The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference witnessed a fierce battle for positioning, with Howard and South Carolina State vying for dominance. A win for Howard would have solidified their tie for first place with North Carolina Central, while South Carolina State sought to shake up the standings and improve their conference record to 2-1. As you might have guessed from the title, the latter came to pass. Let's rewind and delve into the unfolding events.

In a nail-biting match held in Columbia, South Carolina, the South Carolina State University Bulldogs emerged victorious over the Howard University Bison, with a final score of 27-24. The Bulldogs secured their win with a crucial defensive stop in Bison territory during the late stages of the fourth quarter.

Naejuan Barber's sack on Quinton Williams on third down pushed the Bison into a fourth and long situation. Williams threw a pass to wide receiver Richie Ilarazza, who had a chance to gain a first down. However, fate was not on the Bison's side as the ball slipped through Ilarazza's hands, resulting in an incomplete pass and handing possession to the Bulldogs at the Howard 17-yard line.

With just 2 minutes and 22 seconds left on the clock, the Bulldogs, despite facing a sack, relied on the running prowess of Jawarn Howell and Corey Fields Jr. to seal the game. Howell stole the show with an impressive 283 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 27 carries, while Fields Jr. showcased his running skills with 96 yards on 7 carries.

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Unfortunately, Fields Jr.'s passing game fell short, as he only managed 19 yards on 11 attempts, completing three passes and throwing two interceptions. On the other side, Quinton Williams led the Bison's offensive efforts, throwing for 193 yards, two touchdowns, and completing 16 of his 29 attempts.

With this victory, the Bulldogs join the Bison and Morgan State in a second-place tie, with each team holding a conference record of 2-1. Meanwhile, North Carolina Central maintains its stronghold on first place with a flawless 3-0 record in conference play.

However, should the Eagles stumble against Howard on Saturday, the race for the championship could become incredibly intriguing. South Carolina State now sets its sights on its upcoming game against the Morgan State Bears, aiming to enhance their chances of clinching the MEAC Championship.