After South Carolina State narrowly lost to HBCU national champion Florida A&M a week ago, head coach Chennis Berry told several of the Division II transfers added to the roster in the offseason that they belonged at the Division I level.
Six days later, Eric Phoenix, one of the 14 former Benedict players who followed Berry to S.C. State, heeded those words and threw for 194 yards and a touchdown in the Bulldogs’ 23-20 win over The Citadel on Saturday.
Running back Josh Shaw also ran for two second-half scores in the win, the first for Berry at the Division I level and at South Carolina State.
Phoenix led S.C. State on a 12-play, 87-yard drive at the end of the first half that lasted more than four minutes, capped by a 10-yard completion to Caden High.
The Bulldogs also had an 87-yard scoring drive in the third quarter, this time after 13 plays, to extend their lead to 16-6 on the first 1-yard scoring run by Shaw.
RUNNINGBACK Duehart, breaks off a big run!
LETS GO@SCStateAthletic @SCSTATE1896 @MEACSports @coachberry77 #PayTheFEE#DigDEEP#FearTheBITE
🔴🔵🐶🏈 pic.twitter.com/fDC5tiMhAD— South Carolina State Football (@SCState_Fb) September 7, 2024
Shaw made it 23-13 with 13:23 left in the fourth.
Deondra Duehart led the South Carolina State (1-1) ground attack with 18 carries for 128 yards. Justin Smith-Brown caught four passes for 94 yards, and Caden High added six grabs for 49 yards.
Johnathan Bennett was 13 of 22 for 169 yards with one touchdown and one interception for The Citadel (1-1). He also had a rushing touchdown.
