The 2011 Citadel Football team capitalized the leadership of 42 returning lettermen from last season and finished with four victories over the course of the season behind a second-year triple-option offense and a solid special teams unit.

The Bulldogs offensive unit ranked third in the FCS in rushing offense (3,153 yards) with 286.64 yards per game, placing themselves behind only Southern Conference foes Wofford and Georgia Southern. The Citadel reached the endzone 30 times on the ground, led by sophomore running back Darien Robinson who scored a team-high nine touchdowns. Fellow sophomore Ben Dupree managed to produce eight touchdowns over the course of the season, including four two-touchdown performances against Jacksonville University, Chattanooga, VMI and Samford.

Another key for The Citadel was the impact of the special teams which finished with nine blocked punts, tying a mark set by Middle Tennessee State in 1988. Redshirt sophomore Dominic Jones established a new NCAA record for most blocked punts in a single season, with five, three of which resulted in touchdowns for the Dogs. Punter Cass Couey highlighted a special teams unit that placed fifth nationally in net punting (38.2 ypg.) as the Cadets booted 41 punts for a total of 1,737 yards (42.7 yards per punt).

The discipline of Citadel Head Coach Kevin Higgins' team was also a key factor in the success of the 2011 season, as the Bulldogs committed the fewest penalties (34) for fewest penalty yards (247) of any team in the FCS. The Bulldogs averaged 22.45 penalty yards per game, an average of 7.5 fewer yards than second place William & Mary.

2011 NCAA Statistical Recap

Team Statistical Categories

Individual Statistical Categories

2011 Game-by-Game Recap

Jacksonville vs. The Citadel (Sept. 3): The Citadel scored 31 unanswered points as the Bulldogs defeated the Jacksonville Dolphins, 31-9, before a season-opening crowd of 12,099 at Johnson Hagood Stadium. The Bulldogs produced the most rushing yards of any Citadel team since 1994 with 439 yards on 54 carries, led by sophomore quarterback Ben Dupree who rushed for 141 yards and two touchdowns. The defensive effort was widespread as sophomore Derek Douglas recorded three solo tackles, including two sacks for a loss of 15 yards and one fumble recovery. The Citadel totaled 472 yards of offense, including 33 yards passing. The Citadel defense held the Dolphins to 186 yards with -22 on the ground. The Bulldogs' special teams blocked three punts and punter Cass Couey averaged 44.8 yards a punt with two inside the 20 and a long for 50 yards.

Furman vs. The Citadel (Sept. 10): The Citadel suffered a 16-6 loss against rival Furman before a crowd of 13,414 at Johnson Hagood Stadium. The Bulldog offense recorded their first 100-yard passing game since throwing for 106 against Western Carolina on Oct. 2, 2010 as Dupree went 9-of-15 with one interception, unable to get The Citadel in the end zone. Linebacker Tolu Akindele led the Bulldogs' defensive effort with 13 tackles, while safety Davis Boyle recorded two fumble recoveries.

The Citadel at Elon (Sept. 24):  The Citadel fell to Elon, 18-15, in an overtime heartbreaker before a crowd of 10,883 at Rhodes Stadium. Sophomore fullback Darien Robinson led the Bulldogs' offensive effort with 103 yards and one touchdown on 13 carries, while Tolu Akindele led the defense with a quarterback hurry and 10 total tackles. The game came down to a battle of the legs as field goals determined the final outcome. Tied 15-15 at the end of regulation, both defenses kept their opponents out of the end zone in overtime, but Bulldog kicker Ryan Sellers was unable to match an Adam Schreiner's 33-yard field goal when he missed one from 37 yards out to end the game.The Bulldogs totaled 267 yards of offense, all of which were on the ground with the exception of the 10-yard touchdown pass.

The Citadel at Chattanooga (Oct. 1): The Citadel scored 28 unanswered points in the second half to propel the Bulldogs  to a 28-27 come-from-behind victory over the Chattanooga Mocs before a crowd of 10,727 at Finley Stadium. The Citadel totaled 268 yards of offense, all but three on the ground, while Chattanooga finished with 309 total yards. The Bulldog running game was led by Ben Dupree with 83 yards on 22 carries, but was backed with solid performances by Darien Robinson and Aaron Miller, who recorded 79 and 61 yards, respectively. Rod Harland led the defense with seven total tackles, including a sack for a loss of three yards and one blocked kick return for a touchdown.

Wofford vs. The Citadel (Oct. 8): The Citadel Football team avoided a shutout, but the Bulldog defense could not stop an impressive No. 4/5 Wofford team who scored seven touchdowns and a safety on the way to a 43-14 final before 12,316 fans on Military Appreciation Day. The Citadel totaled 238 yards on 64 plays, 209 of which were on the ground. Terrance Martin led the ground game, rushing for 55 yards on just eight carries with a score. Rod Harland was huge on defense again for the Bulldogs as he totaled 23 tackles in the contest, the most by any SoCon player this season.

