BALTIMORE, Md. — In an impressive display of football, backup quarterback Ryan Stubblefield led South Carolina State to a commanding 54-7 victory against Morgan State on Saturday, securing the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) championship in the process.
The Bulldogs, boasting a record of 8 wins and 2 losses overall and a perfect 4-0 in conference play, established a dominant 26-point lead early in the game, never allowing their opponents a real chance to challenge them. This marks South Carolina State’s first time reaching eight wins in a season since 2019, when they finished with an overall record of 8-3 and 6-2 in MEAC competition.
The scoring began when Eric Phoenix, who completed an impressive 10 of 11 pass attempts, connected with Justin Smith-Brown for a 31-yard touchdown reception at the 6:03 mark of the first quarter. Unfortunately, Phoenix exited the game shortly after, sustaining an injury during a 15-yard run that resulted in an awkward slide.
In the second quarter, Tyler Smith made a remarkable 86-yard dash to the end zone, although the extra point try was unsuccessful, putting the Bulldogs ahead 13-0. The ensuing drive for the Bears turned disastrous when Jarod Washington intercepted a pass from Dominique Anthony and returned it 32 yards for a touchdown. A failed two-point conversion attempt left the score at 19-0.
The Bears, holding a record of 5-6 and 2-2 in the conference, managed to score their only touchdown of the game thanks to Malique Leatherbury, who carried the ball in from 11 yards out with 3:10 left before halftime.
South Carolina State continued to dominate in the subsequent plays, with Diego Addison delivering a 100-yard pick-six off Anthony in the third quarter, broadening their lead to 47-7.
As the regular season nears its conclusion, South Carolina State is slated to face Norfolk State on November 23. Regardless of the resultant score, the Bulldogs are set to compete against the champion from the SWAC championship match between Jackson State and Southern in the upcoming Celebration Bowl on December 14.