Your 2015 MEAC/SWAC Challenge Champions, @SCStateAthletic pic.twitter.com/C9Id6WVoqH
— Cricket MEAC/SWAC Challenge (@MEAC_SWAC) September 7, 2015
The fans who stayed through a lightning delay at the Citrus Bowl were treated to an absolute defensive clinic during Sunday’s MEAC/SWAC Challenge.
South Carolina State’s defense held Arkansas-Pine Bluff to 140 total yards in a 35-7 victory at the Citrus Bowl in the annual MEAC/SWAC Challenge between schools from the two historically Black colleges and universities conferences.
The Bulldogs had a slow start in the rain committing five turnovers overall, but there were no issues getting stops with the nation’s top defense on the other side of the football. When South Carolina State came back out for the second half, the team scored 21 unanswered points and put the game clearly away in the second half once the offense straightened itself out.
It is rare when a defensive player is the MVP, but it was hard to look elsewhere.
Javon Hargrave was the game’s MVP with 4.5 tackles and 2.5 sacks. With all the turnovers, those kinds of numbers pop out. It was really only the Bulldogs’ miscues that kept the Golden Lions even remotely close in the game.
There were still bands, which is pretty awesome and part of this great event.