Appalachian State vs. The Citadel (Oct. 15): The Citadel Football team scored their most points ever against Appalachian State, but it was not enough to overcome an early deficit as the Bulldogs fell, 49-42, on Parents Day at Johnson Hagood Stadium in front of a season-high 14,154 fans. The two teams combined for 91 points, shattering the previous high in the series of 75 set back in 2000. Combining for 13 touchdowns and 901 yards, the final outcome of the game came down to the final possession for Appalachian State who was able to run out the clock and hold on for the victory after The Citadel scored 28 unanswered points late. Robinson rushed for 97 yards and a touchdown while Miller scored three times on 49 rushing yards while going 2-for-7 for 41 yards and an interception through the air as the Bulldogs rolled up 261 rushing yards in the game. Buncum had 12 total tackles and a fumble recovery.

The Citadel at Western Carolina (Oct. 22): Five different Bulldogs rushed for a touchdown on Saturday as The Citadel racked up 435 rushing yards in a 35-7 romp over Western Carolina in front of 7,277 fans on Homecoming at E.J Whitmire Stadium. The Citadel scored on its first two possessions of the game and took a commanding 21-0 lead into halftime. The 28-point margin of victory is the biggest for the Bulldogs in the all-time series with the Catamounts, surpassing the 25-point victory in 1991. It is also the third victory for the Bulldogs in their last four road contests, dating back to the 2010 season. The Citadel totaled 447 total yards, 435 of which were on the ground. Robinson rushed for over 100 yards for the second consecutive game as he picked up 106 yards on 13 carries with a score. Anderson added 95 yards and a score on just six carries. Tolu Akindele led the defense with 10 tackles, two for a loss of six yards.

VMI vs. The Citadel (Oct. 29): Behind three blocked punts and 358 rushing yards on Saturday, The Citadel was able to retain the "Silver Shako" as they defeated VMI, 41-14, in front of 11,184 fans at Johnson Hagood Stadium. It is the fifth consecutive win over Virginia Military Institute for The Citadel as they renew the "Military Classic of the South" in a six-part home-and-home series through 2017. The Bulldogs rushed for over 300 yards for the third time this season and the second consecutive game. The Citadel gained 381 yards of offense, 358 of which were on the ground. Anderson had 81 yards on the ground to lead the Bulldogs while Robinson added 63 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Dupree was 2-for-3 for 23 yards and had 49 rushing yards with two scores. Smith led the defense with eight total tackles, a pass break-up and blocked punt.

The Citadel at Georgia Southern (Nov. 12): The Citadel gained 239 yards on the ground, including two rushing touchdowns in the first half, but a pair of missed PATs proved to be the difference as (4/4) Georgia Southern escaped with the 14-12 victory in front of 18,408 at Paulson Stadium. The Citadel amassed 264 yards of total offense, including 239 on the ground. Robinson gained 92 rushing yards and a score, while Miller added 80 yards and a touchdown as well. Carl Robinson and fellow linebacker Rod Harland led the defensive unit with nine tackles each, while Quintin Turner anchored the front line with a pair of fumble recoveries.

Samford vs. The Citadel (Nov. 12): A fourth quarter touchdown by Dustin Taliaferro in the waning moments of the game proved to be the difference as Samford captured the 19-14 victory over The Citadel in front of 13,591 fans at Johnson Hagood Stadium for Homecoming. The Citadel finished with 259 yards of total offense, accruing 238 on the ground. Among the individual statistical leaders for the Dogs included Robinson, who finished with 84 yards on a season-high 22 carries. Teammate VanDyke Jones finished with 48 yards on nine attempts, while Dupree, who tallied each of The Citadel touchdowns, added 44 yards. Defensively, Joseph Boateng (12 tackles) and Carl Robinson (10 tackles) led the way for the Bulldogs.

The Citadel at South Carolina (Nov. 19): Three second-half touchdowns by 14th-ranked South Carolina proved to be the difference in the 41-20 victory over The Citadel at Williams-Brice Stadium in front of 76,816 in attendance on Saturday. The Gamecocks avenged a 38-35 Citadel victory that took place 21 years ago when the two teams last met at Williams-Brice and now hold a 40-7-3 edge in the all-time series between the two schools. The Citadel offensive attack was highlighted by 241 yards on the ground, including a team-high 88 by Darien Robinson. The Bulldogs also had solid performances from Rickey Anderson (8 carries, 69 yards) and Ben Dupree (18 carries, 61 yards). The offense committed four fumbles, but recovered all of them, resulting in no turnovers on the day. The Cadets also showed their discipline with only one penalty for a total of five yards, maintaining their ranking as the least penalized team in the FCS. Defensively, the efforts of Rod Harland, who finished with a team-high nine tackles, including one for a loss of 11 yards, led the way for the Dogs. Teammate Tolu Akindele added eight tackles, including five solo, to cap off his four-year career.

2011 Individual Accolades