Charleston, S.C. - The 2008 season for The Citadel Football turned out to be one of the toughest during head coach Kevin Higgins' tenure with the Bulldogs. Coming off an exciting 7-4 overall and 4-3 SoCon record in 2007, the Bulldogs struggled to pick up a conference win in 2008 with several close calls including a triple overtime loss against Georgia Southern. The Citadel finished the season 4-8 overall and 2-6 in conference action.
Many knew that the Bulldogs would face some challenges in 2008 with the loss of a great group of talented seniors in 2007. Among them was quarterback Duran Lawson, who holds the records for passing and offensive yards in a career, and running back Tory Cooper, who broke the record for the most touchdowns in a season, recording 1,392 total yards and 21 touchdowns in 2007. On defense, the Bulldogs would miss the presence of defensive end Trevar Broughton, lineback Andrew Rowell and safety Joshua Lawson. However, for the first time in approximately 15 years the Bulldogs were ranked among the preseason top 25 in several polls with their highest ranking falling at No.16.
The Citadel kicked off the season at home against Webber International on Aug. 30, marking the first time in four years that they did not host Charleston Southern in the home-opener. Confident that the Bulldogs would come up with a win after defeating the Warriors 76-0 in 2007, Higgins and his staff used the game as an opportunity to evaluate the performances of several freshmen who would be expected to step up in major roles in 2008.
While the Bulldogs did not shut-out WIU, they claimed a 54-7 victory. Junior wide receiver Andre Roberts and freshman running back Asheton Jordan claimed two of the four SoCon Player of the Week honors. Roberts made three catches for 91 yards and two touchdowns, along with a punt return for a touchdown for an all-purpose total of 207 yards for Offensive Player of the Week, while Jordan recorded 10 carries for 70 yards and two touchdowns for SoCon Freshman of the Week.
Week two would consist of a Sept. 6 trip to No. 9 Clemson, who at the time was predicted to win the ACC title. Obviously a tough opponent, The Citadel was not going to be intimated by the 76,000 fans that packed into Memorial Stadium, also known as “Death Valley.” The Bulldog defense made some early stops and was down 7-0 at the end of the first quarter and 21-7 at the half. Unable to make up the difference in the second half, the Tigers topped the Bulldogs, 45-17.
Although The Citadel came up short, Roberts had one of the best games of his collegiate career, recording his first 100-yard receiving performance of the season against the Tigers. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Bart Blanchard connected with Roberts on nine occasions, totaling 153 yards and one touchdown. A couple of those receptions included a long of 42-yards and a 41-yard touchdown catch.
The Citadel was off on Sept. 13 and came home to host Princeton on Sept. 20. Another promising performance by the Bulldogs, they claimed a 37-24 victory over the Tigers after being down 17-14 at the half. Sophomore linebacker Reggie Rice earned SoCon Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against the Tigers which consisted of 11 total tackles, including a sack and three quarterback hurries.
Holding a 2-1 record, The Citadel entered conference play on Sept. 27 when they hosted Western Carolina. Jordan and Roberts again led the Bulldog offensive effort. Jordan recorded his first 100-yard performance with 18 carries for 114 yards. Roberts collected 10 catches for 135 yards and one touchdown. However, two of the Bulldogs' four touchdowns were by Blanchard who recorded 11 carries for 85 yards and two touchdowns, a career-best rushing performance. Blanchard also connected on 19-of-28 passes for 265 yards and a touchdown. The Citadel 34-14 win improved the Bulldogs to 3-1 overall, 1-0 in SoCon action and a No. 12 ranking in The Sports Network FCS Poll.
However, the excitement would stop there as the Bulldogs' trip to Boone, N.C. to take on the No. 2 ranked Appalachian State became an even longer trip home after recording a 47-21 loss. Down 41-7 at halftime, the Bulldog defense stepped up to hold the Mountaineers to only one score in the second half. The defensive effort was led by defensive back Jonathan Vest and linebacker Jordan Gilmore, who combined for 21 total tackles. The Citadel made a quick drop in the top 25, not knowing that the game against the Mountaineers would be the first of a six-game losing streak.
