ORANGEBURG, S.C.- Savannah State led South Carolina State 17-7 at halftime but could not hold only as the Bulldogs rallied to beat SSU 21-17.
 
It was the last game for the 2018 season for the Tigers (2-8, 1-6 MEAC)
 
Savannah State led 17-14 in the fourth quarter but  quarterback D'Vonn Gibbons fumbled the ball and it was recovered by Bulldog defensive back Duane Nichols in the end-zone for a touchdown with 8:42 remaining.
 
On SSU's final two possessions, the Tigers could not get pass their own 27.
 
On their first dive of the game, Savannah State moved the ball from their own 20 to the Bulldogs 42 but had to punt. Giovanni Lugo's punt went for 30 yards to the SCSU 12 but it was fumbled by Tra' Quan Dubose and recovered by Savannah State's D'Angelo Durham at the 12.
 
The Tigers were unable to score a touchdown and had to settle on a 26 yard field goal by Lugo with 3:36 remaining in the first quarter.
 
South Carolina State went ahead 7-3 early in the second quarter when quarterback Tyrece Nick scored on a 47 yard run.
 
SSU went ahead 10-7 with 3:47 left in the second quarter as Gibbons scored on a two yard run to cap a eight play, 58 yard drive.
 
SC State had to punt on their next possession but it returned by SSU's Donald Rutledge 27 yards to the Bulldog 26. That set up a nine yard touchdown run by Gibbons with 45 seconds remaining before intermission to increase the Savannah State lead to 17-7.
 
Midway in the third quarter the crowd of 7,365 at Dawson Stadium saw SSU drive to the Bulldogs three yard line only to have Lugo's 27 yard field goal attempt hit the crossbar.
 
The next SSU possession ended with a Gibbons fumble that was recovered by Bulldog defensive back Kendric Gathers at the SSU 37. That set up a 13 yard touchdown run by Nick with 1:50 left in the quarter to pull South Carolina State within 17-14.
 
Savannah State outplayed the Bulldogs, getting more first downs (16 to 6), yards (221 to 155) and time of possession (38:10 to 21:50).
 
James Kicklighter led SSU in rushing with 48 yards while Gibbons threw for 59 yards. Four different players caught a pass for the Tigers. Jaylen McCloud had two receptions while Treveyon Pratt (51 yards), Paris Baker (13 yards) and Rashad Saxton (7 yards) had one catch apiece.
 
Stefen Banks and Desmond Young led the defense with six tackles each. Banks also had two sacks and two tackles for losses.
 
Nick accounted for 100 yards for SC State (5-5, 4-2 MEAC) getting 70 on the ground. Chad Gilchrist had ten tackles for the Bulldogs defense.
 
GAME NOTES:
 
LAST GAME
Eighteen SSU seniors played their last game in a Savannah State uniform.
 
SO LONG MEAC & DIVISION I
With the game against Howard being canceled, this was the final football game that SSU will play as a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and as a member of Division I (FCS). The Howard game was originally postponed on September 15 due to Hurricane Florence.
 
SAYING GOODBYE
SSU offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Bill Rychel will be leaving the program. Rychel has been hired as the head coach at St. Thomas in Miami Gardens, Florida.
 
BIRTHDAY WISHES
Defensive lineman Aaron Robinson celebrated his birthday Nov. 12. He finished with two tackles in today's game.
 
NATIONALLY RANKED
The Tigers entered the game ranked in the top 10 nationally in two statistical categories: SSU was 7th nationally and second in the MEAC in punt return average (16.8), and 6th nationally and 2nd in the conference in passing yards allowed (150.6).
Savannah State returned three punts for 50 yards which averages to 16.7 yards per return while the Tigers defense held South Carolina State to 30 yards passing.