Malcolm Long It ended badly for quarterback Malcolm Long and his South Carolina State Bulldogs last year.

Appalachian State scored 17 unanswered points in the last 7:21 to pull away from the Bulldogs for a 37-21 victory in the first round of the NCAA Division I Football Championship.

The teams have another first-round matchup on Saturday at noon in Boone, N.C., but the former Gaffney High great expects things to be different this time around.

“They have a pretty good team, but I think we have a better team as far as depth is concerned,” Long said. “Last year, we were just happy to be in the playoffs and players were making plans for what they were going to do for after the holiday. But this year we have our minds on the playoffs and we want to go farther.”

South Carolina State (11-1) wrapped up the MEAC title 10 days ago with a 37- 13 victory over Morgan State. In that game, Long was 21 for 32 for 319 yards and four touchdowns.

For the season, Long has completed 190 of his 287 passes for 2,314 yards. He taken very good care of the football with 20 touchdown passes and only seven interceptions.

Long said he’s excelled this year because the Bulldogs are more balanced on offense. And Long has Will Ford, who has set the MEAC career rushing mark this season, to thank for that. With the threat of running the ball, the safeties must play closer to the line of scrimmage, making Long more effective in the passing game.

But it’s just not Ford that has been the difference maker. Long said the receivers and the offensive line has improved this season.

The Bulldogs will be making just their fourth playoff appearance and second in a row with Long at quarterback.

“It’s a good feeling coming from Gaffney where you expect to win,” Long said. “The coaches always tell me there that they are putting the game on my shoulders.”

But the improvement may not be enough to derail former Gaffney High center Brett Irvin and his Mountaineers, who are 9-2 and 8-0 in the Southern Conference.

“The atmosphere is very hostile, but it’s fun,” Long said. “We just have to stay balanced.”

The game will be televised on ESPNU.