Ryan Stubblefield’s fourth-overtime strike to Jordan Smith on a two-point try finally ended a marathon Saturday night, lifting South Carolina State to a 40-38 victory over Prairie View A&M in the 10th Celebration Bowl.
The Bulldogs and Panthers traded blows through four extra periods after regulation ended tied, with South Carolina State sealing it when Prairie View’s final attempt came up empty. After Stubblefield and Smith connected to put the Bulldogs ahead, Prairie View quarterback Cameron Peters’ pass on the answering conversion fell incomplete, sending the MEAC champions into celebration.
Overtime opened with matching field goals, but the game quickly turned chaotic. South Carolina State’s Cornelius Davis intercepted Stubblefield on the first possession of the second overtime, giving Prairie View a chance to win with any score. The Panthers marched into position, but Diego Alfaro missed a 31-yard field goal that would have ended it.
When the format shifted to mandatory two-point tries in the third overtime, neither team could convert. The stalemate finally broke one period later with Smith again at the center of it all.
South Carolina State had already authored a dramatic comeback earlier in the night. The Bulldogs trailed 21-0 at halftime before erupting in the third quarter with three touchdowns, all on short fields created by the defense, to erase the deficit and force extra football.
Stubblefield entered late in the second quarter in relief of starter William Atkins IV and steadied the offense, throwing for 234 yards and two touchdowns. Both scoring passes went to Smith, who delivered a dominant performance with nine receptions for 152 yards, a rushing touchdown and the decisive two-point conversion.
Prairie View’s Peters kept the Panthers in it with a prolific night, passing for 412 yards and four touchdowns. Andre Dennis led the receiving corps with 131 yards and a score.
South Carolina State (10-3) captured its second Celebration Bowl title in its third appearance in the game over the past five seasons, extending the MEAC’s edge in the series to 7-3. Prairie View (10-4), despite the loss, reached the 10-win mark for the first time since 1963.
About the Author
Dalton Tinklenberg is the Founder and Media Director of The Scouting Depot, where he leads comprehensive coverage of college and professional football. He is an active member of some of the most respected organizations in sports journalism, including the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA), Maxwell Football Club, Online News Association (ONA), National Football Foundation (NFF), and the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE).
Before launching The Scouting Depot, Dalton worked with Blue HQ Media, where he covered major sporting events such as the Indianapolis 500, the College Football Playoff, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
Through his professional affiliations and on-the-ground experience, Dalton combines deep knowledge of the game with recognized standards of storytelling, editorial excellence, and authenticity in sports coverage.
