SC State makes history in 87-0 season-opening rout of Savannah State

ORANGEBURG, S.C. — South Carolina State opened the 2026 football season in record-setting fashion Saturday night, rolling past Savannah State 87-0 before a crowd of 12,000 at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium on Willie E. Jeffries Field.

The 87-point performance established a new school record for points scored in a game, surpassing the previous mark set in 1988 against Johnson C. Smith under former head coach Bill Davis.
SC State controlled the game from the opening possession and never slowed down, building a 52-0 halftime advantage before adding 35 more points in the second half.

The Bulldogs finished with 627 yards of total offense, including a punishing 423 yards on the ground, while holding Savannah State to just 117 total yards. SC State also dominated the first-down battle 32-6 and converted 8 of 10 third-down opportunities. The Bulldogs were perfect on all 11 trips inside the red zone.

Quarterback Keely Watson helped ignite the offensive explosion, completing 8 of 12 passes for 95 yards and three touchdowns. Ronnie Robinson added 96 yards through the air on 9-of-11 passing as SC State completed 18 of 24 attempts without throwing an interception.

Watson connected with M. Jones for a 23-yard touchdown to open the scoring with 11:52 remaining in the first quarter. He followed with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Mason Pickett-Hicks before Robinson broke loose for a 30-yard rushing touchdown, giving the Bulldogs a 21-0 advantage after the opening period.
SC State erupted for 31 points in the second quarter.

Pickett-Hicks scored on a 7-yard run, Josh Shaw added a 5-yard touchdown run, and the Bulldogs added another touchdown before Watson found Tyler Smith for a 7-yard score. A field goal in the final seconds of the half-sent SC State into the locker room with a commanding 52-0 lead.

The Bulldogs’ rushing attack was particularly impressive, producing four players with at least 70 yards. Pickett-Hicks led the way with 95 yards and a touchdown on nine carries, averaging 10.6 yards per attempt. Ricorian Brown rushed for 75 yards and a touchdown on seven carries, Shaw finished with 74 yards and three touchdowns on nine attempts, and Smith added 72 yards on only five carries.

Shaw continued the onslaught after halftime with touchdown runs of 4 and 10 yards, pushing SC State’s lead to 66-0. J. Martin scored on a 10-yard run early in the fourth quarter before Brown broke free for a 16-yard touchdown that made it 80-0. The Bulldogs added their final score with 1:50 remaining to complete the historic 87-point night.

The defense was equally dominant.

Savannah State managed only 75 rushing yards and 42 passing yards and was limited to six first downs. The Tigers converted only 3 of 15 third-down attempts, failed on both fourth-down tries and never reached the red zone. SC State also forced three Savannah State fumbles, recovering two, and intercepted a pass.

The shutout combined with the offensive production made the season opener one for the SC State record book.

More than three decades after Davis’ 1988 Bulldogs established the previous scoring standard against Johnson C. Smith, the 2026 Bulldogs rewrote that mark with one of the most dominant performances in program history.

SC State’s 87-0 victory also provided a commanding start to the third season under head coach Chennis Berry as the Bulldogs begin their pursuit of another championship season.

GAME NOTES: SC State totaled 627 yards, rushed for 423 yards and scored on all 11 red-zone opportunities. The Bulldogs held Savannah State to 117 yards of total offense and did not allow the Tigers into the red zone. SC State led 21-0 after the first quarter, 52-0 at halftime and 66-0 after three quarters. Attendance was 12,000.