LADSON, S.C. – Despite a 120-yard rushing effort by quarterback Aaron Miller, The Citadel was unable to gain the advantage in a 20-18 loss to Charleston Southern on Saturday at CSU Stadium. 
 

The Bulldogs fell to 0-3 and will return home to take on their third Big South opponent of the year in Gardner-Webb next Saturday. Charleston Southern improved to 4-0 and will face Charlotte next Saturday. 
 

Miller's 120 yards and 22 carries were both game and career highs for the senior quarterback, who averaged 5.5 yards per carry. The Bulldogs finished with 269 yards on 52 carries. 
 

The Citadel, which entered the game without a turnover and as one of the least penalized teams in the country, was troubled by both throughout the contest.  
 

Runs of 13, 19, 22 and 24 yards were all negated by personal foul calls as the Bulldogs accumulated seven penalties for 77 yards. The Buccaneers finished with 10 penalties for 77 yards. 
 

The Citadel scored 15 second half points including a one-yard plunge by true freshman Isiaha Smith in the fourth quarter which capped an eight-play, 52-yard drive spanning 4:24. A successful two-point conversion run by Dane Anderson made the score 20-18 with just under nine minutes left to play.  
 

Smith finished the game with 36 yards on 10 carries. 
 

After two stalled Charleston Southern drives, the Bulldogs found themselves in position to take the lead and marched 43 yards to the 50 before Smith fumbled the ball on a fullback dive with 1:26 left in the game. CSU's Zac Johnston recovered and the Buccaneers were able to run out the clock. 
 

The Citadel fumbled the ball twice, losing both, while the Buccaneers did not commit a turnover. 
 

After a scoreless first quarter, the Buccaneers tallied 10 points in the second on a 23-yard field goal by David Kennedy and a four-yard quarterback keeper by Austin Brown. Citadel kicker Eric Goins added a 26-yard field goal as time expired in the first half to make the score 10-3 at the break. 
 

Following a three-and-out by The Citadel on its first possession of the third quarter, Will Vanvick punted the ball to Darius Hammond, who broke multiple tackles before getting loose and taking the return 74 yards for a score to give CSU a 17-3 lead. 
 

The punt return was the first against The Citadel since 2012 when NC State's Rashard Smith returned a punt 73 yards for a score. 
 

The Bulldogs answered immediately with a 12-play, 67-yard drive which was capped by a four-yard Jake Stenson touchdown run to pull The Citadel within seven points, 17-10. 
 

The rushing score was the first of the senior's career after catching three touchdown passes in 2013. Stenson finished the game with seven carries for 38 yards. 
 

The Bulldog rushing defense held Buccaneer ball carriers to only 79 yards and posted six tackles for a loss of 26 yards. 
 

Senior defensive lineman Justin Oxendine recorded 1.5 sacks, while sophomore linebacker Tevin Floyd made six tackles and assisted on a sack. Senior safety Julian Baxter led the Bulldogs with nine tackles. 
 

The loss was the second in as many seasons for the Bulldogs at the hands of their crosstown rival, dropping the Bulldogs to 0-3 for the first time since 2006 and just the 11th time in the last 100 years.