The two highest scoring teams in the MEAC will collide in a Thursday night ESPN2 showdown with major conference title implications at stake.
North Carolina Central (6-2, 2-0 MEAC) will travel to South Carolina State (5-2, 1-0) hoping to win in Orangeburg for the first time since 2018 and build a more comfortable lead in the league standings. The contest will kick off at 7:30 p.m.
NCCU is riding a five-game winning streak, including Saturday’s 16-7 homecoming victory over Morgan State. SCSU has won four in a row and drilled Delaware State 69-35 in its own homecoming celebration over the weekend.
Strength on Strength
North Carolina Central leads the MEAC in scoring, averaging 36.5 points per game. South Carolina State is right behind them, with a 31.6 ppg average.
The Eagles have the top rushing attack (181.5 ypg), while the Bulldogs have the top passing attack (277.0 ypg). Central’s J’Mari Taylor is the No. 1 rusher in the conference (790 yards, 10 touchdowns) and is tops in points scored (72). SC State’s Eric Phoenix, a transfer from Murray State, has the best passing stats in the MEAC (255.9 ypg, 14 TDs).
Central has the most prolific red zone offense (25 TDs and 4 FGs in 33 trips), though South Carolina State isn’t that far behind there either (18 TDs, 4 FGs in 27 trips).
The game has the makings of an offensive shootout, but then you look at defensive stats and see both schools are among the leaders in many of those categories as well.
North Carolina Central has picked off nine passes, earned 21 sacks and recorded 63 tackles for loss through eight games. The 7.9 TFLs per game ranks second in the NCAA FCS. South Carolina State has recovered more fumbles (9) than anyone else in the conference.
Something will have to give.
New Coach, Exceeding Expectations
After a succesful run at Benedict College (27-7, two conference titles), Chennis Berry took over the South Carolina State program from long-time coach Buddy Pough. Berry’s first team was picked fourth in the MEAC behind NCCU, Howard and Morgan State. Now, they look like legit title contenders.
Like NC Central, the ‘Dogs opened with a 1-2 record, falling to Florida A&M 22-18 and Georgia Southern 42-14 and beating The Citadel 23-20. From there, both teams have been rolling.
The one common opponent thus far is North Carolina A&T. North Carolina Central put up big numbers on the Aggies in a 66-24 triumph. South Carolina State won 45-25 a few weeks later.
Phoenix Rising
South Carolina State piled up 477 passing yards in Saturday’s domination of Delaware State. Phoenix was responsible for 341 of those yards, with four touchdown throws. For the season, Phoenix has completed 62.6 percent of his passes for 1,791 yards and 14 TDs (against six interceptions).
Phoenix, from Savannah, Ga., started his career with Berry at Benedict and led the Tigers to an undefeated regular season and SIAC championship in 2022. He spent 2023 at Murray State before reuniting with Berry in Orangeburg.
Phoenix has a solid stable of receivers at his disposal. Caden High leads the MEAC in yards (627), while Justin Smith-Brown (464) sits in second. Einaj Carter ranks fourth in receiving yards (349).
North Carolina Central counters with three of the top four defenders in terms of passes defended — Malcolm Reed, Isaiah Norris and Jaylen Bowden. The trio have combined for four interceptions and 19 pass breakups.
Walker Harris pilots the North Carolina Central offense. He has more touchdowns (15) than Phoenix but fewer overall passing yards (1,352). His favorite targets have been Joaquin Davis (22 catches, 374 yards, 4 TDs) and Markell Quick (18 catches, 358 yards, 4 TDs).
Series Has Been Tight
North Carolina Central doused the Bulldogs 62-28 a year ago in Durham. Davius Richard threw five touchdown passes and rushed for two more. J’Mari Taylor added a TD on the ground and another receiving.
All-time, NCCU leads 15-13. South Carolina State won three in a row from 2019-2022, including pinning the only conference loss on the Eagles during its run to the HBCU national title in ’22.
The teams have split the last 10 meetings. North Carolina Central’s last win south of the border was a 21-17 triumph in 2018.
Notebook
North Carolina Central punter Juan Velarde has been named one of 13 finalists for the Doris Robinson Award, given to the top scholar-athlete in FCS football.
Velarde, who graduated from NCCU last December, is currently enrolled in the MBA program and boasts a 4.0 GPA. Velarde averaged 58.7 yards on three punts against Morgan State on Saturday, including a 70-yard boot…
NCCU is 5-3 all-time in Thursday night games, including a 1-1 mark on the road. This will be the fourth time NC Central and South Carolina State have played a Thursday game (including last season)…
North Carolina Central moved up one spot in the FCS rankings this week, now 19th in the Stats Perform media poll. The Eagles are still 21st in the coaches poll…
Thursday’s game will be the Eagles fourth of the season on a major ESPN platform (ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU).
