Box Score (PDF) | Game Notes (PDF)

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The 24th-ranked Citadel football team beat the South Carolina Gamecocks 23-22 in Columbia, South Carolina, on Saturday afternoon. This marks the first time since 1992 that the Bulldogs beat an FBS opponent and their eighth FBS victory all-time.
 
After a three-and-out by South Carolina on its first possession of the game, The Citadel took over on its own 38-yard line. Two plays and 59 yards later, Cam Jackson found the end zone to give the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead with 13:10 remaining in the first quarter.
 
After a 30-yard kickoff return by the Gamecocks and a 40-yard run by Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina scored its first points of the game on a 36-yard field goal making the score 7-3 with 9:52 left in the quarter.
 
On the next possession Tyler Renew went to work for The Citadel, rushing eight times in the 13-play drive. Renew punched it in from seven yards out with 3:31 remaining in the first quarter to give the Bulldogs a 14-3 lead. The 75-yard drive lasted 6:21 and the score would remain 14-3 at the end of the first quarter after The Citadel out-gained the Gamecocks 135 yards to 95.
 
South Carolina tacked on another field goal after a 14-play, 60-yard drive at the 12:55 mark in the second quarter but the Bulldogs would retain an eight-point lead. The Gamecocks added their third field goal of the game with 4:12 remaining in the first half to make the score 14-9. The Citadel would keep that lead heading into the locker room at halftime.
 
The Gamecocks recorded their first touchdown of the game with 6:22 left in the third quarter after punching it in from one-yard out. The score was a result of an 11-play, 80-yard drive and gave USC the lead for the first time.
 
With 10:26 left in the fourth quarter and The Citadel trailing 16-14, Eric Goins nailed a career-long 48-yard field goal to give the Bulldogs a 17-16 lead. That field goal tied for ninth longest in school history and is the longest by a Bulldog against an FBS opponent.
 
The Gamecocks scored their second touchdown of the day on a 41-yard pass to Cooper but the two-point rush conversion failed, making it a 22-17 South Carolina lead with 8:40 left in the game.
 
On 3rd-and-1 with 6:07 remaining in the fourth quarter, Renew busted through the line and took it 56 yards to pay dirt to give the Bulldogs their third lead of the day. Renew's two-point rush conversion failed, giving The Citadel just a one point lead 23-22.
 
On the Gamecocks' ensuing possession, the Bulldogs' defense came up with a huge stop on 4th-and-1 to get the ball back on its own 46-yard line with 4:07 remaining in the game. With 2:37 left, The Citadel faced a 3rd-and-1 but Renew continued to pound the defense and converted. The Bulldogs were forced to punt three plays later, and Will Vanvick's punt was downed at the South Carolina 3-yard line with 1:26 left.
 
After what appeared to be a 94-yard touchdown pass to Pharoh Cooper on fourth down, the play was called dead due to a false start penalty. Perry Orth would complete an eight-yard pass on fourth down but it was not enough for the first down and The Citadel took over and kneeled it down to run out the clock and seal the victory.
 
The Citadel gained 387 yards in the game and Renew amassed 174 yards on 23 rush attempts.
 
The Bulldogs now await their postseason fate which will be announced at 11 a.m. Sunday during the FCS Playoff Selection Show. The hour-long show will air on ESPNU.
 
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