Nov. 20, 2005

LEXINGTON, VA. - As various Citadel bigwigs took turns posing with the Silver Shako trophy at midfield Saturday, senior linebacker Porter Johnson lurked on the edges of the photo op.

"I really wanted to get my hands on that trophy," Johnson said after The Citadel's 22-14 victory over rival VMI before 8,674 fans at Alumni Memorial Field.

After the Military Classic of the South had taken a year off, the Bulldogs rediscovered an eternal truth - it's always sweet to beat VMI.

"It felt good in my hands, real good," said Johnson, who led The Citadel's defense with two caused fumbles and a school-record tying four sacks. "The last time we played VMI (in 2003), I remember the seniors had their time holding the Shako.

"This was my time to shine, and it sure felt good in my hands."

Junior running back Nuru Goodrum ran for a career-high 175 yards and two touchdowns as coach Kevin Higgins closed his first season with two straight wins and a 4-7 record. It was the first time The Citadel had won its final two games since 1997.

"These guys understand this rivalry, and they stepped up and played hard," Higgins said.

"But I give a lot of credit to VMI, as well. They played awfully hard and never quit."

Indeed, the game wasn't over until the Bulldogs grounded out three first downs to run the final 4:31 off the clock. Freshman quarterback Ben Carnell threw 10 yards to freshman tight end Taylor Cornett on a key third-and-4, and Goodrum ran six times for 40 yards to seal the victory, The Citadel's sixth in its last eight meetings with VMI.

The loss dropped the Keydets to 3-8 and might have spelled the end of coach Cal McCombs' seven-year tenure at VMI. The 1967 Citadel graduate has a 19-60 record in seven seasons, and Virginia newspapers have speculated about his job security this week.

"If that's what they feel they need, somebody else rather than me, I want them to have that opportunity to get somebody," McCombs said. "But I would say that I hope there is enough confidence in me to be able to stay at VMI for several more years. I'd like to, but I don't make those decisions.,

in me to be able to stay at VMI for several more years. I'd like to, but I don't make those decisions."

VMI quarterback Jonathan Wilson hit 17 of 28 passes for 158 yards, enough to keep the Keydets in the game. But he was sacked eight times and picked off once, by strong safety Avery Dingle, and VMI was held to 31 net rushing yards on 32 carries.

"We were hungry today," said junior defensive tackle Deon Douglas, who had three tackles for loss and one sack. "We hadn't had that many sacks this season, and we wanted to finish off strong. That was our whole motivation, to try to get in his face the whole game."

Ahead by 15-7 at the half, the Bulldogs had to wait until the fourth quarter to score the clinching TD. Johnson made the key play, leaping over a VMI running back to slap the ball away from Wilson, Douglas recovering the fumble. A personal foul penalty, the third of the game on VMI, gave the Bulldogs the ball at the Keydets' 25.

Goodrum barged for 12 yards on fourth-and-1, and scored from 1 yard out to make it 22-7 with 10:40 to go. Wilson's 6-yard scramble for a TD made it 22-15 with 7:43 left, but that was as close as VMI could get.

For the fourth time in the last five games, the Bulldogs scored first, taking advantage of Dingle's fourth interception of the season. Dingle's pick got the Bulldogs the ball at the VMI 45, and the Keydets helped out with penalties for facemasking, pass interference and offsides on fourth-and-1.

Carnell found Kinta Palmer in the end zone on a slant route, and the 6-4 Penn State transfer made a leaping grab for an 8-yard TD and a 6-0 lead with 8:14 left in the first quarter. After his fourth TD catch of the season, Palmer ignored the advice of an official and was hit with a celebration penalty. That flag and a facemask foul on Dingle helped VMI drive 54 yards for Nat Jackson's 3-yard TD and a 7-6 lead late in the first quarter.

Goodrum, who had 95 yards on 18 carries at the half, bulldozed his way for 51 yards on seven carries and scored from 1 yard out as the Bulldogs took the lead for good at 12-7. Blake Vandiver kicked a 34-yard field goal for a 15-7 halftime edge.

The Citadel held VMI to just 84 yards in the first half, and Johnson had two sacks in the first 30 minutes.