The South Carolina State football team has won all nine of their MEAC games since Chennis Berry took over as head coach last season.
The coach himself as a personal winning streak that triples the above amount.
Berry, who led Division II Benedict to consecutive SIAC titles in 2022 and 2023, is focused on winning another week as his Bulldogs travel to Delaware State this coming Saturday to decide the MEAC championship. Both teams enter this weekend’s contest at 4-0.
“It’s a new team from last year. Coach [DeSean] Jackson has those guys believing,” Berry said. “We respect every opponent, but we fear none. Our mission doesn’t change: Go 1-and-0.”
South Carolina State achieved that mission last Friday with a memorable 34-27 win over North Carolina Central, keyed by a 30-yard Josh Shaw touchdown run in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. Berry says the key to the Bulldogs success is being ready for any and everything that 60 minutes of football can throw at them.
“We practice situations probably more than anybody in the country,” he said. “We steal possessions because we prepare for it. The separation is in the preparation.”
That preparation has led to a personal 27-game conference winning streak for Berry as a head coach. After a 20-5 loss to Morehouse College on October 23, 2021, his Benedict teams won 18 straight SIAC games (including two conference championship games) and now nine straight MEAC games as the top Bulldog.
Berry said his success is simple as he and his coaching staff being role models and mentors for young men who will become adults in the near future.
“There’s no secret sauce. I’m just consistent,” he explained. “We’re dealing with impressionable young men, and it’s bigger than football. Holistic development, discipline and accountability — that’s what we’re about.”
The Bulldogs will look to win their 20th MEAC title overall against Delaware State Saturday Nov. 22 at Alumni Stadium in Dover. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. EST and the game will be broadcast on ESPN Plus.
