Charleston, S.C. Nick Ellis kicked a 26-yard field goal in the second overtime to lead Charleston Southern to a 38-35 victory over cross-town rival The Citadel at Johnson Hagood Stadium on Saturday night.
The Bulldogs rallied from a 28-13 fourth quarter deficit to tie the contest at 28 with 1:26 left in regulation. After both teams scored touchdowns in the first overtime, Blake Vandiver missed a 39-yard field goal in The Citadel's possession in second overtime. After Charleston Southern (2-0) quarterback Collin Drafts hit Maurice Price for an 18-yard gain to the Bulldog 12 and tailback Kenny Harper rushed for three more to the nine, Ellis split the uprights with the first field goal of the day for either team.
In the first overtime, The Citadel (0-2) won the toss and elected to play defense first. On the first play of overtime, Drafts delivered a touchdown pass to Price from 25 yards out. The touchdown pass was the fifth of the game for Drafts, and the second time he found Price.
During The Citadel's half of overtime, running back Nuru Goodrum found pay dirt from one yard out and Vandiver's extra point tied the score at 35. Goodrum ran six times for 16 yards in the eight-play drive.
The Bulldogs began their comeback in the fourth quarter with 7:18 remaining as Tory Cooper took the handoff and scampered 10 yards into the end zone for his second touchdown of the night, capping a 12-play, 72-yard drive. Quarterback Duran Lawson then took the snap and ran up the middle on a draw play to convert the two-point conversion and bring the Bulldogs within seven.
The Bulldogs defense delivered a critical three-and-out defensive stop and forced the Buccaneers to punt with 3:50 remaining in the game. On the following drive, the Bulldogs scored on a masterful play by Lawson. With 2:24 left, Lawson dropped back to pass on 3rd-and-11, evaded a defender to evade the sack and stepped up and delivered a strike to wide receiver Andre Roberts for a 31-yard touchdown. The scoring play was Roberts' first career touchdown, coming in his first career game in front of the home crowd at Johnson-Hagood stadium. The play was also the first touchdown pass of the season for Lawson. Vandiver's extra-point tied the score at 28.
The Bulldogs had a chance to end it in regulation after wide receiver Ta'Mar Jernigan blocked Hart Pearson's punt with 40 seconds left after a Buccaneer three-and-out. After advancing the ball to the Charleston Southern 22, Vandiver's 39-yard field goal attempt was blocked by defensive lineman Phil Jordan with no time left on the clock to send the contest to overtime.
Charleston Southern got on the board first with 29.3 seconds remaining in the first quarter as Drafts hit Price from 16 yards out to cap off a 14 play, 77-yard drive that took six and a half minutes. The Buccaneers scored again with 3:55 left in the first half to make the score 14-0. Drafts connected with wide receiver Drew Rucks on a 44-yard scoring play. For the first time in series history, Charleston Southern held the lead as the teams headed to the locker rooms for halftime.
With 9:17 left in the 3rd quarter, running back Tory Cooper got the Bulldogs on the board as he took a pitch from Lawson on the option and raced down the right side for an 18-yard run. The touchdown was the first of his career and the first of the year for Bulldogs, as they were kept from the end zone at Texas A&M.
But the Bulldogs' fortunes quickly turned as with 5:40 left, Cooper muffed a punt and Charleston Southern recovered the ball at The Citadel 31. On the ensuing play, Drafts hit wide receiver Markus Murray for a 31-yard score to make it a 21-7 Buccaneer lead.
The Bulldogs drew closer with 11.2 seconds remaining in the third quarter as Goodrum raced seven yards for the score, his first touchdown of the year, to cap a 12- play, 78-yard scoring drive. However, Vandiver missed the extra point and the score remained 21-13 in favor of Charleston Southern.
Drafts connected with tight end Kelby Taylor in the back of the end zone for a 4-yard touchdown pass with 11:28 remaining in the game before the Bulldogs began their comeback.
The Citadel has a bye week before going on the road to take on the Pittsburgh Panthers on Sept. 23. The Citadel will not play at Johnson Hagood Stadium again until Sept. 30 when they play host to Chattanooga.
