image via South Carolina State Athletics
South Carolina State remains unbeaten.
The No. 16 Bulldogs jumped on No. 24 Furman early, weathered a second-half comeback and made the biggest defensive play of the night late in the fourth quarter to escape with a 20-17 victory Saturday night in Greenville.
The win moves South Carolina State to 4-0 on the season, while Furman falls to 2-2. It was the first meeting between the programs since 2015. (Furman University)
SC State Comes Out Firing
The Bulldogs needed just one play to get on the scoreboard.
Quarterback Keely Watson connected with DJ Maultsby for a 65-yard touchdown on South Carolina State’s opening play from scrimmage, immediately putting Furman in a 7-0 hole.
SC State’s defense then forced a Furman punt, and the Bulldogs put together a 12-play, 80-yard touchdown drive capped by Josh Shaw’s 9-yard touchdown run.
Just like that, South Carolina State had a 14-0 advantage.
Furman finally got on the board with a 27-yard Nathan Chapman field goal late in the second quarter, but SC State answered with a 42-yard Jett Jackson field goal to take a 17-3 lead into halftime. (Furman University)
Furman Slowly Fights Its Way Back
The Paladins couldn’t find the end zone for most of the night, but Chapman kept them within striking distance.
He connected on field goals of 49 yards in the third quarter and 44 yards early in the fourth, cutting the SC State lead to 17-9 with 13:57 remaining.
South Carolina State eventually created some breathing room when Jackson drilled another field goal, this time from 28 yards, with 3:03 remaining.
The Bulldogs led 20-9.
But the game wasn’t over.
Then Everything Changed
Furman answered immediately.
On the very first play of its next possession, quarterback Connor Ackerley found Luke Shields for a 67-yard touchdown, and Furman converted a two-point pass from Ackerley to Daniel Haughton.
Suddenly, the Bulldogs’ nine-point cushion was down to 20-17 with 2:47 left. (ESPN)
South Carolina State couldn’t move the chains on its next possession, giving Furman one final opportunity.
And that’s when the Bulldogs’ defense delivered.
With 1:57 remaining, Ackerley scrambled on fourth-and-10 from the Furman 28-yard line.
He needed 10 yards.
He got eight.
Jordan Franklin and Roderick Kelly brought him down two yards short of the first-down marker, ending Furman’s comeback attempt and allowing SC State to run out the clock.
Final Score
| 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final | |
| South Carolina State | 14 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 20 |
| Furman | 0 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 17 |
Key Performers
South Carolina State
- Keely Watson: 12-of-25, 186 passing yards, 1 TD
- DJ Maultsby: 4 receptions, 118 yards, 1 TD
- Josh Shaw: 55 rushing yards, 1 TD
- Jett Jackson: 3 field goals
Furman
- Connor Ackerley: 10-of-18, 164 passing yards, 1 TD; 17 rushing yards
- Luke Shields: 7 receptions, 133 yards, 1 TD
- Braylon Peebles: 10 tackles
- Ryan Earl: 9 tackles
SC State finished with 332 total yards, compared with 317 for Furman, while the Bulldogs’ defense held the Paladins to just 53 rushing yards. (Furman University)
🧱 The Number That Matters
53 rushing yards.
That’s what South Carolina State allowed Furman on the ground.
The Bulldogs also forced Furman into a 4th-down stop on the game’s final meaningful possession, preserving a victory that looked comfortable at halftime but became a one-possession battle by the end.
WHAT WE KNOW
- 🟢 SC State is 4-0
- 🟢 The Bulldogs defeated No. 24 Furman
- 🟢 SC State led 17-3 at halftime
- 🟢 Furman pulled within 20-17 with 2:47 remaining
- 🟢 Luke Shields caught a 67-yard TD
- 🟢 SC State held Furman to 53 rushing yards
- 🟢 Jordan Franklin and Roderick Kelly made the game-clinching fourth-down stop
- 🟢 SC State travels to Bethune-Cookman next Saturday
South Carolina State entered the night as the defending HBCU national champion and now has another significant nonconference win to add to an undefeated start. The Bulldogs continue their non conference slate with a trip to Daytona Beach to take on former MEAC foe Bethune-Cookman. The contest will air on HBCU GO with kickoff scheduled for 7 pm EST.
