It was pre-billed as the matchup to truly determine this year’s Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champion.

But as front-runner South Carolina State spent Saturday taking it easy, a funny thing happened to opponent Morgan State on its way to the “Showdown in Baltimore.”

The Bears paid a visit to Norfolk, Va., where they were ambushed by a fierce team of Spartans from Norfolk State who handed them a lethal blow to their title hopes in the form of a 35-9 defeat.

Norfolk State took a 14-0 lead at halftime and never looked back thanks in part to an opportunistic defense which forced a season-high seven turnovers. The Spartans turned two of the miscues into touchdowns during a 28-second span late in the fourth quarter that helped seal the victory.

For 18th-ranked S.C. State (8-0, 6-0), the Bears’ loss gives it a two-game cushion over the closest pursuers (Morgan State, Bethune-Cookman and Hampton) with two games remaining. This means all the Bulldogs need is a victory next week at Morgan State or the following week against North Carolina A&T to claim their first outright MEAC title since 1994 and first Football Championship Subdivision playoff appearance since 1982.

It also gives head coach Oliver “Buddy” Pough a little luxury when it comes to his roster. Given the recent rash of injuries which kept quarterback Malcolm Long (separated shoulder) and defensive lineman Keyon Brooks (concussion) out of action this past Thursday against Howard and saw safety Markee Hamlin (neck) carted out during the game, Pough has the option of sitting them for Morgan State in order to get healthier for the following week to still clinch against North Carolina A&T should the Bulldogs lose at Morgan State for the first time since 1974.

Watching backup quarterback Dewain Clark seamlessly coordinate the offense in Thursday’s 56-0 rout of Howard has given Pough comfort in not having to rush Long back. At the same time, with the Bulldogs riding their longest winning streak since the 2001-02 season, a loss next week could disrupt the team’s momentum.

“I’d still like to see us win out,” Pough said. “You’re trying to build momentum in a way where your guys figure out that they have to continue the momentum. It may give us some different points as far as personnel as concerned. But besides that, we’re going to try to do what we can to get after them.”

Pough said the team should decide on its personnel plans for Morgan State by Thursday.

n Surging Wildcats

With Hampton and Delaware State slumping, It’s looking more and more like S.C. State’s 28-19 victory over Bethune-Cookman is the team’s most quality win this season. Saturday’s 17-6 win over Hampton was the Wildcats’ sixth win in the last seven games since losing to the Bulldogs at the Lowcountry Classic.

Bethune-Cookman (7-2, 4-2) also owns a victory over Morgan State and closes out the season with Howard and Florida A&M.

“It’s strange how everybody in the league is beating up on each other,” Pough said. “We had a chance or two to lose some games. There have been a couple of instances. Norfolk State here, Delaware State game there, Bethune-Cookman for a while.

“Bethune has two (conference losses), Hampton’s got two and Morgan still has two. So you’ve got all of these guys tied for second, but at the same time, Bethune might be as good as anybody right now.”

n T&D Senior Sports Writer Thomas Grant Jr. can be reached by e-mail at tgrant@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5547.

 

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