South Carolina State made a statement in MEAC play Thursday night, overwhelming Morgan State 51-10 at Hughes Stadium in Baltimore.
The Bulldogs dominated on both sides of the football, piling up 509 total yards while limiting the Bears to just 150. What started as a competitive contest in the second quarter quickly turned into a one-sided affair as South Carolina State scored 30 unanswered points in the second half to secure the 41-point victory.
With the win, South Carolina State improved to 7-2 overall and 2-0 in MEAC competition, while Morgan State fell to 5-4 and 0-2 in conference play.
Bulldogs Strike Early
South Carolina State wasted little time establishing control.
Running back Josh Shaw opened the scoring with a one-yard touchdown run, capping a 12-play, 82-yard drive to give the Bulldogs a 7-0 advantage.
Quarterback Keely Watson added to the lead when he connected with Martavious Collins on a five-yard touchdown pass. The Bulldogs finished the opening quarter with a 14-0 advantage.
Morgan State finally got on the scoreboard early in the second quarter, although the Bears’ touchdown came courtesy of their defense.
After South Carolina State running back Kacy Fields lost a fumble following a 21-yard loss, Morgan State’s Raquane Matthews recovered the football and returned it 69 yards for a touchdown.
The Bears added a 30-yard field goal from Alex Amaya to cut the deficit to 14-10, briefly making it a four-point game.
However, South Carolina State answered before halftime. Watson connected with Troy Hillman for a 20-yard touchdown, sending the Bulldogs into the locker room with a 21-10 lead.
South Carolina State Takes Complete Control
Any hopes of a Morgan State comeback disappeared after halftime.
Jett Jackson opened the third-quarter scoring with a 35-yard field goal, extending the Bulldogs’ advantage to 24-10.
South Carolina State added another touchdown when Watson found DJ Maultsby for a 10-yard scoring reception. Jackson’s extra-point attempt was unsuccessful, leaving the score at 30-10.
The Bulldogs saved their biggest scoring stretch for the fourth quarter.
Watson connected with Shamontae Burgess for a 10-yard touchdown to open the final period. Ronnie Robinson followed with a 16-yard rushing touchdown, and Fields put the finishing touches on the victory with a 28-yard touchdown run with just 18 seconds remaining.
South Carolina State outscored Morgan State 30-0 in the second half, including 21 points in the fourth quarter.
Keely Watson Leads the Offensive Attack
Watson directed a productive South Carolina State offense that finished with 509 total yards.
The Bulldogs completed 28 of 38 passes for 296 yards without throwing an interception. They also produced 213 rushing yards on 37 attempts, averaging 5.8 yards per carry.
South Carolina State distributed its scoring across the offense, with Shaw, Fields and Robinson contributing rushing touchdowns while Collins, Hillman, Maultsby and Burgess found the end zone through the passing game.
Fields finished with a touchdown run in the fourth quarter, helping cap a dominant offensive performance.
Morgan State Struggles to Generate Offense
Morgan State had difficulty sustaining drives against the Bulldogs’ defense.
The Bears finished with just 150 total yards, including 162 passing yards and minus-12 rushing yards. Their 14 rushing attempts produced an average of minus-0.9 yards per carry.
Morgan State completed 21 of 34 passes without an interception, but the passing production wasn’t enough to overcome its inability to establish a running game.
The Bears also struggled on third down, converting just three of 13 attempts.
Despite the defensive touchdown from Matthews and the second-quarter field goal, Morgan State never found the end zone offensively.
By the Numbers: South Carolina State Dominates
The statistical difference between the two programs illustrated just how thoroughly South Carolina State controlled the matchup.
The Bulldogs finished with 509 total yards compared to Morgan State’s 150, a difference of 359 yards.
South Carolina State also recorded 30 first downs, three times Morgan State’s total of 10.
The Bulldogs controlled possession for 33 minutes and 39 seconds and converted seven of 12 third-down opportunities. Morgan State managed just three conversions on 13 attempts.
South Carolina State did have some ball-security issues, fumbling four times and losing one. Morgan State also lost one fumble. Neither team threw an interception.
Complete Team Statistics
| Category | SC State | Morgan State |
| First Downs | 30 | 10 |
| Rushing Attempts | 37 | 14 |
| Rushing Yards | 213 | -12 |
| Rushing Average | 5.8 | -0.9 |
| Receptions | 28 | 21 |
| Receiving Yards | 296 | 162 |
| Passing Yards | 296 | 162 |
| Completions-Attempts-INT | 28-38-0 | 21-34-0 |
| Total Plays-Yards | 75-509 | 48-150 |
| Yards Per Play | 6.79 | 3.13 |
| Kick Return Yards | 53 | 69 |
| Punt Return Yards | 4 | 0 |
| Interception Yards | 0 | 0 |
| Fumbles-Lost | 4-1 | 1-1 |
| Penalties-Yards | 9-90 | 10-71 |
| Punts | 3 | 7 |
| Time of Possession | 33:39 | 26:21 |
| Third-Down Conversions | 7-12 | 3-13 |
| Fourth-Down Conversions | 1-1 | 0-0 |
Scoring Summary
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final |
| South Carolina State | 14 | 7 | 9 | 21 | 51 |
| Morgan State | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
What’s Next?
South Carolina State will look to continue their winning ways next Thursday when they fae the Bison of Howard University, Thurday, November 5.
Morgan State, meanwhile, will have to regroup after a disappointing home performance. The Bears, now losers of three in a row, faces Delaware State as they attempt to get up off the proverbial mat.
For South Carolina State, the message was clear: the Bulldogs are a serious force in the MEAC race.
Final Score: South Carolina State 51, Morgan State 10.
