Redshirt Senior Ryan Stubblefield led South Carolina State back from a 0-21 deficit to win its ninth Black College Football National Championship, defeating Prairie View A&M 40-38 in the 10th Celebration Bowl.
Let’s get the coincidences out of the way. Pro football fans may make the connection between the comeback loss and the fact that the game was played in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home of the Atlanta Falcons. The same Atlanta Falcons that took a 28-3 lead over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI. The NFL championship game where that historical comeback occurred was played in Houston. And while Prairie View is quite a few miles up US 290, the driving distance is almost identical to the one the Falcons make from Flowery Branch to the stadium. Last but not least, the Panthers’ bench occupied the home side of the field.
The similarities end there because, unlike the dirty birds, the second half wasn’t a walkover; it was a master class for counter punchers. It was a classic case of two talented teams stepping up and meeting the challenge.
“I never fussed at them,” said SC State Head Coach Chennis Berry of his halftime speech to his Bulldogs football team. Before the team headed back on the field, Berry challenged them again, “Don’t leave this locker room unless you believe (that they could come back and win).”
Four minutes passed before the Bulldogs made the play that snatched the momentum from the Panthers. Nose tackle Ka’Von Chisolm knocked the ball out of Chase Bingmon’s hands and onto the turf, where teammate Jordan Dollard recovered it at the Panthers’ 5-yard line.
The offense didn’t waste a second. Tyler Smith took the direct snap and followed his blockers into the end zone.
After a quick four-and-out for the Panthers and a short punt, the Bulldogs were back in business with a relatively short field. Stubblefield led the offense back onto the field after two series where the Bulldogs sputtered.
Stubblefield, who took five snaps in the Bulldogs’ 2024 Celebration Bowl loss to eventual champion Jackson State, served notice in the third quarter with a 42-yard strike to Nigel Johnson. Jordan Smith cut the Panthers’ lead to seven with a 10-yard touchdown run on the very next snap.
“Coach says whenever your number is called, you should be ready,” said Ryan Stubblefield. “We all prepare the same. There is no fall off between the starter and the backup. When my number was called, I was ready to play.” The red shirt senior ends his college career as a National Champion and the Celebration Bowl Offensive MVP. Let that be food for thought for all of the players jumping into the portal after one year.
The 14-point run had the Panthers as bewildered as the Bulldogs when they rushed out to the 21-0 lead. After another big-time pass from Stubblefield that resulted in a touchdown and a tied game, the Panthers snapped out of the momentary shock.
Halftime
Cameron Peters carved up the Bulldogs’ secondary with five straight passes of 13, 28, 13, 8, and 13 yards. The last pass found Andrew Dennis in the middle of the end zone for a touchdown.
Prairie View’s lead lasted until the Bulldogs’ offense stepped back on the field. Stubblefield, now brimming with confidence, found Jordan Smith in the middle of the Panthers’ secondary for a 33-yard play down to the 13-yard line. The redshirt senior took the snap and punched through the line to tie the game at 28-28.
Regulation ended with the score tied 35-35 and sent the game into overtime. It was the second time the Celebration Bowl went into overtime. A single overtime decided the 2022 Celebration Bowl matchup between North Carolina Central and Jackson State. This, however, is the first time in Celebration Bowl history that the game went to three overtimes before it was decided.
Both teams notched field goals in the first overtime, but none in the second or third. Panthers’ defensive back Cornelius Davis caught Stubblefield’s pass at the one after it went through the hands of Bulldogs’ wide receiver Nigel Johnson. The interception sent the Panthers’ bench into celebration mode. All they needed was a field goal to claim the title.
Peters took a knee on third down to set up a 31-yard game-winning field goal attempt. It was certainly not a “gimme” for place kicker Diego Alfaro, who was 1-for-2 on the day. The true freshman doinked his first field goal attempt of the game, a 19-yarder, off the right upright in the first quarter. No pressure, right? Alfaro’s kick saw the hot light sign on at the Krispy Creme in the west end and hooked a wide right.
Winning in the fourth overtime of a college football game boils down to who can execute a 2-point conversion play. SC State was up first. Running back Tyler Smith hauled in the pass from Stubblefield and dove for the pylon for an apparent touchdown. The automatic review confirmed the call made by the officials on the field.
The controversy surrounding the play will get added to the unofficial history books along with the controversy that surrounded the Grambling vs NC Central game in 2016. Unlike that game, Prairie View still had a chance to tie the game and force a fourth overtime. Whatever play was called, it didn’t fool the Bulldogs’ defense. They were out hunting for Peters, grabbing the Panthers’ star and forcing a wild pass that landed out of bounds.
Redemption came at last for Berry, who admitted it took him some time to get over last year’s loss to Jackson State.
Next year’s Celebration Bowl could be a rematch or two completely new teams. Jackson State, Alabama State, Delaware State, and NC Central all demonstrated they have what it takes to reach the game. Between now and then, coaches will be watching the dreaded portal while they recruit their next group of players.
CORE360 Sports will be back in July 2026 with reports from media day. Until then, let’s watch some basketball.