The Citadel
5-6
#2 Clemson
10-1
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Citadel | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Clemson | 21 | 17 | 20 | 3 | 61 |
Bulldogs Fall in Season Finale at Clemson
11/18/2017 6:12:00 PM | Football
Clemson (10-1) racked up 662 yards of offense to make things difficult for The Citadel's ball-control option offense to keep pace. The Bulldogs finish their season at 5-6.
Clemson capitalized through the air with a jump ball touchdown on third-and-long on its opening drive that set the tone for the day. The Tigers threw for 335 yards and four touchdowns. The Bulldogs held the ball for five minutes on their opening possession and were poised to stop the Tigers prior to Cain working free on the deep ball on third-and-long.
"I'm proud of our guys," Citadel head coach Brent Thompson said following the game. "We played hard and were in position to make plays, but offensively, we struggled to block them inside to get
our ground game going. Defensively, when ball was in the air, their guys found ways to come down with it."
Clemson wide out Tee Higgins had an acrobatic reception on a 35-yard touchdown pass that was deflected by corner Tyus Carter Jr. before Higgins squeezed it off the carom just before the half.
The play signified that Senior Day for Clemson definitely belonged to the Tigers, but the opening drive had a different feel, if only briefly.
The Bulldogs picked up two initial first downs on their opening drive to move into Clemson territory. The Tigers would hold the Bulldogs on fourth and short to end the opening threat, pinning down Lorenzo Ward a yard short.
Clemson would capitalize on the short field as quarterback Kelly Bryant found Deon Cain for 53 yards for the game's opening score and a 7-0 lead.
The Bulldogs' score came off a 30-yard field goal from Jacob Godek late. Quarterback Jordan Black found Raleigh Webb for 61 yards to set the Bulldogs up with a short field.
Linebacker Myles Pierce led The Citadel with eight tackles and a sack in his final game. Safety Khafari Buffalo had seven stops and a tackle for loss.
Grant Drakeford led The Citadel with 46 yards rushing. Lorenzo Ward added 40 tough yards between the tackles.
Bryant finished 11-for-17 with three touchdowns and 230 yard through the air. Travis Etienne rushed for 62 yards and two scores.
-CitadelSports-
Players Mentioned
Team Stats
CIT 0, CU 7
CU - CAIN 53 yd pass from K. BRYANT (AL. SPENCE kick) 5 plays, 60 yards, TOP 1:49
CIT 0, CU 14
CU - ETIENNE 6 yd run (AL. SPENCE kick), 6 plays, 49 yards, TOP 1:42
CIT 0, CU 21
CU - H. RENFROW 12 yd pass from K. BRYANT (AL. SPENCE kick) 8 plays, 69 yards, TOP 2:17
CIT 0, CU 28
CU - CHASE 13 yd pass from K. BRYANT (AL. SPENCE kick) 7 plays, 57 yards, TOP 2:17
CIT 0, CU 31
CU - AL. SPENCE 26 yd field goal 8 plays, 45 yards, TOP 3:12
CIT 0, CU 38
CU - HIGGINS 32 yd pass from COOPER (CH. GROOMES kick) 6 plays, 81 yards, TOP 0:54
CIT 0, CU 45
CU - FEASTER 61 yd run (CH. GROOMES kick), 1 plays, 61 yards, TOP 0:14
CIT 0, CU 52
CU - ETIENNE 7 yd run (COSTA kick), 5 plays, 80 yards, TOP 1:38
CIT 0, CU 58
CU - HIGGINS 78 yd pass from H. JOHNSON (COSTA kickfailed) 3 plays, 83 yards, TOP 1:10
CIT 0, CU 61
CU - CH. GROOMES 38 yd field goal 7 plays, 13 yards, TOP 2:42
CIT 3, CU 61
CIT - Godek 30 yd field goal 5 plays, 59 yards, TOP 3:10
