South Carolina State is one win away from defending its MEAC crown after a gutsy 34-27 win against North Carolina Central Friday night at O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium.

The game lived up to the hype and made geniuses out of the ESPN powers-that-be for moving the matchup from Saturday to Friday. With only three football games on tap, and NCCU-SCSU the first to play at 5:30 p.m., the MEAC as a whole is sure to benefit.

The Bulldogs have won five of the last six meetings. Coach Chennis Berry is 2-0 against coach Trei Oliver after defeating the Eagles last season in Columbia.

The game was tied three times and both teams went on runs. S.C. State scored 14 straight points in the first quarter to take a 17-3 lead before NCCU reeled off 17 straight for a 20-17 halftime lead.

A Bulldogs’ field goal tied the game at 20 in third before NCCU quarterback Walker Harris found Mehki Wall for 35 yards to put the Eagles up 27-20.

S.C. State tied the game again on a William Atkins IV connection to wide receiver Jordan Smith. Josh Shaw gave the Bulldogs the lead for good with a 30-yard scamper with less than two minutes left. Atkins was 24 of 36 for 314 yards, three touchdowns and one interception returned for a TD by Eric Adams.

NCCU running back Chris Mosley finished with 105 yards, his fifth 100-yard rushing game of the season. The Eagles travel to Morgan State next Saturday to close out the season.