Chennis Berry got his first win as the new head coach of South Carolina State in a big out of conference matchup. In a thrilling game, SCSU secured a hard-fought victory over The Citadel with a final score of 23-20. It’s the second year in a row that South Carolina State beat the Citadel, winning 31-10 last season.
Passing Game
Eric Phoenix was instrumental in the win, completing 18 of 23 passes for 194 yards and one touchdown. Chennis Berry had to be pleased with Phoenix’s performance and his efficiency which was key in managing the game without throwing an interception.
On the other side, The Citadel’s Johnathan Bennett threw for 169 yards on 13 of 22 passing attempts, with one touchdown and one interception. Despite the pressure from South Carolina State’s defense, Bennett managed to make some key plays but could not match the efficiency of South Carolina State’s aerial attack.
Rushing Attack
South Carolina State’s rushing game was a major factor in their victory, amassing 217 yards on 45 carries. Deondra Duehart led the charge with 128 yards on 18 carries. Eric Phoenix also contributed with 41 rushing yards, while Kazarius Adams and Josh Shaw added valuable yards. The Bulldogs’ strong ground game controlled the clock and kept The Citadel’s defense on its heels.