Ricorian Brown's late TD helps South Carolina State edge Howard 35-28

Ricorian Brown rushed for 143 yards and two touchdowns, including the winning score with 17 seconds left, and South Carolina State beat Howard 35-28 on Thursday night

ByThe Associated Press
November 5, 2026, 11:34 PM

WASHINGTON -- Ricorian Brown rushed for 143 yards and two touchdowns, including the winning score with 17 seconds left, and South Carolina State beat Howard 35-28 on Thursday night.

The Bulldogs (8-2, 3-0 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference), ranked No. 24 in the Stats Perform poll, led 21-7 at halftime before Howard scored twice in the third quarter to tie it at 21.

Brown put South Carolina State back in front with a 9-yard touchdown run with 10:21 remaining, but Isaiah Freeman answered with a 51-yard touchdown pass to CJ Neely to tie it at 28 with 2:52 left.

South Carolina State then drove 74 yards in seven plays before Brown scored from 9 yards out to give the Bulldogs the lead with 17 seconds remaining.

Keely Watson completed 21 of 29 passes for 241 yards and a touchdown, while Malaqhi Jones had nine catches for 107 yards. Jett Jackson made field goals of 34 and 49 yards.

Freeman threw for 233 yards and three touchdowns for Howard (4-6, 1-2). Antonio Hunter caught five passes for 52 yards and two scores, while Neely had two catches for 64 yards and a touchdown.

South Carolina State finished with 479 total yards, including 226 rushing, and held Howard to 382.

South Carolina State: Hosts North Carolina Central on Nov. 14.

Howard: Plays Delaware State at home on Nov. 14.

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