WASHINGTON, D.C. - Before arriving to work Tuesday, Howard University head football coach Carey Bailey made two stops.

The first was to the local precinct to cast his Election Day vote. The second took Bailey to a nearby creek bed to collect some stones for a “slingshot” to use against Thursday’s opponent and Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference front-runner South Carolina State.

“They’re good,” he said. “Obviously, they’re the best team in the conference. They have two phenomenal running backs (Will Ford and Travil Jamison). (SCSU head football coach Oliver “Buddy” Pough) is doing a great job of getting the ball to the right people. Defensively, they’re not as big as they were last year but they seem to be a lot faster than what they were a year ago. So, it’s going to be another challenge for us. We kind of jumped from the frying pan into the fire regarding the teams that we’re playing this time of year.”

S.C. State (7-2, 5-0) has won five straight meetings against the Bison (1-7, 0-5), including last year’s 59-21 trouncing in Washington D.C. The game witnessed future starting quarterback Malcolm Long complete 5 of 8 passes for a then-career best 178 yards and two touchdowns.

Although Long’s status due to a sprained shoulder will be a gametime decision, according to Pough on Tuesday, Bailey does not expect the Bulldogs to miss a beat with quarterback DeWain Clark.

“I’m sure they have somebody that can replace (Long),” Bailey said. “They’re not a one-person football team. They have a lot of talent. They always had. And they have enough guys that can make up for the absence of one individual. They’re probably playing the best team ball out of any school that we’ve faced all year in the conference. So it won’t change our gameplan one bit.”

Injuries have also taken a toll on the Bison, who have lost four straight overall and eight straight conference games dating back to last year’s defeat to S.C. State. In last week’s 49-14 loss at Norfolk State, MEAC tackles leader linebacker Endor Cooper had to leave the game with a shoulder injury. Defensive back Robert Parker III also re-injured his shoulder in the loss and missed most of the second half.

Two weeks ago, wide receiver Willie Carter of Denmark-Olar saw his strong freshman campaign come to an end with an ankle injury. Before shutting it down, Carter was among the leading receivers in the MEAC (44 catches, 477 yards, six TDs) and a contender for the conference Rookie of the Year award.

“He was a huge surprise,” Bailey said. “We seen some things in the preseason just his ability to go up and get the ball and the precision in his routes and his ability to cut and do some things you would hope from a judgment standpoint when you say the kid has a chance to be special, that you’re correct. He was on pace to have a phenomenal freshman year, but he’s that kind of football player, that kind of person. Everything his does, academically or athletically, he has a desire to be the best. He’s sorely missed right now because he was a huge part of what we were doing offensively.”

While Carter is unavailable, Howard will still have a heavy South Carolina-bred contingent returning this Thursday led by Orangeburg-Wilkinson quarterback Floyd Haigler. The senior Bison has thrived in a starter’s role as the MEAC leader in total offense (194 of 314 passing, 2,045 yards, 15 touchdowns, 11 interceptions).

“This is really his first year that he’s actually played,” Haigler said. “The more opportunities that he has to play, the better he’s going to become.”

Other T&D Region players making their return are O-W’s long snapper Joshua August, defensive back Dante Martin and defensive lineman Corey Berry; linebacker DeAngelo Moody of Denmark-Olar and Orangeburg native Keith Pough of Scott’s Branch. Rounding out the Bison’s Palmetto State connection are Clemson transfer running back Ray-Ray McElrathbey, cornerback Casey Council and offensive lineman Kashin McElveen of C.E. Murray, offensive lineman Sean Woolford of Spring Valley and running back Charles Brice of Keenan.

“I’m sure most kids are always excited to go back home and play,” Bailey said. “But I’m sure as it is with the rest of the team, our main focus and their main focus is trying to come out with a win as far as opposed to coming back and having any type of reunion.”

Turnovers have plagued the Bison during their losing streak. Haigler threw three interceptions against Norfolk State, including one which turned into the fourth pick returned for a touchdown against the Bison. Howard has also fumbled the football 10 times, losing seven.

Then there’s the special teams which has allowed two players (Hampton’s Kevin Teel and Norfolk State’s Dwight Fluker-Berry) to return kicks for touchdowns this season.

“If we don’t turn the ball over, we’ll have a chance to win a ballgame,” Bailey said. “I don’t care who you are. If you have three interceptions and you have returns in the kicking game and you’re ineffective with your field goal team, usually if you give up a return, especially two, it’s hard to win. And you couple that with turnovers, it’s hard to win. What we have to do is shore up our kick return coverage and make sure we’re placing the ball in the right spots and then eliminating the mistakes in terms of turnovers.”

With three games remaining, Bailey is looking to solidify those problem areas and give the Bison fans reason for future optimism. Snapping the Bulldogs’ 18-game winning streak in November and 15-0 record in nationally-televised games on cable would be a start.

“Hopefully, one thing they’ll see is that our guys are playing hard,” he said. “We’re just not playing smart.”

Grammy-winning

Gospel singer

will perform

at halftime

Six-time Grammy-nominee gospel artist Dr. Marvin Sapp will perform his hit “Never Would Have Made It” with the S.C. State Marching 101 Band during half-time of the S.C. State/Howard University football game this Thursday at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium.

“Dr. Sapp has touched the lives of many through ‘Never Would Have Made It’ and it is an honor for the Marching 101 Band to perform with him,” said Eddie Ellis, S.C. State’s Marching 101 Band director, in a press release. “Our students are excited as we prepare for Thursday’s event.”

The game will be televised live on ESPNU at 7:30 p.m. In honor of senior night, all graduating football players will be honored during the pre-game show.

In addition to the festivities, S.C. State will offer the following ticket specials:

-Bring any church bulletin to the S.C. State ticket office this week or to the game and purchase general admission tickets for $10

- $10 general admission for SC State Faculty and Staff;

- $10 general admission for seniors, 55 and older;

- $10 general admission for those wearing their Greek colors and letters.

For more information, contact the S.C. State ticket office at (803) 536-8579.

BISON AT BULLDOGS

WHO: Howard (1-7, 0-5) at South Carolina State (7-2, 5-0)

WHERE: Oliver C. Dawson Stadium

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Thursday

TV: ESPNU (Channel 160 on Digital Time Warner Cable, Channel 148 on The Dish Network and Channel 609 on DirecTV)

RADIO: WQKI (102.9 FM) and WOIC (1230 AM in Columbia)

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