The match-up popped up on the screen, right there at the bottom, and before anyone said a thing about it on television the emotion was gone.

Perhaps, it slipped out the door at the front of the “State” room in Hugine Suites to kick a few rocks and say a few questionable words out of frustration. South Carolina State’s football team wanted a home game to open the FCS playoffs Saturday. Instead, it got a second consecutive trip to Boone, NC to face Appalachian State. Fortunately, the idea of revenge brought emotion back to the room.

“The first thing I thought ... revenge,” Bulldogs’ defensive back Phillip Adams said. “We get another chance to redeem ourselves.”

The Bulldogs went to Boone for the first round of the FCS playoffs last season and lost 37-21.

“We wanted a chance to play them in the playoffs again,” S.C. State quarterback Malcolm Long said. “We didn’t play our best last year, and we just want to go out there and make a statement. We had opportunities in that game. We felt like we made a name for the MEAC and ourselves in that game.”

Against the Mountaineers, the Bulldogs will be faced with taking on, arguably, the greatest player in FCS history, App. State quarterback Armanti Edwards. Edwards, who missed the season opener and did not play against Western Carolina Saturday, has 2,504 yards passing on the season.

“Great player, great offense,” Adams said. We are going to prepare ourselves the same way. This whole week, we have no class so we can watch some more film. They are a great team. We have to respect them.

“We did want a home game for Orangeburg,” Adams added. “But, some things don’t go your way and that is life. This is the road that we have to travel so we are optimistic and I believe everybody is like that.”

You must be logged in to comment.