S.C. State defense redeems itself with victory over Bethune-Cookman

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Safety Dominique Ellis was willing to take the heat.

As a senior leader in the S.C. State secondary, Ellis took full responsibility for last week's 21-6 loss to Central Michigan. In the contest, the 23rd-ranked Bulldogs gave up two critical long touchdown passes in the first half.

"The defense - we lost that game for us," he said. "I'll say it. Everybody will say it's on everybody. But we gave up two deep balls. If you think about it. If we change those two plays, we're in the game in the fourth."

Facing a 24th-ranked Bethune-Cookman team which put up 63 points and 500 total yards of offense a week earlier, Ellis and the defense were determined to redeem themselves. With two of the Bulldogs' four interceptions, including a game-clinching 55-yard tourchdown pick in the 26-18 victory, Ellis seemingly more than made amends.

For the second straight week, cornerback Mason Harris was on the spot on a touchdown pass. This time, it was Bethune-Cookman's Eddie Poole who got in front of the redshirt sophomore for a 44-yard touchdownn pass.

While Bethune-Cookman quarterback Jamarr Robinson finished with 244 passing yards and two TDs, he was picked off four times - two each by Ellis and Christian Thompson. The defense also sacked the University of Maryland transfer five times and held the Wildcats to their second-lowest point total under head coach Brian Jenkins.

Ironically, the lowest took place last year against S.C. State in a 14-0 victory. More important than getting revenge, redeeming themselves and taking an early step toward four-peating as Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference champion was avoiding the prospect of the school's first 0-3 start since 1996.

"There was no way we were going to allow that to happen," Ellis said. "These first three games, we're trying to finish 2-1. This is a good victory. We're going to celebrate. But ... now the focus is on Indiana."

The Bulldogs travel to Bloomington, Ind., this Saturday to face the Indiana Hoosiers at 3:30 p.m.

Frustrating day for Jenkins

It was a day unlike any other since Jenkins became Bethune-Cookman head football coach.

The postgame statistics showed the Wildcats' high-powered offense outgained S.C. State 397-211, yet they still lost a MEAC game for only the second time in Jenkins' two seasons at the helm. What the statistics also showed was five turnovers, three drives inside the 20-yard line which ended with interceptions and two costly punt returns by S.C. State's Darius Drummond which set up scores.

"Look at every other phase of the game," said Jenkins, who called it easily the most frustrating game of his tenure. "We gave up big plays on special teams. That's how they got out of here with a win. They took advantage of our mishaps and came out with a victory. They did what a good team does."

Another growing area of concern are the rash of penalties. In two games, the Wildcats have been flagged 22 times - 6 more than their opponents - for 232 yards.

A positive for Jenkins, particularly headed into Bethune-Cookman's next appearance on ESPNU Sept. 22 against Hampton, was he was 2-2 in instant replay challenges. Officials corrected two rulings involving interceptions by Bethune-Cookman's Daniel Rhodes and S.C. State's Dominique Ellis.

Replay showed Rhodes retrieving the football, overturning the call on the field, while ruling the spot where Ellis was downed following the pick at the S.C. State 1 instead of the end zone for a touchback.

Bethune-Cookman capitalized off the change in field position with a safety after Julius Pendergrass was downed in the end zone.

The Jay Walker effect

There were plenty of Bulldog players deserving of game balls Saturday. Yet it would be understandable if Pough held one in reserve for delivery to Bristol, Conn., for ESPN football commentator Jay Walker.

With Saturday's victory, S.C. State improved to a perfect 22-0 against historically black colleges on national television. Most of the games won have taken place with the former Howard University quarterback as part of the announcing team.

"Jay has never called a game that we've lost," Pough said. "So I guess I need to send him a ball."

S.C. State's next television appearance on ESPNU is set for Oct. 22 against Florida A&M.

Bad deja vu

S.C. State redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Erskine Johnson suffered a left knee injury on the PAT following quarterback Derrick Wiley's go-ahead touchdown run late in the fourth quarter.



After receiving treatment on the field for several minutes, he was carried off the field by his fellow Bulldog offensive linemen.

His future status remains unknown pending an MRI examination Monday, according to S.C. State sports information director William Hamilton.

Johnson's injury brought back memories of 2009 when center Casey Fortune suffered a knee injury in Daytona Beach which ended his senior season and subsequently his career at S.C. State.

Rare comeback

Saturday's victory was a rare instance in which the Bulldogs under Pough rallied from a second-half deficit. In fact, S.C. State improved to 6-25 since 2002 when trailing at halftime and marked the first time since October 2007 when it defeated Hampton 28-24.

Ironically, the Bulldogs have come from behind twice to defeat Bethune-Cookman under Pough. The last comeback came in 2004 when S.C. State downed the Wildcats 28-14.

Clock malfunction

Bulldog fans who flocked to Municipal Stadium were not privileged to see an active game clock. The Daytona News-Journal reported a technical malfunction in one of the 35-second play clocks prompted MEAC director of officials Rosie Amato to disengage both.

The only time it appeared to present either team a problem was in the first half when Bethune-Cookman was flagged on consecutive plays, including following a time-out, for delay of game.

Bulldog Bites

Wiley's touchdown run marked his first score since the 2009 MEAC/SWAC Challenge. He was named Offensive MVP after amassing 100 total yards in the victory ... The Bulldogs have now won 15 consecutive MEAC road games dating back to October 2007 against Norfolk State and three straight at Municipal Stadium ... Bethune-Cookman place-kicker Sven Hurd made just his second field goal in six attempts with a career best from 41 yards. In the same game, S.C. State's Blake Erickson matched his career high set Oct. 23, 2010, against Hampton with a 48-yard field goal ... MEAC Commissioner Dennis Thomas, who recently resigned as head of the NCAA Committee on Infractions, was in attendance ... Saturday's game at Indiana can be seen live on The Big Ten Network (Channel 538 on Digital Time Warner Cable, 439 on The Dish Network and Channel 610 on DirecTV)

Contact the writer: tgrant@timesanddemocrat.com^[1] or by calling (803) 533-5547. For more information about S.C. State athletics, visit www.thebulldogzone.com^[2]. Follow him on Twitter@TandDSports.com^[3].

References

1. ^{^} tgrant@timesanddemocrat.com (thetandd.com)
2. ^{^} www.thebulldogzone.com (www.thebulldogzone.com)
3. ^{^} Twitter@TandDSports.com (thetandd.com)