I have to admit, when I picked the South Carolina State Bulldogs to win the game-of-the-year matchup with Florida A&M University, there was slight trepidation on my part. Both teams had looked wonderful through the early part of the the year, but there was something electric about Florida A&M that just made you feel championship all over.
And for several reasons, I knew the electricity would short out today in Orangeburg.
The Bulldogs didn’t score in the second half, and in several spots, the Rattlers looked like they would have a chance to come back. But turnovers and a monster second quarter out of SC State put the game away well before the halftime show, and in the process, sealed up a second-straight MEAC conference championship for Buddy Pough and Crew.
Of hand, the Bulldogs patience with not letting Curtis Pulley become a runner made all of the difference. They let him become an all-world passer, and he certainly showed his capability to do so. But by stifling his running, the usually-dynamic Rattler offense become static, relying on passing and timely plays from the receiving corps to sustain in the second-half.
Where the Rattlers are usually content to let Pulley take what is given to him, they were forced into throwing and hoping for big plays. It was too late for Pulley’s feet to do the walking, and the Bulldogs coasted throughout the entire second half.
And this is without mentioning Pough’s staunch refusal to let LeRoy Vann become a factor in the outcome.
SC State quarterback Malcolm Long looked comfortable all day, and rarely has a misread on his way to an efficient 164 yards through the air. Complementing him was Will Ford’s 141 yards and two touchdowns, which ultimately led to the clock control that helped forced Curtis Pulley into several second half turnovers.
The Rattlers and the Bulldogs will likely win out over the remainder of the season, but the Bulldogs showed the one key to their offense and defense that always makes for a solid championship team: balance.
And if Morgan State is the only legitimate threat to their title run going forward, it will be an unbalanced romp straight through to the FCS playoffs for the Bulldogs.
