South Carolina State's Jami Oats (24) breaks up a first-half pass intended for Southern wide receiver John Foreman (83) during the Heritage Bowl in Atlanta, Saturday, Dec. 27, 1997.AP Photo/Wilford Harewood

Web posted December 28, 1997

By Dwight Foxx
Staff Writer

ATLANTA - There would be no last-minute heroics for South Carolina State in the McDonald's Heritage Bowl.

Terrance Blackwell set a bowl record with a 98-yard kickoff return for a score as Southern University rallied from an eight-point deficit in the final period to edge South Carolina State 34-28 at the Georgia Dome on Saturday.

Southern also defeated South Carolina State in the 1993 Heritage Bowl and sports a 3-1 record in the game while South Carolina State has dropped two of its three appearances. The Bulldogs defeated Grambling in the 1994 Heritage Bowl.

Harlem native Reggie Curry had just scored on a 40-yard touchdown run to give South Carolina State a 28-20 lead just 17 seconds into the final period.

Curry amassed 170 yards of total offense - 98 passing and 72 rushing - and accounted for two touchdowns in the contest.

But Blackwell would steal Curry and the Bulldogs' thunder when he returned the ensuing kickoff 98 yards to cut his team's deficit to 28-26 with 14:25 remaining in the period. The two-point conversion failed but the damage had been done.

``We had it (the momentum) and then he (Blackwell) took it back on that kickoff return,'' Curry said.

Southern (11-1), the Southwestern Athletic Conference champions, would take advantage of a fumble exchanged between former Glenn Hills center Kamar Lee and Curry to take the lead for good with 10:45 remaining in the game.

Fullback Jermaine West gave the Jaguars the lead for good with 7:29 remaining when he plunged in from one yard out to cap a 6 play, 68 yard drive. West, who rushed six times for 12 yards, scored three touchdowns in the game.

The lead changed hands seven times during the game. South Carolina State (9-3), which finished tied for second in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, had two chances late but was unable to score.

Florida A&M, which finished tied for second with South Carolina State, handed Southern its only loss of the season.

``We didn't make the big plays and Southern made the big plays,'' Bulldog coach Willie Jeffries said.

South Carolina State out-gained Southern 338-318 in the game but was victimized by 19 penalties for 151 yards compared to five penalties for 66 yards for Southern.

``We had a few problems with penalties in practice,'' Kamar Lee said. ``They say you play like you practice and it showed.''

Chad Eaddy, who rushed 16 times for 107 yards and two scores, was named the Most Valuable Player for South Carolina State.

The Bulldogs led 15-12 at intermission thanks to a 7-yard touchdown pass from Curry to wideout Bobby McGowens with 1:10 remaining in the half.