Nov. 5, 2005

Chattanooga, TN - Tailback Eldra Buckley rushed for 187 yards and three touchdowns as the Chattanooga Mocs withheld a Citadel comeback to preserve a 31-21 victory in Southern Conference action Saturday afternoon at Finley Stadium.

With the victory, the Mocs improve to 6-4 overall (3-3 in league play) and are assured of their first winning record since 1997. The Bulldogs fall to 2-7 overall (1-5 in the SoCon) and have dropped their last five contests.

Chattanooga raced to a 24-7 lead and held off the Bulldogs, which scored the next 14 points to pull within three points, 24-21. But Mocs quarterback Antonio Miller scored on a keeper from seven yards out to seal the win.

The Bulldogs scored on their opening possession when Steve Tumbleston scored from seven yards out on his first career rush. The six-play, 63-yard drive took only 1:32 off the clock, and was highlighted by Ta'Mar Jernigan's 32-yard end around which was the longest run of his career.

Chattanooga responded with 24 unanswered points with Buckley rushing over right tackle for 25 yards and a touchdown to knot the game. He then ran over left guard for four yards and another score, this time with 5:56 remaining in the opening quarter.

The Mocs extended their lead to 21-7 in the second quarter when Buckley scored for the third time in the half, this time from 35 yards out. Kicker Estaban Lopez nailed a 23-yard field goal to extend the Mocs' lead to 24-7.

The Bulldogs retaliated with a touchdown in the closing moments of the half when Nuru Goodrum scored from a yard out with 52 seconds left to pull within 10 points, 24-14.

The Citadel opened the second half with a successful 10-play, 70-yard drive that took 3:39 off the clock and was highlighted by Goodrum's one-yard dash to bring the Bulldogs to within three points, 24-21, with 8:14 left in the period. The Mocs responded with the final tally, this time 13-play drive that was capped by Miller's keeper from seven yards out to increase their lead to 31-21, which was the score at the end of the third period and the final margin. "This was a game we had a chance to win," said Citadel coach Kevin Higgins. "We didn't do the fundamentals well. We didn't block, tackle, throw or run the ball well, and we're not going to win when that happens."

"Buckley is an outstanding running back and we knew that he'd be a challenge," Higgins added. "Their offensive line did a good job blocking for him."

Goodrum paced the Bulldogs' rushing attack with 98 yards and two touchdowns. Carnell finished with an 18-for-31 performance and 197 yards passing, the most passing yards of any Bulldog this season.

The Citadel returns to action on Saturday as it hosts Elon at 2 p.m. in a Homecoming affair at Johnson Hagood Stadium while the Mocs have an open weekend before entertaining Furman in their season finale.