Charleston, S.C. - In his second year at the helm of Bulldog Football, head coach Kevin Higgins witnessed the re-opening of Johnson Hagood Stadium that included a new West Stands and the largest scoreboard in Division I-AA football. However, what topped off the season was his eager squad's determination to make the best of each game before them, ending the year with the best Southern Conference finish in 14 years with four wins and three losses, finishing 5-6 overall.
Picked to finish second to last in the conference, the Bulldogs started the season with senior defensive end and pre-season all-conference James Wilson in a boot after suffering a mid-foot sprain in only the third day of fall camp. Missing two of three weeks of practice, the team captain returned to the field just in time to take on the Aggies of Texas A&M in the Bulldogs' 2006 season opener at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas. However, things went sour again for the highly anticipated defensive threat. Wilson, who went down twice during the game, dislocated his shoulder and was sidelined until the Sept. 30 home match-up against Chattanooga.
After losing 35-3 to the Aggies, The Citadel football team returned home and recorded a loss against a tough Charleston Southern football squad. The Buccaneers topped the Bulldogs in a thrilling 38-35 victory at Johnson Hagood Stadium. A shocked Citadel squad, who had never lost to Charleston Southern, headed to Division I-A Pittsburgh after a week off to record their third loss of the season, 51-6, at Heinz Field.
However, things started looking up for The Citadel squad as they recorded their first Southern Conference win at home on Sept. 30 against Chattanooga. The Bulldogs, almost unstoppable in the first half, totaled 356 yards of offense. Junior quarterback Duran Lawson, who returned this season after an ACL injury in 2005, threw for a career-high 324 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Bulldogs to a 24-21 victory over the Mocs.
On the road to the upstate for two consecutive weekends, The Citadel dominated the Wofford Terriers in every category but the one that counts the most points, in a 28-20 loss in Spartanburg. Challenging Furman's No. 11 ranking, battling the Paladins down to the last possession, the Bulldogs lost that match-up, 23-17, in Greenville. However, a fresh lookout on the season showed promise for the Class of 2010. Freshman wide receiver Andre Roberts recorded a career-high 133 yards against Furman, the first 100-yard performance by a wide receiver since Scooter Johnson in 2003. Freshman defensive lineman Terrence Reese totaled seven tackles, three for a loss of eight yards.
The Citadel returned home to claim their second SoCon win of the season in a 30-27 overtime victory against Western Carolina that saw the break-out performance of junior running back Tory Cooper. Cooper ran for a career-high 204 yards on 36 carries and two touchdowns, earning SoCon Offensive Player of the Week honors and moving into the Bulldogs' all-time top-10 single-game rushing performances.
Following the thrilling comeback victory over the Catamounts, The Citadel recorded a huge win against Georgia Southern, 24-21, for their third regular season and SoCon win of the season. The victory also marked the first time since 2003 the Bulldogs defeated the Eagles. Cooper recorded his sixth and seventh touchdowns of the season, while adding another 92 yards in total offense.
On a two-game winning streak and with a sense of confidence, The Citadel headed to Boone, N.C. to take on the defending national champion and No. 1 ranked Appalachian State with the SoCon title on the line. A victory would give the Bulldogs a chance to capture their first SoCon title since 1992. Unfortunatley, the Mountaineers claimed the victory and the conference title.
The Citadel returned home to take on VMI for the Military Classic of the South in the 54th Homecoming game on Nov. 11. Determined to keep the Silver Shako where it originated, on the campus of The Citadel, Cooper led the Bulldogs with 150 rushing yards and three touchdowns in a 48-21 victory over the Keydets. The Citadel, who jumped out on offense, ended the first half with a 35-7 lead, their largest halftime lead of the season. The Bulldogs totaled 314 total yards of offense, 96 from Tory Cooper, while Lawson went 13-20 for 149 in the first half. Wide receiver Gary Domanski and running back Montrell Lee also recorded their first touchdowns of the season in the 27-point victory.
With a 4-6 overall and 3-3 SoCon record heading into the last game of the season, the Bulldogs had the opportunity to record their first SoCon winning record since 1992 when they headed to Elon on Nov. 18. Not only did they claim the win, but it was The Citadel's most dominating Southern Conference victory since 2001. A squad determined to claim the win for their seniors and all the Bulldog fans who supported them throughout the season, The Citadel squad went to Elon with only one thing on their mind a win.
The last game of 2006 became the sweetest, as the Bulldogs recorded their first road win of the season in a 44-7 final. Lawson went 14-of-18 for 223 yards and two touchdowns that included an 80-yard pass to Roberts, a career-long for both players. Roberts totaled 123 yards for his second 100-plus performance of the season, while Cooper added another 109 rushing yards, becoming the first Bulldog to record back-to-back 100-yard performances since Nehemiah Broughton in 2003. Wilson also recorded his first interception of his career in what was his final game as a Bulldog.
Lawson and Roberts both earned Southern Conference Player of the Week honors in the final week. Winning the last four of five games, which also had not been done since 1992 when The Citadel won the conference championship, the Bulldogs clinched fourth place in the Southern Conference final standings, ahead of not only Elon, but also Chattanooga, Georgia Southern and Western Carolina.
Topping off the success of the 2006 season, four Bulldogs were named to the coaches All-Southern Conference teams. Despite his struggles earlier in the season, Wilson was named to the first team, while Trevar Broughton, Taylor Cornett and Duran Lawson were each named to the second team. The media selected Joshua Lawson to their All-Conference first team, while Broughton was their only Bulldog pick for the second team. Broughton, junior running back Tory Cooper and Joshua Lawson were also named to the Don Hansen's Football Gazette All-Region Team. Cooper was named to the second team offense, while Lawson and Broughton received third team defensive accolades.
As construction continues at Johnson Hagood Stadium, head coach Kevin Higgins and his staff will continue to build on the success of a program that is well on its way to becoming one of the most competitive teams in the Southern Conference.
