After falling 38-10 to the No. 10 South Carolina Gamecocks on Saturday night, South Carolina State head coach shared his thoughts on the game, praising his team’s effort but acknowledging the challenges of facing an SEC powerhouse.
The Bulldogs opened the game with resilience, even jumping ahead with an early field goal to take a 3-0 lead. For a quarter, SC State controlled the tempo, holding the Gamecocks’ offense scoreless and making Williams-Brice Stadium restless. But the momentum shifted quickly thanks to special teams star Vicari Swain, whose two punt return touchdowns in the second quarter put the Gamecocks firmly in control.
Despite the final score, the coach emphasized his team’s fight and growth opportunities. “Our guys came out and played with heart,” he said. “We knew coming in that South Carolina is a top-10 program for a reason, and they have playmakers that can change a game in a matter of seconds. But I was proud of how we competed early and kept swinging.”
The Bulldogs struggled to regain rhythm after Swain’s back-to-back scores, and turnovers added to the uphill battle. Still, the coach found positives to carry forward. “These are the games that test you, but they also prepare you. We have a lot to correct, but there’s also a lot to build on. Our focus is on the bigger picture and our conference schedule.”
Looking ahead, SC State aims to regroup and use the experience of playing a nationally ranked opponent as fuel for the rest of its season. “We’ll learn from this. We’ll get better from this. That’s the promise I can make to our fans and our players.”
For the Bulldogs, the trip to Columbia was more than just a game — it was a chance to measure themselves against one of the nation’s best. And while the scoreboard favored the Gamecocks, SC State’s coach made clear that his team is far from discouraged.
