The 10th annual Celebration Bowl did not disappoint in giving fans an entertaining start to the Bowl season. South Carolina State pulled off a 21-point comeback, to win the HBCU National Championship in the fourth overtime.
It was a back-and-forth second half that led to a thrilling end in a game that almost got away from the Bulldogs. South Carolina State head coach Chennis Berry got his team locked in at halftime to make sure there wasn’t a repeat of his team’s 2024 appearance.
It was a heartbreaker for Prairie View A&M, which got off to a hot start. PVAMU played hard, trying to fight off the Bulldogs’ comeback. The Panthers couldn’t do enough to win the Celebration Bowl in their first attempt.
Cameron Peters Puts On a Show
One PVAMU player who showed amazing effort throughout the game was quarterback Cameron Peters. The senior put on a show after a sloppy first drive. He missed a couple of easy throws early that could have turned into big plays for the Panthers. Once he settled into the game, though, Peters proved he was ready to play on this stage.
It started with a 38-yard pass to Andre Dennis to put PVAMU in scoring range. A couple of plays later, Peters connected with Ethan John on a 16-yard touchdown pass for the first score of the game. The Panthers would go on to score 21 unanswered points in the first half. Peters was responsible for each of them, passing for two and rushing for one.
Peters finished the game, completing 24 of his 36 pass attempts for 412 yards and four touchdowns through the air. He also had nine carries for 25 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Each of his touchdown passes went to different receivers, including John, Dennis, Jyzaiah Rockwell, and Cameron Bonner. Peters played well all the way until the last play, when he was sacked on a sprint-out pass for the Panthers’ fourth overtime two-point attempt.
Ryan Stubblefield and Jordan Smith Will the Bulldogs Back
The South Carolina State comeback had a ton to do with an offensive duo that lit up the second half. Bulldogs starting quarterback William Atkins IV, exited the game late in the second quarter with a hand injury. Backup quarterback Ryan Stubblefield entered the game but had a rough first drive. When he came back out in the second half, he found a connection with wide receiver Jordan Smith.
The playmaking receiver did everything he possibly could for his team in the second half. Smith rushed for a touchdown, caught two more, and even carried an injured teammate to the sideline. Stubblefield and Smith put their imprints all over this game. Smith finished with nine receptions for 152 yards and two receiving touchdowns, as well as five carries for 28 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Stubblefield finished completing 15 of his 29 passes for 234 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. He also threw the two-point conversion score that won the game.
Stubblefield and Smith’s gritty performances won South Carolina State the 2025 HBCU National Championship.
Main Image: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
