Malcolm Long Malcolm Long and the South Carolina State Bulldogs came up short for the second year in a row against Appalachian State.

Dominique McDuffie returned a fumble 50 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter and Appalachian State defeated South Carolina State 20-13 in the first round of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs on Saturday.

The Mountaineers (10-2), who defeated S.C. State in the first round before falling to Richmond last year, travel to Richmond in the quarterfinals on Dec. 5.

Tied at 13-13, South Carolina State went for it on fourthand 1 from Appalachian State’s 15-yard line. But the Bulldogs (10-2) fumbled, McDuffie recovered and returned it for the winning score with 7:42 left to play.

The Mountaineers only other touchdown came with 4:35 left in the second quarter on a 7-yard catch by Brian Quick from Armanti Edwards.

Long, the former Gaffney High standout, was 18 of 36 for 189 yards and a season high three interceptions for the Bulldogs.

Long and former Gaffney High linebacker Julius Wilkerson were named to the MEAC’s all-conference second team this past week.