team (37.1 ppg.) and premier offensive unit (362 ypg.), to half their normal offensive output (161 total yards) and two first-half Andrew Paterini field goals. SCSU shut out the Pirates in the second half limiting them to only 67 total yards.

“Our defense, I’m going to be honest with you, played magnificently,” said jubilant SCSU head coach Oliver “Buddy” Pough, who called the victory the biggest of his career. It was his teams’ third straight win and followed a bye week after they opened the season 1-3.

“It’s been night and day since that open week,” said Pough. “We did some real soul searching.” His Bulldogs are now tied with Hampton and Delaware State, their opponent in Dover next week, at the top of the MEAC standings.

“They’ve beaten us up in the past,” said Pough in his fifth year at SC State who had lost to Joe Taylor’s Pirates three straight years after beating them in his first season. “We’ve been the hit-ee before, we were the hitter this time.” McCoy garnered 106 of his 114 rushing yards in the first half which ended with the Bulldogs up 10-6. His TD jaunt around the left side with 8:35 left came in the Bulldog’s first possession after Hampton placekicker Andrew Paterini converted a 38-yard field goal in the Pirates opening-game possession. McCoy threw the ball only 14 times completing eight for 81 yards without an interception.

‘We knew what our situation was,” said McCoy. “We got to win or go home. It’s like the playoffs for us early this year. We lose a game and we’re out. It’s too early to play for nothing.” SCSU placekicker Michael Gaston capped a nine-play 67-yard drive at the end of the first quarter with a 30-yard field goal to put the Bulldogs up 10-3. Paterini hit on a 41-yard field goaf in the Pirates first possession of the second quarter to cut the Bulldogs lead to 10-6.

Gaston answered that with a 32-yarder on the Bulldogs’ drive which covered 71 yards in 12 plays opening the second half. That drive ate up six minutes and 27 minutes off the third quarter clock.

Hampton got only four second-half possessions and converted only four first downs. Its deepest penetration in the half was to the SC State 49 on its final play, an fourth-down interception by Bulldog bandit linebacker Marshall McFadden with 1:27 left. The Bulldogs then ran out the clock.

In addition to McCoy’s 114 yards on 17 carries, the Bulldogs also got 91 yards on 21 carries from starting tailback DeShawn Baker. Back-up running back William Ford tallied 60 yards on nine carries. SCSU committed only five penalties for 29 yards and had no turnovers.

Hampton, which was held to 50 rushing yards on 22 carries, was led by Keving Beverly’s 29 yards on 11 attempts. QB Princeton Shepherd competed 15 of 26 passes for 151 yards.