CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Citadel returns to Johnson Hagood Stadium on Saturday as the Bulldogs host VMI in the 73^rd edition of The Military Classic of the South for Homecoming 2017. Kickoff is at 2 p.m.

GAMEDAY CENTRAL

TICKETS: Tickets can be purchased at The Citadel Athletic Ticket Office in McAlister Field House (Phone: 843-953-DOGS (3647)) until 5 p.m. on Friday. The stadium ticket office will open three hours prior to kickoff (11 a.m.) on Saturday.
 
The Citadel (4-3, 2-3 SoCon) got back on track in SoCon play last weekend with a 20-14 win over Chattanooga to move back over .500 for the season. The Bulldogs rushed for 405 yards, their most in a SoCon game this season. Running back Grant Drakeford finished with 97 yards and had a 45-yard run to spark a touchdown drive in the third quarter that ignited the Bulldogs to a 13-0 edge in the second half. The Bulldogs improved to 10-0 against FCS opponents under Brent Thompson when rushing for over 300 yards.

The trip back from Chattanooga gave the team time to zone in on the rivalry game and key conference matchups ahead.

"It was a good trip back," Citadel head coach Brent Thompson said. "We are relaxed coming off a win and it was a better week of sleep for the staff. I think it allowed us to refocus on VMI and the weeks ahead. We have two very good teams coming in to Johnson Hagood. This is the time for us to max out and play our best football. I don't think we've done that yet."

Rivalries bring out the best in teams and this week the Bulldogs get one of their oldest rivals. The Citadel and VMI began playing in 1920 and, until the last 15 years, the series was even at 30-30-2.

The Bulldogs now lead the all-time series 40-30-2 and have won the last 10 meetings. The teams play for The Silver Shako Trophy, which has belonged to The Citadel since 2003. The Citadel won last year's meeting in Lexington, Va., 30-20.

"Last year, I took the Silver Shako away from our guys," Thompson added. "I wanted them to go earn it. This year, it's been front and center all week. I wanted them to know it's ours and that it means something. It's their job to give the effort and have the fire to win on Saturday and keep the trophy."

The Bulldogs' defense could have a lot to do with The Citadel's success on Saturday. While the offense got rolling against the Mocs, the defense continued to be one of the top units in the SoCon and all of FCS football. The Bulldogs held Chattanooga to 298 total yards, the fourth opponent this season with fewer than 300 yards of offense. The Mocs had only 25 yards rushing in the second half. The Bulldogs are 15th nationally in total defense and lead the SoCon.

The Citadel also leads the SoCon and is among the nation's best in turnover margin, thanks in large part to 10 interceptions. Junior safety Aron Spann III leads the SoCon with four picks and is Top 10 nationally. He had two interceptions including the game-sealer with 70 seconds remaining in the Bulldogs' end zone.

VMI (0-8, 0-5) has struggled to find wins in 2017, but the Keydets are playing their best football of late. VMI hung tough against Western Carolina last weekend in a 26-7 loss, jumping out 7-0 and hanging tough until 10 late points by the Catamounts. Quarterback Duncan Hodges is the brother of Samford QB Devlin Hodges. He has 528 yards passing and three touchdowns this season.

-CitadelSports-