Norfolk State Beats SC State, Bulldogs Lose Third-Straight Game
ORANGEBURG, SC—South Carolina State suffered its third straight loss in a heartbreaking, 13-10, defeat to Norfolk State Saturday (Nov. 12) at Oliver. C. Dawson Stadium.
The Bulldogs fall to 3-6 overall, 3-3 in the MEAC, while the Spartans improve to 3-7 overall, 2-5 in the league. This was Norfolk State’s first win in ten attempts in Orangeburg.
“It was a very disappointing loss, it was like you could see it coming early,” said head coach Buddy Pough. “We never gave ourselves much of a cushion. They (Spartans) kept hanging around, our offense couldn’t get going and they got a late score.”
Redshirt junior linebacker Darius Leonard spearheaded a Bulldog defense with a game-high nine (9) tackles (7 solo), one sack for 12-yards, one forced fumble and two pass breakups.
SC State jumped out early on a 1-yard touchdown run by senior full back Dondre Brown with 1:07 remaining left in the first quarter. The Spartan’s All-MEAC placekicker nailed back-to-back field goals of 41-yards and 38-yards to pull NSU within one, 7-6 at the 12:08 mark in the third quarter.
Junior kicker Tyler Scandrett put the Bulldogs ahead, 10-7, on a 23-yd field goal with 5:59 remaining in the third quarter. The Spartans capitalized off a critical turnover by the Bulldogs to take the lead on a 4-yd run by senior quarterback Greg Hankerson, Jr at the 10:58 mark in early in the fourth quarter.
“It was not very pretty and our offense struggled and penalties hurt, they came at the worst time,” said Pough. “I’m very disappointed for our team and our seniors. We have essentially had to finish strong now.”
South Carolina State returns to action on Saturday (Nov.19) when they host the visiting Tigers of Savannah State at O.C. Dawson Stadium. Kickoff is 1:30 p.m.