Next up was the Phoenix at Johnson Hagood Stadium on Oct. 11. Despite Roberts' 116 receiving yards, backed by Joshua Haney's 51 yards and Terrell Dallas' 43 yards, and Gilmore's career-high 16 total tackles, the Bulldogs' effort was just not enough to stop an Elon team that was having their best season since joining the SoCon in 2003. Completing three of 13 third down conversions and being held to only 82 rushing yards in 34 carries, The Citadel fell to the No. 6 Phoenix, 28-23, before a Parents Day home crowd.
That loss was followed by two road games, a 34-20 loss at Furman on Oct. 18 and a surprising 28-10 loss at SoCon newcomer Samford in Birmingham, Ala. on Oct. 25. The losses officially dropped the Bulldogs out of the top 25.
The Citadel returned home to take on Georgia Southern on Nov. 1 for what turned out to be one of the most exciting games of the season. However, a few missed field goals, three missed and one blocked to be exact, were the difference in a 44-41 triple overtime loss to the Eagles. It extended the Bulldog losing streak to five games as they dropped to 1-5 in conference play.
The Citadel then headed to Wofford for their final SoCon road game of the season. Having yet to claim a game on the road, the Bulldogs were looking to break their streak and bring home a victory. However, it did not happen for a team that recorded their sixth consecutive loss for the first time since 2000. Despite an extraordinary performance by Roberts, who totaled a school record 14 catches for 190 yards (second-best all-time at The Citadel) and three touchdowns, the Bulldogs fell to the Terriers, 33-28.
One last chance to claim another SoCon win took place on Nov. 15 at The Citadel's homecoming against Chattanooga. Down, 21-17, with less than two minutes left in the game in pouring rain, the Bulldogs were desperate for a play that would put them on top. The Citadel defense forced a Chattanooga punt and Roberts came through with a 64-yard punt return for a touchdown with 1:46 left on the game clock. The touchdown was the game-winner as the Bulldogs went up, 24-21. The streak ended with The Citadel's last home game of the season as they improved to 4-7 overall and 2-6 in the SoCon.
The Bulldogs then traveled to Gainesville, Fla. where they ended the 2008 season taking on the No. 3-ranked Florida Gators, the highest ranked opponent of any Citadel team. Blanchard was injured early in the game forcing Cam Turner to take over in the quarterback position. Among the highlights was a trick play in which wide receiver Scott Flanagan threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Turner for the first Bulldog score. The play marked career-firsts for both players, touchdown of any kind for Flanagan and receiving touchdown for Turner. The Bulldogs, although recorded a loss, totaled the third highest number of points of any Gator opponent this season in a 70-19 final. Jordan totaled 267 all-purpose yards, including 200 yards in kickoff returns, earning SoCon Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
Although the season ended with more losses than wins, the Bulldogs have a lot to highlight from the 2008 season. Among them are the record-breaking performances by Roberts. This season, Robert broke his own record for catches in a season from 78 last season to 95 in 2008. He also holds the record for the most catches in a career at The Citadel with 208. Early in the season Roberts claimed the school record for receiving yards in a career (2,951) and later broke the record for the most receiving yards in a single-season, previously set by Brian Baima in 1971, with a 2008 total of 1,334. He also has the record for the most punt return yards in a season and in a career with 461 and 943, respectively. Roberts scored in 17 consecutive games with the loss against Florida breaking the streak.
He finished the season ranked as the top punt returner in the country, while holding down the No. 2 spots in both receptions per game and total receiving yards. He also finished fourth in the country in receiving yards per game, ninth in scoring and 14th in all-purpose running.
In the SoCon, Roberts' 95 catches this season and 208 career receptions earned him a No. 3 spot all-time in both categories. His 14 touchdowns caught in a season was also the third highest all-time in the SoCon, while his 29 touchdowns caught in a career is the second highest all-time in the SoCon. His season total of 1,334 yards is fourth all-time in the SoCon, as well as his 461 yards in punt returns.
As a result of the great punt return effort by Roberts and punting skills of Mark Kaspar, The Citadel ended the season as the No. 1 ranked punt return team in the country and the No. 13 net punting team in the FCS.
The conference coaches and media also thought enough of Roberts to name him All-Conference First team for both the wide receiver position and return specialists. The coaches also named offensive lineman Dan DeHaven and defensive lineman Terrence Reese to the first team, while tight end Taylor Cornett was named to the SoCon All-Conference Second Team. Roberts was the media's only first team selections, while choosing defensive lineman Dewitt Jones and Reese to the second team.
Roberts was also named a Walton Payton Award finalist and is All-America candidate for the 2008 season.
