DOVER, Del. -- “Lights, camera -- Victory!”

It’s the mantra South Carolina State has followed the past seven years under head coach Oliver “Buddy” Pough in nationally televised games on cable. Fourteen times the Bulldogs have played before the cameras on such outlets as ESPNU, ESPN2 and BET, and they came away victorious each time.

Over the next five days, ESPNU will have S.C. State under the lens, starting with today’s 1 p.m. game at Delaware State. The game will be taped and aired at 10:30 p.m. by ESPNU, which will then show live on Thursday the Bulldogs’ home game against Howard.

The televised games could not have come at a better time for the MEAC-leading Bulldogs (6-2, 4-0). Victories over the Hornets (3-4, 3-2) and Bison would move S.C. State a step closer to winning its first outright conference title since 1994 and its first Football Championship Subdivision playoff appearance since 1982.

Today also marks the first day in November, a month Pough has owned since returning to his alma mater in 2002. The Bulldogs have won 17 consecutive games in the month of November dating back to his first season.

Such omens would give most head coaches a quiet confidence. Instead, Pough has avoided talk about the streaks as his way of not jinxing himself.

There are a couple of streaks Pough wants to see end today. The first is a two-game skid to Delaware State, who defeated the Bulldogs two years ago in Dover in a 10-9 contest played at night in windy conditions. Delaware State followed that by handing S.C. State a 17-16 heartbreaker on Homecoming.

The second is a three-game losing streak for S.C. State in games played after defeating Hampton, all against Delaware State. With the conference title in sight following the latest win over Hampton, the Bulldogs are hoping the fourth time is the charm against a Hornets’ team which has struggled in conference play and is coming off a 20-3 loss to Morgan State.

“We can never look over Delaware (State),” he said. “They’ve done enough hard to us over the last couple of years. It’ll be real interesting to see how we play because I think we’ll get after it because we’ve had a great week of practice.”

For the first time this season, injuries are a concern for S.C. State. Wide receiver Phillip Morris is doubtful with a leg injury, while linebacker Marshall McFadden, offensive lineman Johnny Culbreath and Markee Hamlin are expected to play despite their physical ailments.

Other notable streaks

in The T&D Region

96 consecutive victories by the Blackville-Hilda girls’ basketball team (1985-89)

*78 consecutive victories by the Calhoun County boys’ basketball team (2005-present)

58 consecutive career extra points made by Bamberg-Ehrhardt’s Chad Bagley (1988-90)

29 consecutive playoff appearances by the Blackville-Hilda football team (1979-present)

27 consecutive wins over an opponent (Blackville-Hilda over Hunter-Kinard-Tyler)

17 consecutive home playoff victories by the Orangeburg-Wilkinson girls’ basketball team (1998-present).

**8 consecutive state championships by the Bamberg-Ehrhardt baseball team (1974-81)

4 consecutive state championships by the Bowman girls’ basketball team (1977-80)

*state record

**state and national record

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