Atlanta, GA — A game that seemed decided by halftime turned into an instant classic Saturday night, as South Carolina State Bulldogs completed a stunning comeback to defeat Prairie View A&M Panthers, 40–38, in four overtimes in the 10th edition of the Celebration Bowl.
The decisive moment came in the fourth overtime when quarterback Ryan Stubblefield delivered a strike to Jordan Smith on a mandatory two-point conversion. Prairie View had one last chance to answer, but quarterback Cameron Peters came up empty, sealing a dramatic Bulldogs victory.
The extra-session chaos began after both teams traded field goals in the first overtime. In the second, South Carolina State’s Cornelius Davis intercepted a Stubblefield pass, giving Prairie View a golden opportunity to end the game. The Panthers needed only a score, but kicker Diego Alfaro pushed a 31-yard field goal wide left, keeping the Bulldogs alive.
Neither team found the end zone during the two-point shootout of the third overtime, setting the stage for the final act.
A Comeback for the Ages
South Carolina State’s rally was remarkable considering the Bulldogs trailed by 21 points at halftime. Momentum flipped in the third quarter, when they ripped off three touchdowns on short fields, each drive covering fewer than 50 yards to erase the deficit and force overtime.
Stubblefield, who entered late in the second quarter after starter William Atkins IV exited, delivered a gutsy performance. He finished with 234 passing yards and two touchdown throws—both to Smith. Smith was unstoppable, accounting for three total touchdowns, including a rushing score and the game-winning two-point conversion, while hauling in nine catches for 152 yards.
Prairie View countered with a massive night from Peters, who threw for 412 yards and four touchdowns. Andre Dennis was his top target, piling up 131 receiving yards and a touchdown in the losing effort.
History on the Line
The win marked South Carolina State’s second Celebration Bowl title and improved the Bulldogs to 10–3 on the season. It was their third appearance in the game in the past five years and pushed the MEAC to a 7–3 edge over the SWAC in the series.
Prairie View finished 10–4, securing its first 10-win season since 1963. Though the Panthers came up short, their performance cemented one of the most memorable Celebration Bowls in the event’s history—a night where resilience, missed chances, and overtime drama collided on college football’s biggest HBCU stage.
