South Carolina State head coach Chennis Berry had plenty to smile about this week. Fresh off a thrilling 22-16 road win over North Carolina A&T, the defending MEAC champion Bulldogs head into a much-needed bye week sitting 4-3 overall.
Facing a raucous sellout crowd at A&T’s homecoming last Saturday, Berry’s Bulldogs overcame a two-score deficit, scoring two fourth-quarter touchdowns and forcing three turnovers to secure the win — his first as a head coach after trailing by two scores.
“To God be the glory,” Berry said in a virtual press conference Monday morning. “We found a way to win another football game. That’s really what it’s all about at the end of the day.”
The comeback was more than just a win. For Berry, it was proof of the team’s resilience — something that’s central to their theme for the season: hold the rope.
“When adversity strikes, who’s going to hold the rope?” Berry asked. “We went in at halftime down, looked at each other, and said, ‘We’re better than what we’ve shown.’ Last I checked, football is a 60-minute game, not 30.”
With a roster full of new starters — only one returning on offense and two on defense — Berry stressed the importance of chemistry and development as the Bulldogs enter the heart of their conference schedule.
“We’re a new team. Whole bunch of different guys,” Berry said. “But guess what? The mission doesn’t change — go 1-0 every day.”
The Bulldogs now have time to rest and recover ahead of their next challenge: Norfolk State on Saturday, Oct. 25 in Virginia. That matchup kicks off a pivotal stretch of MEAC games that will determine who earns a spot in the Celebration Bowl.
Despite being over .500, Berry sees room for improvement — particularly in reducing “self-inflicted negatives.”
“We’ve got to clean up the sins — the penalties, missed assignments, poor communication,” Berry said. “This week is about fundamentals — footwork, eye discipline, hat placement.”
Berry emphasized that the team will spend the bye week conducting a self-scout to understand who they are and how to maximize their strengths.
“We’re going to respect our opponents, but it’s about us cleaning up us,” he said.
South Carolina State’s defense has been a bright spot all season, playing with physicality and depth.
“We’re playing eight to 10 guys up front — they can hunt with the best of them,” Berry said. “Our linebackers are flying around, and our DBs are doing a great job.”
Special teams, which had been a “drain” earlier in the year, have become a “fountain,” helping the Bulldogs win the field position battle and convert on critical kicks.
Offensively, Berry sees signs of growth but says consistency remains key.
“There are times we look really, really good,” he said. “And there are times where we hurt ourselves. We just have to clean that up.”
Berry’s Bulldogs will return to action Oct. 25 at Norfolk State for the Spartans’ homecoming at Dick Price Stadium. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+.
With the team gaining momentum and healing up, Berry is confident in his squad’s mindset heading into the most crucial part of the season.
“Fall in love with the process of going 1-0 every day,” he said. “We like our chances going down the stretch.”
