Sept. 29, 2002

Boone, NC - The Citadel Bulldogs pulled off some of the longest plays in school history Saturday against Appalachian State.

Sophomore cornerback Marcus returned an interception 88 yards for a touchdown, the first time since 1996 that a Bulldog ran a pick back for a score. And junior receiver Bud Pough broke a 55-year-old school record with a 100-yard kickoff return for a TD, the Bulldogs' first kick return for a TD since 1996.

But those big plays weren't enough to prevent a 37-28 loss to App State Saturday at Kidd Brewer Stadium.

"It hurts when you leave everything out on the field and you don't have anything to show for it," said Pough, who also caught three passes for 67 yards. "But the wins are going to come, man. These guys know that, and we are going to fight through this."

Pough, the son of South Carolina State coach Buddy Pough, helped bring the Bulldogs back from a 24-14 deficit in the third quarter to a 28-24 lead in the fourth quarter.

After sophomore Ern Mills fumbled a kickoff return to set up App State's TD for a 24-14 third-quarter lead, it looked like the game had turned the Mountaineers' way.

But Pough, sent in for Mills on the kickoff-return team, raced 100 yards with the next kickoff to put the Bulldogs right back in the game. His return broke Luke Dunfee's record 98-yard return against Presbyterian in 1947.

"It was a spur of the moment thing, they threw me in there at the last minute," Pough said. "Coach (Maurice) Drayton helped me out, told me just to hit the hole as fast as I could and follow my instincts.The guys up front made a huge crease, and I just did my job and ran right up the middle. These guys on this team are tough, they are always going to hang in there. You never know when you might make a play to keep the team in the game."

Pough made just such a play later in the game, setting up the TD that gave The Citadel a 28-24 lead. On third-and-16, QB Jeff Klein hit Pough on a curl route on the left sideline. Pough spun away from the tackle of cornerback Derrick Black and ran 50 yards to the App State 6. A play later, Klein threw 5 yards to Matt Healy for the TD.

"Jeff had a great throw, and I just did what I had to do," Pough said.

The Dogs trailed 7-0 and App State was on the move when Cohen made his big play in the second quarter. QB Joe Burchette had just thrown an 11-yard pass to DaVon Fowlkes on fourth-and-5. Burchette came back to the right side on an out route to Sterling Hayward. Cohen jumped the route, picked off the pass and ran 88 yards for the TD to tie the score.

"Earlier, they ran the same play to the other side and I was a step late," Cohen said. "I told myself I've got a chance to do it again. I saw him raise up and turn his shoulders, and I broke on it."

Freshman Shawn Grant also intercepted Burchette, and the Dogs also recovered two fumbles. But Burchette hit 29 of 45 passes for 357 yards and two TDs, the second straight 300-yard passing game allowed by the Bulldogs.

Said coach Ellis Johnson, "We've played two pretty good offenses, and they're going to score their points, especially when we help them with field position. But we played more physical today, we got some pressure on the quarterback and played the ball in the air a lot better."